The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-11-13

Ito WOO her Tor ms VIE. mat ~as pnle >
different afiair-the pleased smile upon The lip
faded away, and the corners OF The mouth curv-
ed down; giving TO her counienance an expires
sion of haughtiuess little favorable tn the lover
hopes. IL Was no moment to hesitate and al
though Clara clothed the refusal in houisd
words, il was a most unequivooal refusal oi his
suit. Merton, maddened by the dissppolnl-
ment and oresding to face his hungry credit
or, threatened her with exposure thar he
would belray her to Sydenham. And then did
he pour oul his knowledge of all her secret
plaus taunine her with her uuayailing eitous
to win the love OF Harry. Can you bear this
exposure" he said. his whole manner changing
suddenly. " No, YOU cannot. BE my wuc,
aud YOU shall never have cause to complain Of
the devotion OF your husband"
=, | cannot be your wife / would be willing
TO be your friend" she answered. Again Nler-
ton urged her: he painted in colors that chill
ed the blood in her veins, the consequences OF
her rrfusal but she struggled with the fear
that possessed her, and again she said
DO not urge me, you know me not will
not be your wife and know you too well, TO
think You would make an unworthy use of the
secret you possess.
"Ha. Ma ha :" laughed Merton lyon know
me. do YOU my proud madam then yon know
a man as reckless OF consequences aud as un-
prncipled rs yourself;' and so he left her.
Clara equipped for walking, encountered her
father. aud her hardly acquired composure near
" cave way before his reciIel of the meeting
with Ned The fresh air did not restore her
spirits as she hoped it would. All that weary
day day her mind was harassed and agltaled.-
As il drew to a close, she could no longer bear
TO sit with her father and Isabel. lest her un-
wonted manner should attract attention. She
sought her own room.
IL he should tell Harry ~ the color lei, ber
cheek and brow. and her dark eyes actually d'l-
ated with the agony Of the thought. "Oh
God, if he should tell Harry !" she claspcd her
hands tightly together, while her lips closed
like vice and thus she sat, that fair glrl. III
the sunny time of her youth Guilt was IN her
heart aud despair. Beauty was gone from her
countenance-- peace from her bosom-iur heT
there was no solitude The void around was
peopled with the world Of her imagination;
and when conscience has filed that world with
forms tha, make tie blood TO creep, aud grow
icy in the veins, then is a mental hell begun on
earth Dark tbonghls, underlined and shado~y,
cramped the heart OF Clara. Exposure, shame,
alienation from her father, stared her 10 the
face. Wes5.d she know that is'her-ihat hs
would never take to his heart aud cherish there
J
bic and base. And vet upon the head Of ,ha
father there was Condemnation his cbild hat
been given him "to tram up in the way sh'
should 60" The right principles OF actor
were not inst,lIcd into her mind. She was toto
not To lie; bot the strong hand of parental an
thoriiy had not broken vice which seems III
bereUi in the minds Of the very young. ful
scOpe had been given 10 the indulgence OF hei
VANITY, by frivolous and worldly nIoiher--
Could il be expected when the test came. she
would bear il! No Principles such as she
possessed, Ike the flowers upon H.tna's side.
are soon buried beneath the burning lava. of
envy, ambition, and hate
II was on the evening oi the same day he had
been refused. Ned Merton drove up TO small
conniry inn, about three miles from the lace
Of CIara's residence. Ii was kept by one OF the
Oldest inhabitants Of the county man re-
spected for his honesty and integrity ot charac'
ter. When Merton entered he iouGd bm IN
conversation with man. quite stranger 10
him. but whose striking features and lofty bear
ing aroused his curiosity. lie questioned the
landlord IS to who he was; the answer seemed
greatly to excite him. He paced the room Tor
some minutes apparently m earnest cognaIlon' :
then advancing, he addressed the stranger re
spectiully. and entered into conversation WIN
him. 1t was long aud absorbing when over
the stranger rose, and inquired II ms morse was
ready, (lt being IN consequence oi an accident
10 the animal he had stopped,) he drew 4 cloak
around him. although the evening was nnus-
ually mild. mounted and rode of. Half an
hours time brought him to Sydcnham's. He
dismuumed, fastening the horse himself, and
with the sep OF one to whom the scene WAS
familiar, entered the house. Lamps were
lighted, the fire burning brightly upon the
hearth. books we're upon the table. aud mate
rals for writing buI the young master oi tb"t
mansion half sitting. hall reclining upon the
sofa, bore not the cOunteDance of happy or
occupied mind lie was ~ the mood that likes
not 10 be disturbed aud he turned halt anguiy
as The door opened and the stranger entered.
Sydenham rose from his seat, gazing IN sur
PRISE ~ the immOysble form before hun; aud
he asked, coldly and haugbuly, VINO u was
n, had the houor OF receiving" Yet, even as
he spoke he felt regret Tor his ungrae'ous pc
hayour Who was he : That stranger with
the lofty sud eagle glancc-~iih the ample ana
intellectual forehead, where thought had gar
.nefed the rich stores Of a lhetIme-the MN
pale lips that looked like carving upon marble
but around which hOyered an expression Ike
soman's when her youth IS crowned WIN oeau-
u! ln low, clear, silver tones, slightly uemu-
lOus from emotion, the stranger saId our
Gsther would not have welcomed thus. bis ear
lest aud Oldest friend. Boy-l aEa Richard
Talseronl 90
Harry clssped the hand held ont TO him be.
tween his own, while hts counieDaDce 'ssiihed
strong emotion. AZ he babe HIM welcome again
TO his native land.
Thou ART very like thy father" ga. the an
swer and will love thee, Harry Sydenham
tor that fathers sake.
But | came here tonight upon business.
The old landlord at the iDn recognised me -
upon hearing my name. man socos'cd me-
saying that he Was about 10 leave the county
and he believed Providence had thrown me 10
his way. that he mi 1T briug the hand Of justice
upon ID. heads OF the guilty. A strange story ,
he told me. Harry Sydenhau'; and bado me
ro,oe 10 you a. a witness of ns truth. Go 10 !