Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-02-22

constantly pressing upon him, engaged
in profession which obliged him tc
pass much Of his time from home. the
mothers influence was more powerfully
felt, and the little Amelia was not slow
to learn the lesson that she was beauti.
full, and the sole heiress of her fathers
wealth. With an affeetionate heart and
fine powers of mind, under the whitening
influence Of fattery and indulgence, she
was daily becoming selfish and imperi-
Gus; her will had 50 long been law with
her mother and her mothers servants.
that the idea of sacrificing it never once
1 entered her mind. How little do we re-
I alize the fatal influences of such a course
EantiL some startling proofs force them
fselves upon Us.
4 Years passed away, the beautiful but
wilfut child WAS just entering upon the
/ world Of fashion. of which she was so
| likely to become an idol, when her IA
theirs death left her the mistress of a
fortune which by no means lessenei the
| powers Of her own personal attractions.
| Surrounded by admirers, drinking the
intoxicating draught of adulation from
all, Amelia became the reigning belle in
the large town of B. Accustomed
TO seek her own selfish qualification, she
triled on, now repulsing, now encourag-
ing her hume rous admirers, and while
tri1IDg with all, seriously interested in
none. Their attentions were grateful,
because they hattered her vanity-as to
her heart that was still untouched, and
she could hear and say brilliant nothings,
receive their homage day after day, and
turn from them without one feeling Of
marked interest. At a large evening
party, where, as usual, surrounded, the
centre of attraction, she was talking and
laughing, her attention was arrested by
a gentleman, who leaning penslvely a
ganst a marble bust, at a short distance
from her, seemed wholly distracted from.
and Indifferent 10 the scene around him.
s.Wh is he?' said she to a gentleman
who stood near her.
"Be little more definite" said he,
smiling at her air of interest, s'and will
endeayor to answer your question:
"Oh," said she, al Penseroso, / should
call him. ! mean the stranger who is
leaning against the bust yonder-he Is
Just speaking to Mrs W.
That, oh, hat is Mr.. Ludlow, a bright
star in the lite AIRY constellation, the law
yer who has distinguished himself so
much by his successful plea in a late inn
portant case. You have surely heard of
his eloquence-all the papers of the day
have rung with his name--he passes a
few weeks in b. on professional duty
Amelia remembered having heard Mr.
Ludlow's name mentioned in terms of
high encomium. But when her com
pauion enquired if he should introduce
him, .'no, certainly not,'' said she u new
er seek the acquaintance of any gentle
mani" her manner having evidently
proved she was not averse to making this
an exception TO her general rule-and
the gallant Captain soon went IN pursuit
of Mr.. L., whom he found engaged in
conversation with several gentlemen, and
by no means anxious for the proposed
introduction to a lady whose coquetry
was as notorious as her beauty. The
Captain returned alone, and Amelia bit
her lip with pique at the Indifference of
the stranger; but he shall feel it; yes,
thought She, he shall sue for my ac-
quaintance-he shall bow at my shrine,
aud ere six months have passed | will
see il his heart be made of too flinty ma
terials 10 feel my power.
Evening after evening, and often in
her morning walks did she pass the stran=I
ger, who still manifested the same Indif-
ference. Accident however at length
introduced them. Amelia was one Of a
party who were returning from an ex-
cursion on horseback, her horse took
fright at some object in the road, and
a serious accident, if not death itself,
seemed inevitable - when Mr.. Lud
low, who happened 10 be near, seiz-
ed the reins. and saved her from the inn
pending evil 1t has been remarked,
and the experience of every one may
determine with how much truth, that
those whom we have obliged have al
WAYS a claim on our affections. The
next morning, civility demanded call
of enquiry; Miss Meredith had not
wholly recovered from the alarm OF the
preceding day-she was paler and more
ianguid than nsual-but the deep blush
which suffused her face as she received
the enquiries of Mr.. l.. with the fascIna-
tons Of her whole manner, excited an
interest which he would gladly have
concealed even from himself
Henry Ludlow had been born IN a.
humble and indeed obscure situation, bur
bv the brilliancy of his natural powers,
and his unusual exertion in their cult
walton. he had risen TO be the admired,
the courted, not only of the literary.
but Of the gay and fashionable world;
he was not handsome. but the decidedly
intellectual cast of his coantenance. the
high pale brow, the dark expressive eye
even to the casual observer, spoke
mind Of no ordinary cast. Heretofore
engaged in study and Professions! duty,
he had rarely mixed in general society;
his frequent cards of invitation had been
slichted-but now each day found him a
visiter at Miss Meredith's. Il was not
by her personal attractions alone, though.
her beauty was dazzling. that she was
charmed; her spells had been thrown
around him. and every art which coquet-
ry,a desire to please, and, we may add
100, feelings of pique for former indit-
fe renee could cali into exercises had been