The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1827-05-19

females on his-but let the narrative show -
he loved her, no doubt, but his nature was wa
yerng and unsteady At times he WAS all ten
derness. and at others ht would ound her sen
sltl:e feelings by some neglect or needless witt.
clsm, and Clara, though lar from wanting pro
per spirit, could only she'd tears, for To hD she;
could not resent. Leslie knew that he had only
70 appear pcnltent and Clara'e generous conf
dcnce was All his own When at !, proper age
Leslie chose the profession of the law, hle p.
iron did every thing for hs advancement 1t
is probable the old gentleman saw the attach
ment between him and Clara,--yet he took no
means to counteract It. Lcslics profession
obliged HIM to remove from the house OF BIS
worthy friend, and settle in ncighborlng town
lie visited them Often and drew from Clara. a
promise, that if her uncle consented She wunit
unite her fate with his Her cousin Frances
was the confident o! his attachment.
z A short time prior to our acquaintance lo
unpleasant rumors relative to I.e>llc'> c,lul,,.:
had reached the ears Of hls henciAC:"r | t~a
VISITS had become less frequent, and Of shoij.I
duration, and Clara heart WAS deeply " 'auG-
ed. Vet She could not believe hln cait4,.c Of
dissemination, and was utin@ to rtfi.tj IT,, as
>crtions that business oul, ke@t i,n. i0n her
The runocs that had reached !E.cm were soon
confirmed Leslie habits were irrcgular-hc
neglected his profession. and spent most of hi
time m pursuits which could reflect no credit on
himself or TREND, ! was then married to Fran
ccs, and though my acquaintance with Leslie
had not been of long standing, my wife, anxious
for the happiness OF her friend, entreated me to
sec him, and i'll friendly manner warn him
that the loss of his patrons favor and Claras
love, must be the inevitable consequence of the
conduct he was pursuing lcoull not refuse 10
grant a request, urged IN such manner aud
from such motive Clara had won nv per
iect esteem hv her sweetness and intelligence,
and felt that II any interference of NINE could
preserve her from sorrow. no false dchcacy
ought to deter Inc from It, | saw Leslie, and in
as delicate a manner possible, limited at the
report, concerning him. which had given some
uncasiness to his venerable friend Il mention
ed Clara--her high sense of rectltude. and the
sensitive delicacy of her character he appeared
startlcd-thankcd me for the friendly part | had
acted. but declared it was all a mistake -the ru
mors erroneous The next dav he visited his
patron and contrlvcd by we'll directed discourse
to impress on his mind that he mingled in pro
mistuous socicty. more from its being necessa
inclination, That he WAS never happy
when with him and Clara, and that he hoped no
idle reports would have power TO deprive him
Of the esteem OF those SO dear to him Clara
believed his assertions, yet Still she felt anxious
and unhappy leslie Was now IN a very lnrra
tive business, vet he neg lrcted to claim the pro
mise made him by her unsu>pecting love her
dehcarv was wounded, but her pride enab,td
Der t. appear unconscious Of his nrg lect n
short. not 10 make my narrative too tcdlnu~.