The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-02-22

LAWRENCE BAYLEYs TEMPTATION
by the Hon. Mrs. Norton


together. Mary fatered cut Affirmative. assure
you am quite sorry go, though il is very differeRt
from my London life. | have not made, continued
she, playfally, " have not made single conquest
since JULY except, indeed little, little twnge, which
trust have given the inexperienced heart Of Mr. Law
renee Bayey; but after all, such petit poisson
Should not be counted. Come and see the ballroom,
Mary, before the people arrive it is so beautifully
done up
Mary Esdale followed mechanically, her sylph
like companion hutiered from room another, all
profusely decorated with real flowers and lii till the
eve acbed with gazing. " She does not love hm"-
AZ was the only thought Of which she conscious
aud she repeated il and TO her aching heart.
as if ought console her" She does not i0re ham "
Just them Blanche raised her head from the cluster
ing geranums, whose perfume she had been In hang,
and looking at her companion, exclaimed, How pref
lilly you dressed bat how pale you are OF an even
ing-very pae you really ought to wear rouge"
Wear what" said Mary, mOurnfully.
SWear rouge, mamma does, YOU know-why, you
have seen her put OIL know many girls in London
who do it."
And do yos wear false colour l' murmured the
village girl, she glanced at the sunny cheek of her
aTistOcratc friend.
very vain of it; bun dare shall some day, when
j get old and faded; complexion will stand London
hours. Do you vaIse ?" added Miss Delamere, she
once more glanced round the ballroom.
~Ah; perhaps YOU think it wrong, you are strict !;
but you like dancing, don't yOuP
cannot dance never learnt any dance at ALL"
@Never learnt TO dance Goodness, what will ysu
do this evening 2"
=Oh, shall not wish to dance, believe me-"
There something mournfully bitter the tone
of this last sentence, that Blanche Deamere turned,
almost startled 10 look at her companion; their eyes
met-and for the first time Mary Esdale thought Miss
Delameres face expressive, and lis expression disa-
greeabe. There cold scrutiRy in her bright blue
eyes, which bespoke curiosity without sympathy an
q slight vcrv slight shade of contempt around her
NarVfa male cha her
eyes filed with tears she turned silently away, and,
after a moments pause, they returned to the drawing
The hours devoted to the farewell fste passed rapid
ly away-the weary musicians nodded drowsy over
their Instruments; and the tired country naghbors
struggled against the wish to go home and 90 to bed,
under the impression that great honor and great
favor had been done them in permitting them to get
tired al such place as Beech Hollow. Mary Esdale
could not dance but il amused her to look on. All was
her, and she experienced for the first time, that
false excitement which leaves such utter depression of
spirits. Ii towards the end of the evening that she
observed Blanche Delamere addressed herself laugh
ingy to Lawrence Bayley, who redeemed and smiled,
while he shook his head in denial She wished him TO
dance.
Il appeal to YOU, papa" said she; ought not to
part galy, who met sadly Explain to Mr.. Bayley
that l accustomed TO be refused, and Tint he
ought TO be pleased and fattered."
Here is a temptation of st. Anthony Z" said an old
general, whose boast IL 10 be the one intimate
OF LOfd Deidmefes, at tDlS memorable Jctc
why il would be believed thar yon chose partner
and he declined the honor, fiji teld in town."
Mary Esdale heard so Ear, and left 10 conjecture
fhe rest, the music again struck up, and she saw
Ia~rence-her Lawrence-lead the Young queen OF the
evening her place in the dance IL with feelings
of pore asonishment that she behed this scene-astou-
ishmeBt which Oyerb0re whatever Of modification, or
sorrow, displeasure she might have felt The idea
Of its being roRg to dance had never entered her msd
but there did seem thing strange, indecorous and
startling in seeing the companion, who had so ot0n
gravey discussed with her, eternal ruths-from whose
lips she had heard the service morning and evening
the village church, and whom she had been accustomed
tered into paTtakIng OF an amusement foreign to ms
habits, and OF which, heart, he disapproyed. He
m0ther-ber grandfather, both remarked il, aud Law
renee HIMSELF as he caught her eye, coloured, and
averted his own.
For the frsi Time as Mary Esdale laid her head or
her pillow that night she felt dstrus and suspicion
chill her heart her respect for Lawrence was lesssneo
she had no longer thought of him of a superior
being-she prayed for him, but her prayer chokec
On It's uttranceshe thought of him, but was with bit
serness unknown before. She fell asleep, and dream
ed that she stole the little sitting room, and took
from the table flowers, such had adorned Beech
Hollow, and that Lawrence perceiyng II, upbrsided
and cursed her, and then the countenance of Blanche
full of cold scrutiny and mockery, before her, anc
she awoke sobbing again TO slnmberthat unquet sleep
and dream those restless dreams. The day but one
after the ball. the Sabbath, and on Tuesday, Lord
Delameres family were TO leave BEECH Hollow. Sat
urday was a day which she seldom saw much o
LawTence-he engaged preparing for the Sunday
discourse. She had, therefore, day of calm re-
Aection before her, and earnestly she sought TO con
vince herself that all she had thought and felt respect
ing her affected lover and Blanche Deamere, aros'
from deusion. Even If he had been smiten by tn
beauty and attractions of the young Stranger she wa