Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-07


scape, he thought how beautiful Fanny
Morton had looked. when she stood n year
ago in the midst of such silver waves and
he longed to know how she would look
then, standing in the self same moonbeams.
The wish was easily accomplished for her
fathers house was but short distance
from bis own, and he soon found himself
near the threshold. The house was s,ua.
ted little retroa'ng from the street. and
the path which led TO it was soft and grassy.
lying too in thick shadow, so his approach
was not perceived There she stood, al.
most in he same attitude, leaning against
The door, looking upwards with eye SO
deeply, beautifully blue, they seemed to.
have borrowed the color from the nighk,
heaven to which their gaze was drecteJ
Her fair, faxen hair glitered in the mo3n
light with a golden lustrc, brightly con.
,rasling with the pure whl'eness OF htow
where the serenity Of youth and innocence
was now softly rcposlng.
Fanny = said Edward emerging from
the shadow; and she sptang forward at The
well known voice, with a bounding step.
and joyous smile.
Edward, am so glad you are come
Her manner was so frank and affection.
ate. it relieved him from the agitation he
felt in addressing her. Perhaps he felt a
disappointment in meeting her childish OK
preston of pleasure, ins'ead of the deep
silence of joy, for it is certain the romance
of his feelings considerably subsidized, and
he uttered some common place savings,
instead of the high wrought sentiments 10
which he had been indulging He had
never told Fanny in so many words that he
loved her, but they had lived in the almost
daily interchange of Offices prompted BY
affection. In absence he had blended her
image with every memory Of the past and
every hope of the future, and now in her
presence, he acknowledged that she was
fairer and Ioveler than even the visions his
fancy had drawn. The people of the wi
lage seeing Fanny again he constant com
paniOn Of Edward and Cara Stanley, as IN
former times. prophesied a speedy union
though hey dwell, on the excessive impru4
dence Of The match, q: they were both too
poor TO think of marrying, and many de.
cared Fanny to be nothing better than a
piece of painted wax work, fit only to be
looked al and admired
They were returning one evening about
sunset, from walk in the woodland. Fan
ny was literally covered with gorlands
which Edward and Clara had woven. and
with her straw hat swinging in her hand
and her far locks unbound she formed the
most picturesque feature Ct a landscape.
then rich in all the glorlcs of summer.
They Turned aside from the path, for The
trnmphog Of horses fee, were bel in them
Look, brother, look = exclaimed Clara.
as lady, in company with two gentlemen.
rode gally by. She was dressed in green.
Her long riding dress swept FAR below her
feet, and waving feathers Of the same col
our mingled with the folds Of q veil tina,
hoated lightly on the breeze. She turned
and okcd earnestly a, Fanny. who, blush
ing at her fantastic appearance, drew be,
hind Clara, WIZ The veil nj The stranger
suddenly loosened. and fluttering fell al
Edwards feet. Never was faircr open.
ing Tor gallontry. The lady checked her
spirited horse, and bending gracefully for>
ward, received the veil from the hands of
Edward, with q smile and bow that would
have repaid any man for a greater exertion.
Her complexion was dark, but richly col.
cured with the warm hues Of exercise and
health; and when she smiled, her eyes
were so brilliantly black and her teeth so
glitteringly white, that Clara could talk of
nothing else for an hour after she reached
homeland Edward caught himself won-
derlng several times, who the lady of the
green plumes could be.
Yes said he, suddenly, when he saw OF
night lights cleaning from the windows of
the great white house on The hIll-'It must
be Mrs Clifton. the dashing widow
And Mrs, Clifton it proved TO be. whose
arrival caused no slight sensation in this
quiet vllage.-Edward and Fanny were
quite forgotten IN the superior claims of
one, who, though among them, was not of
them. One represented her as proud as
Lucifer, sweeping through the streets with
her officer-ll like emp and fea hers, her,
as n Lloness, Ieaplng her horse over hedges
and walls. Some represented her us dark
as an Ethiopian, terrible and grand and
others, as beautiful as an angel. md blnhe
as a wood>nymph Meanwhile the uncon-
scious object of these contradictory and
most lnvldous remarks, continued her rides
over hill and dale with unwearied activity,
and sometimes she appeared in a splendid
carriage, with q fooiman, vino was SAID To
be dressed in livery, though he wore suit
of sober grey.
What was the establishment of Clara
Stanley. when she saw one morning this
splendid carriage stop at her own door, and
Mrs, Clifton herself descend from it
CIara's next feeling was deep modification
Tor both her mother and herself were
dressed in plain calico morning trocks, and
The room was 10 state of particular dis.
order, for she was occupied IN cutting and
arranging work, and her brother had GOV
cred The table with papers he was about to
examine.
'Oh, Edwards! cried Clara, If there's
not Mrs Clifton: what shall we do?'