The Arkansas advocate., 1831-03-30

ted the wakeful ear of old Summeryille. and ere that last long embrace of mutu- al love had passedhe burst into the room
 with two servants, and secured the un- lhappy Brandon. He was prosecuted as ] n s,ianight burglar, and thrownintop prison- Thus were the hopes of the fair Cla- ra forever blasted; and she withercd Like 2 rose which had been rudely torn from the stem. The fountain of tears dried up, the last wave of misery had rolled over her gentle heart, and dispair settled upon her brow, and she became careless of the future. There is de- gree of grief to which when the soul ar rives it ceases to dread any further ago. nies. Such was the fate of this hope less and devoted young creature. But she could not see the dawn of that day, which was to snatch her from the man she loved, to place her in arms she de- tested, without emotions, which lan- guage may not depict, and imagination may alone conceive.
 The day came, and with 1t the pre- parations for the nuptals. The silence of Clara's despair was mistaken for ac- quiescence, and the father was delight ed. Alas! poor fool, he knew not that the worm of blasted hope was at her heart. The hour arrived, and the guests were assembled. Old Rowland was al- ready there to take to his bosom the beautiful being whose temporal and per- haps eternal happiness her parents were about 10 sacrifice at the shrine of gain. Julia was in the chamber with Clara, preparing her for the hour which was [eternally to separate her from the man l she loved.
 The fatal moment arrived, and amidst the merry assembly Julia and Clara ap- peared in deep mourning. All were as tonished at seeing the bride dressed in so singular manner, and the father was iirritated; but as the priest was already present, the circumstance was suffffefe,.. to pass. Old Summerville advanced, took Clara by the hand, and endeayor- led to lead her forward to where How Hand stood grinning with triumph, but she retreated with look of horror.- But the penalty of her disobedience was again whispered in her ar,and with q desperate effort she advanced to the side of Rowland. So much did she re- semble sacrifice, so pale with grief, and Iso unlike the once gay, volatile and blooming Clara, ,thatseveralo finer youth- l ful friends melted into tears.
 1 The ceremony commenced, and as it I'm 1aI cI, which there is no life, and indeed there was no evidence of her existence, but the quivering of her parched lip, and the tear that hung pendant from her halfclosed eye. Al the conclusion of the ceremony, she saidina low voice, ssmy doomis sealed oh, Brandonr' Casting anindescribable look in the face of How land, in which was mingled grief, regret and horror, she fainted and was caught in the arms of her sister. who stood pet riGed at her side.
 l Such was the sacrifice of young and
 beautiful creature, who might have been happy throughlile with the man to whom she was devoted. Such too has been the miserable lot of thousands. The sequel of the melancholy story may be told in few words. Clara was taken to the splendid mansion of old Rowland; but her constant tears and the absence of lall affection soon soured the disposition of her husband, and he treated her as a
 Turk would treat a slave. She was sell dom seen in public aud all that pomp of
 wealth whichso pleased the ayarice ot the
 parents only aggravated her misery and heightened the polgnancy of despair.
 Henry Brandon was honorably dis charged from prison when the court un- derstoodhis motlyefor entering the house of Summeryille, and that he did so at l the invitation ot Clara. But he was a miserable wretch. The highest, dear est hopes of his heart had been blasted, and his soul had become solitude. He determined on leaving the state, as his presence would only increase their mu- tual misery. But he could not depart without bidding the unhappy Clara one r long, last farewell. The opportunity offering in the absence of the jealous Rowland, he approached and entered. Clara saw him as he entered, and
 burst into tears. Unable to bear the interview she ran and hid her face iii the pillow of q sofa. Brandon, ask ed, whose heart was full, as thoug he C. l., L .