Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-05-28

P"r'son WIN the elegant SOuthcrncr. She
would rather live over again the moments
passed with him in the midst of natures love-
lness, stolen and hurried as thew were. and
always accompanied with the dread of de-
lection and the consciousness ofac,np clan
dcstinc part, than spend IA thousand such
evenings as tllIs-so cold, constrained and
| formal. Clara was mystery to herself
| foolish girl that she was, to find happiness
in CONCENTRATIONS which should ill her with
sorrow and self-reproach The next day
Gertrude came to her with congratulatpp
smile.
Il feared last night, dear Clara said she,
when you acted the part of the buslng au-
tomaton, that my character as prophecies
was more than endangered, that it was lost.
But cousin Washington declares himself en-
chantcd with that very bashfulncss and sim
picity that deprived you of your native
grace. He is so sick of the artificial glare
OF fashionable society, so weary of glitter and
display, his eye rcposes witt, delight, as he
expresses it, on the soft green of your char
| acter.'
Stop cried Clara, 'you do but mock me-
Ills practsed tongue may well utter the
language of llattery, but do not, dearest Ger
trude, solicit his admiration for me. To
crafty your affection he may profess an in
tercst know he can never feel. You know
not how wounding is the thought that should
be forced, las it were, upon the particular mo-
tice of gentleman like him =
Believe me, Clara answered Gertrude,
earnestly, will do nothing wounding to your
delcacy or pride. | will say nothing more
at present, leaving it for time TO unfold
events which trust will Justify all have
ventured to express one thing only let me
ask, what think you Of my Wanted cousin =
Il hive no very distinct impression left on
my mind answered Clara, $50 deep was the
embarrassment that oppressed me. He APP
pcared to me like something bright, lofty and
cold.'
'Oh,' said Gertrude, you do no, know him
yet. Beneath that somewhat cold exterior,
the result ola premature experience of the
worlds hcarlessness, there is a depth of feel
ing known only to those who see him free
from the restraints of society. Handsome,
intellectual and ricll-romantlc too, in the
best sense in which that oft perverted word
is used. ! should not think it possible that
Washington Graham could fail to win a
young and disensaged heart, like yours.
The soft blush that had lithorto coorcd
the check of Clara, was pale to the crimson
that now dyed its surface.
'lle leaves us Tomorrow for a few days,
continued Gertrude, 'and when he returns.
hope TO sec all my iondes wishes realized
| Clara brcathcd as if recovering from fit
otthc nightmare. She plcadcdc every excuse
7 h.,, nal, Il
ming. She had nervous headache, She did
not like to leave her mother alone; in short
she gave twenty reasons, any one Of which
was sufficient in tsclfto answer tie purpose.
'My head really does ache said Clara,
after Gertrudc's departure, 'and think a
walk IN the fresh air will revive me though
unfit for company, | am not ashamed Of be-
ing seen by the cattle and the birds How
she disposed of her objections to leave her
mother alone, remained a mystery even 10
herself. She had never met Rover III the
path she now walked, and he could not know
the direction she had taken yet she started
when the wind moved the branches, or the
birds flew rusling through the leaves, as if
these accustomed sounds were the harbiu-
gers ofapproaching footsteps. She was un-
willing to acknowledge to herself the dsap-
pointment that weighed upon her spirits :;
but not finding in her walk the cxhiliratine
influences she anticipated, she turned her
face homcwards.
'llc has probably heard Of the arrival of
Washington Graham thought Clara, 'aud
believes me paying homage to hls wealth and
prctcnSionS. He does me injustice ; but il
Is no matter. Better far better that we
should never meet agair-for he can never
be any thing to me. Edward would not dis
dain his poverty, for he was himself once
poor. But pedlar Mrs. Clifton would
not have married Edward, ifhc had been an
itlncrant pcdlarn
Just as Clara had finished these reflections
which breathcd more of piquc than she was
aware of, she heard su ldcn crashing among
the boughs, and the Pcdlar himself bounced
into the path, his dark complexion glowing
from the rapdily of his motions, aud his eye
sparkling with more than its wontcd fire.
q feared that might be iorgoitcn,' said
he ''but see that have wrongcd vou-vi!-
lage rumor has been breathing into my. cars
reports that make my hitherto almost hopeless
devotion an act OF still greater presumption.
tnction, conspicuous for the display and
pride of his appearance is come hllhcr for
the sole purpose of addressing and wedding
Clara Stanley. 1t says too that he will not
address her in vain
The characteristic openncSs and bollncsS
Of this address left Clara no room for eva
sion. She did not wish to acknow!cgc its
truth; she would not give uttcrancc to false
hood. Unpracliscd in the arts which could
teach her the way of cxtricalion, she stood
silent and embarrassed, wishing the good peo-
pie of the village would find something else
to talk about besides the Stanleys, whose
concerns seemed to interest tho" 60 much.
you are silent, Clara cried he, in an ut |
tered tone; 'you do not deny it, and Heaven
forbid you should, if for once village gossip
has spoken the truth. have no rich, to re-
proach you-you have protested nothing
promised nolhing-and yet, and yet | feel
as if | were waking from the sweetest and
brightest dream that ever gadencd the heart