Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-05-08


ties, Errington was content TO barter the
true glory of nature, and wear the false gilt
ter OF Fictitious advantages, ia order to win
The stake for which he was now playing.
He soon found that in the present Instance
his task would not be very difficult one
MOI that the lady was by any means ignor-
antof The SHARES with which she was be-
set but simply because she was perfectly
willing 10 be caught in the lure oil him
whom he should ike best. In fact Jane
Ardley was no novice in society. She had
already reached that ancerfaia arc when
y woman. is usually pretty well skilled in
the knowledge of the world, and. whatever
might haeeabecn her motives for not mar
rring earlier in life, she certainly showed
no disposition to coyness at present. Err
sngtons reputation Tor wealth had first in
duced hei 10 listen graciously TO his bandish
meats, aud she was not inseDsible OF the
Triumph Of enthralling one Of the handsom-
est aud most fashionable heroes Of society.
Totally destitute OF intellectual graces, Mss
Ardey was gifted with that species Of craft
and subtlety which, in the acquisition OF
worldly gain, often fully supplies the place
Of mental vigor In the race OF life. the
creeping tortoise more frequently reaches
the goal than the aspiring eagle, and Gun
ming will olen attain what integrity would
not sloop 10 win Conscious OF her per
sonal drIecs, mortified at the fate which had
condemned her so long 10 single life, and
alarmed hy the growing attractions of her
sister, whom she had managed TO keep out
of view long as possible, Miss Ardley
now determined 10 take advantage oil her
position as an Eeiress, and rather TO run the
risk of wedding forunehunler than TO al.
low another season to pass, unmarried.
In the mean time, Mr. Ardley locked on
with as much indifference as if he had been
mere spectator oflhe game which was dali
| ly played before him. Uniformly kind and
attentive TO both his daughters, he seemed
10 have little affection for either. and seemed
10 care no more for the swarm Of adven-
iurers. who surrounded the heiress Of his
fortune. than for the comparative neglect
which his step.daughter experienced Mr.
Ardlry was one OF those persons often met
with in society. the consummate sel6shness
Of whose nature is so overlaid with agreea
bic social qualities iha, the existence Of the
hidden vice is never Inspected. There is a
great difference between the amiability
which springs from innate good feeling, anc
that which is only the result Of refined self
love In the one case, as the abundant crol
of rich grain produced from a fertile soil
in the other, j, is only The growth Of wild
flowers. sown by the wind in the crevice o
a flinty rock; and yet most persons, charm
ed by the beauty which meets their eye
will be found TO prize most, those compan
ions. whose pleasant manners serve TO con
ceal their induraied hearts. Mr. Ardley':
store Of anecdole, his ready vii, his lmpurla
BILE good humor, his amusing epicurisu
which exhibited itself in his footsteps TO
cooking with his own hands his iavoIit,
dishes, his drol imitation OF distinguished per
sons whom he had met in society, and hi
admirable bpga singing, made him n grea
iavorite with oil classes Of persons. So Ion!
as he could eat, drink and be mery,-s'
long as his bottle of claret and game O
whist were rot denied him, he cared not
pin for the misrhances or successes. tn
griels or The joys, Of all the rest of man
kind.
Led away BY his admiration OF the gent
Anna Mountfon, Lindsay had been as as
sidIous in his attentions 10 her as his fricn
Erringlon in his devotion TO her sister
He found her modest retiring manners wer
the fruit oil a highly cultivated mind, and
heart filled with all feminine feelings; anc
in the opportunities afforded him by tn
comparative neglect with which she wa
treated, he learned that her beauty wa
The leas, of her attractions, But he was nc
too deeply infatuated TO forget the call G
duty, and leaving Errng.on to settle hi
affairs with The heiress, Lindsay returne
to his office, resolving 10 Danish from hi
, Thoughts the lovely girl whom he was to
poor to wed. He found this no easy tasl
however; never before had his want {
wealth seemed 10 him so severe privatior
and when the Ardleys took lodgings i
New York, he could not resist the tempta
ton of becoming frequent visitor.
In the mean time, Erringlon had take
care not TO loose sight Of the heiress Prou
of her conquest, Miss Ardley accepted. j
the most public manner, of his attentions
and even seemed to take pleasure in dl'
! playing her power over him. But lh
time came " hen he dared no longer della
I the decision OF the matter. His money wa
J, long since exhausted, his debts bad acct
mulated, and his creditors had only bee
} induced TO wait by the lidings Of his al
: preaching marriage He was also alarme
by the appearance OF foreign count, wht
: after exciting the attention Of every bod,
: by riding dailyihrougb Broadway on horse
: back, attended by two grooms in liveres {