Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-10-28
sed 10 Hnd friends changed as well a.

tune
My dear madam, can you suppose
'orsr altered circumst ances have had
any inaurnce upon my lce'ingsr -x-
rIsia'rd Mrs Harley in we'll d,ssen'bled
surprise,
4 do not speak frsn vague supposi-
Non only Caroline; 4 kno.o wha, | say. ~
When my daughter and my self undertook
the charge oi a private boarding sc hool
you gradually dropped all intimacy with
Us, Tor you had grown rich, as we had
declined in fortunes, aud you began 10
feel that the presence OF poor relations
might be rather announcement. When
your daughter left the nursery, she was
transferred 10 one Of those pests OF mod
ern society, fashionable boarding
school, not so much on account ot my
Aniiqua,ed method Of impaning real
knowledge, instead Of superficial accom-
p,ishmenis, AS because the relationship
between US would seem degrading in the
yves of the world. Nay, you have even
d, MED that relationship when questioned d
on the subject, and I therefore can have
no confidence in professions Of regard.
The seli.possession Of Mrs Harley
quite failed her as She listened to those
bitter truths. Her brow crirnsoned, and
she bit he, lips as she replied, 'Well,
aunt, you have chosen to misundersiand
my motives, and reject my good will
mo, Caroline, do not reject your
good will, but cannot consent to accept
your civiIities; il | can serve you IN any
way, / am ready, but do not come to me
with hollow professions. You have
doubtless visited me on business, this
morning let us therefore discuss il rs
strangers, or, at least, mere acquaintan-
ces.'
Nothing but Mrs Harley's strong de-
sire to acquire some information on n
subject which nearly interested her,
could have induced her to bear her aunt's
severe remarks. She, however, repress-
ed the angry feelings which rose within
her breast, and with the bland courtesy
for which she was remarkable, replied.
u, shall be as you wish, madam viii
no longer proifcr my claim o! kindred,
but ifit be not contrary 10 your ideas o'
propriety, will you be so good us TO afford
me some Information respecting the char
ac,er and temper Of a young lady now
sndrr your charger ! mean Miss Ere
line Morris
Mrs Wilkinson look ed surprised. Mrs
Harley continued, Il did intend to in
clude her in the invitation which ] just
had the pleasure Of Offering 10 you, and
the paiu othearing you reject of course
i wish my questions concerning her to
be considered in the light of a contiden-
,ial commune alton, and ] should be un'
willing to have the interest take 10 her
made public
'Will you obige me by making known
the reasons for such inquiry ? asked d
Mrs Wilkinson.
'Why, to tell you the truth, it is on my
daughters account that ! feel interested
in the child. Major Morris visits us very
frequently, and l think is strongly dispos-
cd to admire my beautiful Mary
'Major Morris ? exclaimed Mrs VIII
kinson /; pardon my surprize, Caroline,
but if retain my recollection Of the
very lovely little girl whom once saw
with you, she can scarcely be more than
eighteen years of age, while the major
is certainly past forty
you are quite right, replied Mrs
Harley, in her mus. dulcet tones. MA
~ is just eighteen, but the major is Il
very young looking man, and possesses
inany advantages
lie is rich and fashionable, you mean,
Caroline
1T would certainly be bri,IiaW mattel,
for Mary he is very distinguished in
society,"
'IIe is more than that, or I am much
mistaken in him. said Mrs Wilkinson
warmly. IIe is ma, Of high h.toned
feelings, OF elevated character, and o
fine talents. am not surprised that he
should seek second marriage, fur
doubt whether his first was a very happy
one, but it is strange he should choose
50 young WIFE
Mary is very beautiful, aunt, and
have taken great pai"s TO destroy in he'
mind those youthful illusions which S,
often interfere with the prudent ca!cula-
tions of parents
'Whst do you mean by youthful illu'
sions"
Oh, those romantic ideas Of love in {
cottage, and disateresied affection
which generally fill girls head wher
she first enters society, and often Undue,
her to throw herself away upon some
penniless fellow with black wh,skers and
sentimental smile. Mary, though Sc
young, has as much discretion as il she
was thirty. She never reads novels, and
her knowledge Of the world IS derived
entirely from my experience. II has
been my object to make her understand
society as it actually exists. My own
preconceiyed fancies Of worldly happ''
ness have giveo me somo bitter hours
and I wished to gave her from the pain
which we all suffer, when our early
dreams fade into realitv.'
There was a touch Of feeling IN Mrs
lIarley's manner which soi,ened the
stern old lady. Take care, Caroline,
said she, 'lest in destroying The J'o'nance
which grows up in the heart Of 'VeD
woman, you do not root up the generous
impulses which are ever entwincd with II.
she who eg.ets upon life endowed with