The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-02-20
LAWRENCE BAYLEY's TEMPT ALTON
by the Hon. Mrs. Norton. I

band OF your youth be spared TO you for long
and happy year TO come. :"
Mary Esdale stole down to the little sitting room
where she expected fad her grandfather and Law
Neither there; and she sat down in
of the hIghbacked old fashioned chairs wait their
coming. On the liable lay the large Bible out of hich
the dim and venerable eve OF the accus-
toned read the Scriptures sealed packer, and
or two drawings, apparently taken from portfolio
which remained halt open on chair The packet was
directed To Blanche DelameTe. The drawings
mostly such familiar 10 Mary's eyes, the
work OF Lawrences pencil, and The representations of
the scenes OF her YOUTH But there which was
heroine which she gaxed sent the blush of
pleasure her cheek and the sparkle Of pleasure
her eye IL sketch of herselfsy the beloved
hand She looked al il Till the tears which in
her eyes dmlned her sight, and then nidy and hur-
nediy, though il a fOrwaTdness and sin, she
kissed the Penciled cyphers which stood for the
loved name-' The sketch sIill in her hand when
Lawrence entered She started and laid il down, and,
with slight laugh to her confusion, said, have
found you out Lawrence-yOu never showed me iha
drawing and now claim II for my own
Her lover did not answer, and she raised her eyes
smilingly 10 his Tney directed to her; they
remained Exed the little sealed packet while he
munnured some explanation about his wish to give
Miss Deamere sketches Of the neighboring
~, and having carelessly left the remaining drawings
scattered the table. He also added land his voice
fafered he said III that the sketch in question had
been taken long sinee-almos Immediately after her
acceptance Of him. There little in the of
what he said but there something in the manner
which made Mary Esdale feel as though she were en-
dow ed with
~And, was this, too, for Blanche Delamere ?" said
she, IN choked tone.
mo, Mary"
The deep sadness with which these two words were
spoken, again directed Mary lance Yards the speak
err bis eye shrank from hers and wandered rresolute
y from the drawing to the packet and from that TO the
portfolio. feeling took possession Of Mary
Esdae's heart; feeling il molten lead had been
poured into her veins-bunng, heavy, and nroerabe.
Her brain rang with confused sound, as Of thousand
waterfalls, and thousand voices trying make theR
selves heard above the waters roar; her heart
heaved till she mechanically pressed her hand still
the wild pain OF It's beatag, and and through
her thTobbng BRAN there passed visions OF halt forgotten
gcenes-i0nes unheeded the iime-w ords which bad
waited I'LL that hour for their Neutrality-suspicious. which
came like lightning flashes her memory-and
the form Of Blanche Delamere in all. fierce and
unquenchable feeling like the thirst of who dies
the DESERT parched her ps the genIleness other whole
natare seemed changed and departed for ever-dark
shadows fell the face of all things-wild resolves
and wild prayers-hatred and agony-a that revulsion
o feeling which vainy deemed the work of years of
sin and sorrow, fell her blghed heart in that
hours jealousy! Peace-pHrty-hope were gone =
years might roll on, and bring new calm and COM
parative happiness but could the shiyered
bowl Of crystal which hangs by youths early fountain
be hifed with its transparent waters of perfect JOY -
Life has long yeai pleasures IL has give in
return for many which are taken away and while
receive the SQUADS of revery and
sensible OF pleasant sights and bodies conscious
OF strength, deem live; bur there is hour in
the lives Of ALL when the heart dies hour unheeded,
but after which have real ife whether il perish
IN the agony OF some cOnquenng passion die YEARLY
OF sorrow; an hour which they may strive to trace,
who say, Az remember thought and felt different
ly them a mere boy shall never feel the same
again;'-an hour when the chord is snapped and the
chain broken which depended the harmony Of ex-
islence AN hour such Mary Esdale spent in that
old fashioned little in the rrcIory.
Shout, little children shout, and clap your hands
with sudden joy send the sound of ringing laughter
the face ofthe green bosOmed earth from you the
angel nature hath not vet depaned-in your hearts
hnger still The carnations from the Creator; perfect
love and perfect joy Shout, saw, and rejoice for the
dark days coming when We shall "a light and
the hours when mrh shall be strange you and the
time when your voices shall grow sad thar they shall
mingle with thu waling of the winds, and be dis
hngushabe from them, because of the exceeding
of their tones.
During all the struggling emotion she experienced,
Mary Esdale had spoken. One word alone rose TO
her lips and that word was but the of him she
foved-but she feared speak it-she felt if would
burst with shrek from her wrung heart; and by de-
grees calm stole over her (Ouw ardy AT leas and by
the time that her mother and grandfather ready.
she rose and passing her arm through Lawrence Bay
ieys, they descended the stairs without word of
PLANTATION, and without either knowing the suffering and
sorow which wruEg the heart ofihe other. The only
sentence spoken they got into the carrage from
Lawrence; "a Ii has been showing, Mary; lack, the
ground Is quie white :" and her sweet voice answered
m ITS accustomed tone, she took her place by his
side
Daring the dinner at Lord Delamere's, Mary safe by
her lover as usual and al intervals her heart grew CAV
and iorgeifu, and the sudden smile, peculiar her
expression played on her lips and gladdened her
out the cold sickness of heart returned after that
menfary loy, and her gaze fixed wsrfuy the
less brow OF Blanche, if to ask wherefore this new