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

SIC was BOluS titC ScIcnOUH VI Ill
PRODUCTION TO a gentleman; but Row he look
ed and what he said, she knew not. lie
might have been the yelled prophet l1okan-
ma, for aught she saw of his face, ior she never
lifted her eyes from the carpet but stood
clingng to her brothers arm: her cheeks bur-
ming with bushes, indeed her whole face ,teven
her neck was covered with the same crimson
hue. Clara knew that the deep sullusion she
was undergoing was anything but becoming,
and this conviction only added 10 the inten-
sity of the glow. The idea that she was &C
tualy in the presence of the formidable
Washington Graham, the prophcsicd hero of
her destiny, was too overwhelming. He adj
dressed her in the common language of cour-
tcsy, but she could only answer in monosyl-
tables, and whispering to her brother to lead
her to a window, he drew her away, plying
her confusion, yet vexed at her unwontcd
awkwarlncss and taclturnity.
Leave me hcre,' said she to Gertrude.
who followed her to her retreat, there are SO
many people in the centre of the room, that
| cannot breathe. | will not disgrace YOU
here
4 wW leave you, dear Clara, since you
desire it, answered she, with calm sweet
ness of manner that operated like charm in
soothing Clara's prcposterous agitation, land
only rememberthat while you are just to your
self, you can never disgrace us. But for my
sake, for Edwards sake, try to recover
yoursef-posscssion, and give my kinsman
the welcome have dared to promise him
from the sister of my husband
Clara felt the gentle rebukc conveyed in
these words, and as she followed with her
eyes Gerrude's retreating figure, admiring
that surprising gracefulncss which dislin-
guished her above all other women, she could
not but admire still more the kindness and
forbearancc she manifested towards one so
untutorcd, aud hayward as herself. The
soft evening air that nowel in through the
open window, cooled her fervld cheeks,
whiethe circumstance of her being permitted
to remain quiet much longer than she had
anticipated, composed while it mortified her.
She dreaded observation, she equally dread
ed neglect, and when she saw Washington
Graham conversing with some ladies' on the
opposite side of the room, without making
any effort to disturb her solitude, and knew
by their pleased and attentive countenances
that he was saying what seemed very agree
able and entertaining, she felt
1t were better to stand the nhtnings shock
lhan mouIder pleccneal on the rock
She had but partial view fhis face, as it
was somewhat turned from her, but his figure
struck her as being remarkably graceful and
gcntlemanlikc. In a little while he changed
his position, and her heart palpitatcd anew,
for she thought he was approaching her; but
no he was drawing near his cousin who hav-
ing been compelled to take her seat at the
harp, IAN instrument which still possessed all
the charm of novelty with her gucss,) was
bcckoning him to her side Clara, like her
brother, was passionately fond of music, and
Gertrudc's always thrilled no her very soul.
But now manly voice Of exquisite mclo-
dy mingled its deep notes with hers, and both
blending with the full, breczc-like strains of
the harp, rose like stream of rich distilled
perfume Edward was leaning over the in
slrumcnt in the same attitude she remembered
to have seen at Mrs. Cifton's never to be for
gotten party, but then his face was pale and
his countcnance dark ; now it was lighted up
with aneXpression of fervor and happiness as
intense as the human features are capable of
wearing, and Gertrude's eyes, floating in iq-
uid radiance, were occasionally lifted to his,
bcaming with the love she no longer sought
TO bury IN the foldings of her own heart,
Surely, thought Clara, have never love-
cd Edward, 'or my nature is too cold to love
as she does, and yet my existence seemed
to be bound up in his. Can there be love
stronger than that which binds together an
only brother and sister, when that brother,
too, exercises fathers tender guardianship,
in place of him who is laid low with the
dead 2
As she asked herself this question, the inn
age OF Rover seemed to glide before her, and
memory whispered, 'The gcancc of Rover,
when ii bends on me expresses the same
depth and fire, and can it be he loves me
more than Edward And will he ever fill,
and more than fill brothers place within
my heart Dare ever avow the interest
he has inspired, to those who have woven
my destiny with that oftlis dazzling stran-
ger!
AT this moment the face of Washington
was turned towards her, and though her Wis
ion is somewha, obscured by the tears that
Involuntary suilused her eyes, she could OBJ
serve its lincaments, and she thought she
could trace in every feature the pride of
wealth and conscious superiority. His fine
figure was set off by a dress ofaristocralic ell
egance, his hair was arranged in careless but
graceful waves around his temples. revealing
"A forhcad whose unsunned whitencss plainly
Indicated that he at least was exempt from
the primcval curse, of earning his bread by
the sweat of his brow. The southern sun
had given TO his cheeks IA manlicr glow, so
that the idea of eflemnacy could never be
associated with Washington Graham, who
looked exactly what he was, gentleman by
nature, by birth, by wealth, and by educa-
ton. The music had SO far subdued Clara,
and carried her out Of herself. that when
Gertrude again approached her, accompan-
led by her cousin, she received them with
less trepidation, and she ventured to listen
and speak, though still with her eyes bowed
down in 'pcnetrative shame. Had Clara
been conscious other own attractions, she
would not have suffered so much from self
distrust. She could not know them, for