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


this, will continue wanderer through life,
dealing in tinsels and gew-gaws, rejoicing the
while in my own independence.
TWAS impossible for the imaginative and
inexperienced Clara, to listen to these hgl,
wrought sentiments, SO exactly correspond
IN to her own, without being moved. She
could not disdain one who laughed to scorn
the distinctions of society, and who, proud
OF his Unborn wealth, asserted his claims to
regard, as one of natures aristocrats. In
vain she sough to leave him, till she had ad-
miited the possibility that he might see her
again, and had promised that the dread of
meeting him should not Danish her entirely
from her wonted walk.
When alone once more, she wcpt at her
mprudccc, and would have given worlds to
live over again the last hour, that she might
recall the faint encouragement she had given.
She knew she was wrong in cOnCcaling the
circumstance from her mother and her BROTH
cr, but she tried to persuade herself that he
would soon leave the ncghborhood. and
forget hls foolish admiration of herself, so
there could be no necessity of revealing what
would only expose him to their resentment.
She avoided after this, the place where she
had met him but there were other shaded
walks, and her mother had told her that her
health would suffer for want of exercise. 1t
would be impossible to live within doors all
the time in warm summer weather, and it is
not strange that she again encountered the
persevcring Pcdlar, or that the dread and
the shame that at first oppressed her, gradu-
ally melted away in the fascination of these
romantic and untold meetings. Each time
she said TO hcrself-'lt shall be the last;'-
but faint and wavering are the resolutions of
youth, opposed to the growing influence of
the strongest passion of the heart. He no
longer carried the odious red trunk, and she
tried to forget that she had ever seen it,
When with him, 1t was an easy task. listen
ing to such language, and looked upon by
such cycs-so soft, yet bright, so luminously
dark Even the Gipscy hue of his COM
plcxion, gave him wild charm in her eyes,
harmonizing as it did, with his wandering
habits and eccentric character.
As Clara was walking, lost in these dam
gcrous rcvcrieS hesitating whether she should
proceed where she was almost sure of NEE
ting one who seemed like an invisible being
TO watch her footsteps, and to know whittier
they were bound, or to remain nearer the
guardian boundary Of home, she was start
led by horses feet behind her, and it forci-
bly, reminded her of her brothers first NEE
ting with Mrs Clifton, for it was precisely
the same path, and likewise near the sunset
hour of day. She turned her head nvolun-
tarily, as the sound came near, and drew
back as far as the widl, of the path would
allow, to permit the stranger and his attend
anti pass by. She did this with quicken
ed pulse, for something told her it must be
Washington Graham. AT any ratio, he was
no vulgar rdcr-ior he was mounted on n
coal-black horse, splendidly caparisoned,
and attended by negro, who rode one of
the same raven color, whose backness was
conrastcd by scarlet saddIe-c cloth, that al
most swept the ground. Clara was so daz-
zlcd by the magnilicencc of their appear
ancc, and SO confused by the thought that it
was the: hero appropriated TO herself, by the
splendid imagination of Gertrude, she could
not clearly discern the gentleman's features,
though he raised his hat as he passed, with a
graceful bow, and slackened his pace till he
disappeared in the direction Of the white
house on the hill.
'Wha, singular coincidence said Clara
to herself. Just on this spot did Edward
first behold Mrs Clifton, on horseback too,
and that glance decided. The arden. glance
of Rover flashed through her memory, and
conscious of the struggle of vanity and feel
ing in the heart, she believed herself I'M
Wprtby pt thn hnn,nun ~ nyproccnl glEl,,.
can he ever be to me, this proud Southern
stranger, she added, who comes amongst us
like AN Eastern nabob? And yet shall be
to him AN object of ridiculc and disgust, after
Gcrtrudc's glowing description. Had he
never heard my name, | might escape his
notice, but now it is impossible
While her mind was wrought up to "A
state of icvcrish excitement by the anticipa-
ted meeting with the dreaded stranger, her
eyes were fixed on the windows of her BROTH
cr's dwelling, Illuminated as they now were,
by the setting sunbeams, and she could see
the dark outlines of the two riders defined
upon them; then she knew that her coniec-
turc was right. Most willingly would she
have sought some covert in the woods, and
feed ON berries and herbs for weeks to come,
TO avoid the modification she believed was
in store for her; but she fortunately remcm-
bcrcd she had "A mother, who was probably
even now waiting her return with anxiety,
for the soft grey of twilight was beginning TO
stealo over sunsct's golden lnts.
The next day she received summons
from Gertrude, telling her there was TO be
a general gathering of friends to welcome
the arrival of her cousin, who was all impa-
ticnce to behold the fair rustic whose image
was already drawn on his fancy IN such at
tracIve colorA. This message renewed the
trrpdation of Clara to such degree, that
she was tempted to plead a nervous head
ache, as AN excuse trom attendance. One
moment she was ready to sink at the thought
OF being condemned and dcspisod-lhc next
the possibility that Washington Graham,
lordly as he seemed, might cast favorng
glance upon her, unpreiendng as she was,
filled her with dread. If SO, what would
become of poor Roverl And what would
Gertrude think if she turned coldly away
from the attentions Of her gifted cousin p
" hen ARA Ninu bnrsolf c,r tho ,cc,e,or .l,