The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-17

turned upon him, aud whose ndolent smile
had such isexpresslble wilcbery in it !
There was no Just cause or impediment
and there was a temptation, besides, in the
knowledge that the widow, who had been a
wife but year and half, had inherited a
great part of her husbands properly.
Crane of Aberfoy, though poor himself,
had what is technically termed "great ex-
pectations." Ills uncle, Sir Douglass
Greme, was one Of the proudest of Scot
lands proud baronets. His castle stood on
an eminence, and every inmate held his
or her head proportionately high; his
shooting tracks were large he could afford
the diversion of deer-stalking to any friends
he pleased, and it was rumoured that he ac-
tually preferred that they should succeed
in bringing down deer an enthusiasm
which all proprietors of deer-forests are sand
not TO share. He was n kind landlord,
keen sportsman, n great breeder of cattle,
and was suspected of winkiog ut the dlstll-
ling Of whiskey on his wild mountainous es-
tate and he was, wthal, one of the most
obstinate men who ever wore tartan. Such
as he was, virtues and faults, Grmme Of
Aberfroy loved him with strong love of ha-
bit, aud thought him the only great man in
his Majesty's dominions and from the
time he was an infant, and rode round the
hall oil the large Newfoundland dog, to the
days when he carried his rifle in company
with Sir Douglas, nothing but kindly words
lind passed between them and still, as
years rolled by, the increased respect
and interest evinced by the Highland ten
antry, and the increased pufliness of the
sighs breathed by the fair and fat wife of
the sturdy baronet, (sigbs Of regret and dis
appointment,) pointed him out more clearly
as the heir TO the honors and estate Of the
naughty Greme. This was pleasing
und one which could not fail to
have weight with the West Indian widow
who, after duly considering that 50 kind a
brother must make an easy husband, that
the air of Scotland would brace her nerves
and spirits, and that he certainly was de-
votedly attached to her, languid!y imposed
silence on some envious spinster of Bath,
who Was remarking Oh the broad Scotcl, IN
which that attachment was expressed, and
declared her resolution to become Mrs.
Creme Of Aberfoy. But alas ! the indo-
lence which Ind been so captivating in the
Creole widow was exceedingly inconven-
lent in the Highland laird's wife aud the
pntience which Mrs. GrDmc had seen so
unfailing il. the case Of the feeble and de-
formed Nanny seemed entirely lost when it
wns taxed by her own graceful, well propor-
toned self JUS years rolled by, too, Mrs.
Greme grew less graceful-less well-pro-
portioned. Three successive confinements,
and six years of utter inactivity, combined
to change
The form that was fashioned as light az fay's,
TO n corpulence anything but becoming in
the eyes of Abcrloy and her neglect of
her once carefully studied toIlct-that first
symptom Of dissatisfaction in an indolent
and silly womnn,-de,criora,ed from n
beauty naturally evanescent But these
would have been ''lrines light as air" in
the sight Of her husband, had she happened
to please Sir Douglas aud Lady GrHme.
To his modification, surprise, dlsappolnt-
ment, despair, not only she did not please,
but she was positively an offence TO their
eyes-a thorn in their sides-sn object Of
dislike aud contempt Gr@mc of Aberfoy
knew his uncle's prejudces well ennngb To
be aware that the bare fact of his wife not
being a Scotchwoman, and being chosen
without reference to any ones taste but hi'
own, would make the introduction Of The
divine West Indian, as he expressed 1t
" little task !" and he frankly explained
his hopes that she would take pains, aud hi,
fears that she might fail in making her
self as adored as he desired by his
dear uncle. And his lady, as her head
rested on his shoulder, raised her sleepy
southern eyes, and smiled one of those slow,
fond, ianguid smiles, by which she was in
the habit of expressing her assent without
the trouble Of suyng " Yes" Evidently
she would attempt to please; and, a,tcmp-
ti0g It, how could she fail
A faint attempt at Cancellation on Mrs.
GrGme's part was followed by mutual dis
gust and mutual coldness between the re-
lations. Aberfoy found that gentleness Of
manners can be, and very frequently Is, ac-
compaaied by determined obstInacy; and,
when his eldest sou was born, 1t was n mat
ter Of hesitation and discussion whether the
laird Of the little place should ride over to
the baronet's castle (where they had ceased
to visit to communicate the tidiDgs, or
whether they should await IN sudden silence
the notice which might be taken ofibe event,
BY the family. II was not interest, It was
no, ambition, which prompted the decision
to which the laird came, as he bent above
his newborn inf1nt's crndle-it was the
father which woke in his heart. and made
him yearn to show the proud old man his
beautiful boy and he went.
A temporary reconciliation was the re-
suit and, for some time, things went prct-
ty smoothly, with the exception Of the loss
Of Mrs. Grmme's West Indian properly,
which hurricanes, mismanagement, and
rascolly agents, had reduced to m empty
vIsipn. AT the time, this loss was little
| needed. Mr.. Creme herself, feeling no
diminulion Of her daily comforts, wrapped
in the same shawls, lying on the same sofa,
l.. al. md