Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-16

dcncc of the nun-likc occurrences, the frozen
| civilty, of Miss Charlotte Atkinson, after
wards Mrs. Simmons. Where other young
ladies' would blush and iluster, Charlotte
would preserve a most statutc-like gravity.
The blood never rushed to her face at any
well turned compliment and, to say the
truth, her face was not one to escape such
civility. Indeed, without giving an inven-
tory of her charms, we shall content our
selves with saying thus much-Charlottc was
beautiful ! What fine things have been said
and written about the uenuS de Mcdicis, and
yet there she stands, the hard-heartcd god
dcss-with smile that shall last forever, an
unwrinkled loneliness, for unborn ages
and so would Charlotte Atkinson wake love
and despair, if not forever, at least in her
own concet, for the term of her natural life,
upon all adorcrs. She would wear face Of
smiles and heart Of stone. Such was her
determination and the maiden aunt looked
proudly on her prosclyte. Alas in such
triumphant speculations there was no
thought the distant thunder
Miss Charlotte Atkinson, with her aunt
and bachelor uncle, attended the country
ball. Charlotte was then twenty one in the
full glow ofbeauty, and more strongly fort-
fed by those ennobling principles, which if
>ternly acted upon by tie fair sex, would bring
this pleasant world to asudden close. The
ball was extremely brilliant; and Charlotte
danced and danced, changing partners as she
would change.a flower in her hair. Mr..
Stephen Simmons was among the happy
dozen honorcd by the touch Of her chill
hand for which good fortune he was partly
indebted to his acquaintance with Charlotte's
uncle, an old friend of the Slmmonses. The
ball ended. Miss Atkinson was led to the
coach by Mr.. Simmons, who to the astonish-
mcnt Of the aunt, was invited by her brother
to take a seat therein, their way lying the
same, and--as Simmons had assured the old
gcnlcman--no other conveyance being pro-
curablc-'the coach expected by Simmons,
had not come Reader, hear the truth /:
Stephen Simmons, for some purpose best
known to himself, had sent his coach away.
The sun was up, the birds sang in the
bushes, as the coach rolled homewards.-
Stephen Simmons sat by Charlotte with a
beating heart, his tongue fast in his mouth,
and his eyes trying 10 look any where save
in the eve of the maiden aunt, which he felt
was mailed upon him. How different the
dcmcanor of Charlotte We know not the
precise number of contra dancrs--(on the
days we write of there was no iinical qua
drlle, IN which people walked in their seep)
that any full bodied ballroom laborer can
90 through; but, certainly, Charlotte had
danced her utmost; and yet there she sat,
dying with fatigue, yet serene as Cato's
daughter. Once in the dance, Stephen VEN
tured to squeeze her palm, when she gave
him look that made him drop her hand like
Il thistle. There he sat, in the coach, awed
but loving: there sat she, awful, yet exqui-
sitely Indifferent
'lIumph very black' said the uncle
looking from the coach window.
BLESS me! big drops of rain = said the
aunt; and Charlotte turned a little pale.
Il shouldn't wonder,' vcnturcd Stcpher
Simmons, q shouldn't wonder f.
Mr.. Simmons said no more; indeed, it is
wonderful the words where not his last, for
=, Miss Charlotte Atkinson had thrown he,
arms so tightly round his neck SO closely
clung to him, that
Observation-Disclosures
-ang"
But no. the typc-loundcr cannot do il
, there is no printing thunder; especially the
f terrific claIs that seemed to break immediate.
~ over the carriage roof, and which, destroy
ing the soemnity of Charlotte Atkinson, madl
her, in her hour of terror and peril, throw
her arms about the neck of Ter masculine
ncighbor. Not that Mr.. Simmons could a
| all hattcr himself with the mark of distinc
ton for, had he been lIoltcntot, Charlotte
wouldn't least while the thunder lasted
have squeezed him no less icrvcntIy.
Charlotte, my dear said the ulcle, don
f you see that Mr. Simmons
'Let her alone cried the aunt; its thun
der, and that's the only faut she has ) tina
| sage lady being fully convinced Of the pow
cr of Charlo,te's antipathy, and the strengt
Of her principles.
AS she hates the whole SEN thought tn
e aunt, as Charlotte continued to clasp tn
neck of Simmons, there can be no harm il
: it,
:, The thunder continued, and still Chariot
5 unconscious Of the improperly, sought pro
7 lection Of stephen; who, Accommodate
t himself to circumstances, felt, Ivy degree.
S the pressure less mconyenent ; by degree:
" too, it relaxed ; and then, as the thunder wa
d renewed, he felt himself systematically en-
IS braccd, to the utter destruction of the econ
d omy of hls neckclolh. At length the thur
II der became subducd, and was heard muttcl
h ing away in the distance and the fears
g Charlotte were less violent and Stephen tc
/, ID heart, but whether his own or the lads, Il
l. could not we'll decide bat he felt himse
al supremacy happy. At length the aunt toucl
S ed Charlotte on the head--'My love, its dor
lc its done = when Charlotte, rccovcrlr
lc herself, looked a smile that went through ii
d bosom Of Stephen, and swecily sald-
c thank you, sir; many pardons I'm belt
10 now
ar \ short three months, and Charlotte Atki
to son became Mrs. Simmons TO the asto
I'd ishment OF Charlo,te's aunt, the sun rose al
I'd set in its Ordinary course-thc sky was bl,
~ the fields greenland the unfceIing Poop
n of the world went about their business, aug
l. ed, talked, and gossipped, just as before; al