The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-08-20

boarding during the first year OF then
married life, he accordingly engaged q
suite of apartments at the Astor House
where they lived in style of splendol
and ease, exceedingly agreeable to the
taste of both. Mrs. Waterton was ex.
remely pretty, with an inpocent, child
like face, and graceful figure, and Charles
felt so much pride in the admiration which
she received in society, that he forgot 10
notice her mental dehciency.-Their time
was passed in Il perpetual round Of excite.
mcnt and gayery.
During the hours when the counting
room claimed the husbands attention, the
young wife loungcd on a sofa, read the
last new novel, dawdcd through NOR
nlng's shopping, or paid fashionable Vi
sits. The afternoon was spcnt over the
dinner table, while the evening was soon
passed in the midst Of brilliant party,
or amid the pleasures of some public
amusement. But living in the hustle OF
4 hotel, with large circle Of acquainten-
ccs always ready to drink Mr.. Water
tons wine and nirt with his pretty wife,
they were rarely left to each others So
ciety, aud at the termination of the first
twelve month, they knew little more of
each others tempers and feelings than
when they pledged their vows at the al
tar.-Charlcs had learned that his placid
Laura was somewhat pcrtnacious and
very fond of dress, while she had been
deeply mortified by Lhc discovery that
Charles deceased mother had, during her
widowhood, kept a thread and needle
store; but this was all that they had as
ccrtaincd of each others characterize
opportunity Of practicing that adaptation
so necessary to the comfort Of married
life. They had lived only in a crowd,
and were as yet in the position of part
ncrs in a quadrIIe, associated rather for
a season of gaycty than for the changelul
scenes of actual life.
The commencement of the second year
found the young couple busily engaged in
preparing for housekeeping. A stately
house, newly built, and situated in fash
ionablc part of the city, was selected by
Mrs. Watcrton, and purchased by her OBJ
scquious husband in obedience to her
wishes, though he did not think it ncces-
sary 10 inform her that HrO-thirdS OF the
purchase money was TO remain OH mort
gage. They now onl y awaited the arri-
val Of the rich furniture which Mrs. Wa
tcrton had directed her sister to select in
Paris. This came at length, and with all
the gec of child she bchcld her house
fitted with carpets of such turfil>e sottncss
that the foot was almost buried in their
bright flowers mirrors that might have
served for walls to the palace of truth
couchcs, diyans and iauicuils, inlaid with
gold, and covered with velvet most eX-
quisltcIy painted; curtains, whose costly
texture had been Quadrupled in value by
the skill of the embrodcrcss tables Of
the finest mosaic; luslrcs and girandolcs
Of every variety, giucring with their
wealth OF gold and crystal; ana all the
thousand expensive toys which serve to
minister to the frivolous tastes of fashion.
The arrangement Of the sleeping apart
mcnts was on scale of equal magnIli-
ccnce. French dressing tables, with all
their paraphcmaIla of Sevrcs china and
crystal; Pysche glasses, IN frames of
I
ivory and gold; beds Of rosewood, lnIald
with ivory, and canoplcd with gold and
silver, were among the decorations. But
should the reader seek to ascend still
mgher-thc upper rooms-the servants
apartments, unexpected, unfinished, desll-
Iutc OF all the comforts which are as ne
cessary to domcstIcs as to their supanors,
would have been found to afford striking
contrast to the spiendors OF those parts OF
the mansion winch were intended Tor
display.
with all his good sense, Charles Wa
terton was yet weak enough to indulge a
feeling OF EMULATION as he looked round