Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-07
FRIDAY, JUNE r, 1889.

fused senses to be sufficiently collected to
appreciate so signal on honor. Mrs. STAN
ley was too truly refined and we'll bred TO
share IN her daughters embarrassment.
She was not ashamed Of the simplicity Of
their dress, and she did not look upon the
proofs OF Cata's industry and Edwards
literature scattered about the room, as at
all disgraceful. Moreover, she was verv
proud OF her son, and thought she had
never seen him appear to such advantage
a. a. th's moment, when engaged in AMI
mated conversation with this graceful and
charming lady. Mrs. CLIFTON admired the
gsfden, the vines that made such fairy
iuh'ce work around the windows, The pic
lures that hung upon The walls, till every
thing around her became exalted in Clara's
eyes, with charms unknown before. When
she rose TO depart, she urged Mrs. Stanley
so warmly to visit her, and to suffer her to
see much of Clara, it was impossible not
tn believe she was soliciting favor. She
was so lonely she sad-,he friends who
had accompanied her were returned, and
she had nothing but her books and harp for
her companions. Her harp! Clara was
crazy u hear harp. The very idea car
rcd he' at once into the fairy land of 70
nance, Of Ossians hetoines and Millions
angels,
Is she not The most charming woman
you ever saw in your life? exclaimed
Clara the moment she had left them Il
quite forgot my calico frock aud these linen
shreds, long before she was gone. Did
you ev0see any one so polite and condo.
lscendl & | wonder how she came to
select ~, from all the village, to call upon,
and she smiled at the importance il would
give hem in the eyes of their neighbors.
y am not so much surprised said Mrs.
Stanley as her father and yours were on
intimate terms, and it is probable she has
| taken pains to ascertain his friends. She
had just married when Mr.. Lee came into
the country, and as she went immediately
abroad, she neve(D visited the place during
her faher's life. e.She married very young
aud think have heard she was not happy
IN herunon. She certainly. does not seem
'Dconsoab'c at her husbands death
Is she not delightful, brother" contnu.
ed Clara, in perfect fever of admiration
| 'Dld you ever see such eyes and teeth
and trough she is dark her complexion is
so glowing and clear, I don't think she
| would look as handsome if she were falrer.
| wonder If she will marry again.
you wonder at so many things replied
Edward, laughing; you must live in a
perpetual state Of astonlshment. But do
'hins Clara. that Mrs Clifton lie very do.
''g'lfni and very charming and graceful
an' hope my Gear h,tIe rustic sister, will
'r'to i, tara her greces.'
Edward would never have brea,hed this
unfortunate wish, had he anticipated how
faithfully poor Clara would have obeyed his
injunction.
The visit was soon returned, and if Clara
admired her new friend before, she was
new completely fascinated, She saw the
white rising of her hands upon The harp,
and beard the mellow tones Of voice
tuned to the sweetest meditation Of art.
The rich furniture, the superb curtains, the
paintings in massey gilt frames, seemed 10
her unaccustomed eye. equal to oriental
spIendour, and Mrs. Clifton some Eastern
enchantress, presiding over the scene, with
more than magic power. Edward Stanley
was passionately fond Of music. He had
never heard it in such perfection. But
there was charm in Mrs. Cllfon's con-
versatlon even superior TO her music. 1t
was full of splrit. senslbiliy, enthusiasm
and refinement. Then irs perfect adapted
ness TO all around her. Every one talked
better with her than with any one else, and
relt when they quilted her society, that
they had never been SO agreeable before,
confessing at the same time, that they had
never met with any one half so pleasing as
herself. She certainly did fa,ter little,
hat is, she told very pleasant truths. with
most bewllchlng smile. and another
thing. which perhaps was the great secret
of her attraction, she seemed completely to
forget herself, IN her interest for those
around her.
1t is very certain Mrs Staney's family
thought more of her new neighbor that
night, than their old ones. Even Edward
forgot to dream OF the blue eyes Of Fanny
Morton. His conscience reproachcd him
for the oblivion, and when he saw the
unenvylng interest with which she listened
to Clara's praises of the dashing ,Uido,o, as
she was called by the villagers, he admired
the sweetness and simplicity Of character
pure as the untracked snow. He admired
but for the first time he felt want 10 this
sweet character. lie had never discovered
before, that Fanny was deficient in sensl
bilty, that the shadows of feeling, seldom
passed over her celestial counlenance
He found too n dearth of thought anC
variety in her conversation, of which he
had never been sens BILE before. A pang
of self accusation shot through his heart u.
he made these discoveries, and feeling a i
he were guilty Of injustice, his attentions
became still less frequent and he tr'et
to restrain his restless and wandering
thoughts.
Cara sat one morning in deep reveric
-'Molher,' said she, at length, do yol
remember that full crimson dsmask petit
coat, grandmother left me, as mementc