Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-04

iul nome, and The image OF that tar gar
was always the prominent object in BIZ
pictures for the future. But change came
over the spirit Of the whole nation. Wealth
poured into the country-or at least what
was then considered wealth-and with i
came luxury and sIoth. The golden stream
came 10 some like mountain torrent. and
others began to repne al receiving il only
as the tiny rivulet. People made haste 10
be rich,' and Charles Waterton was infec.
ted with the same thirst after wealth. He
met with Laura Tarleton, learned that she
was an orphan heiress, and instantly deter
mined to secure the glittering prize. Am.
bition conquered the tenderness OF his ma.
ture; he forsook the lady OF his love, and
after an acquaintance Of six weeks succeed
ed in becoming the husband Of the wealthy
votary Of fashion.
Not long after his marriage, he discover.
ed one slight error in his calculations, and
found that his wife's hundred thousand
dollars had in reality dwndled down to thir-
~ thousand. But even this was not to be
despised, and Charles, conscious that he had
nothing but talents and industry when he
commenced life, felt that he had drawn a
prize in the lottery. Grateful to his wife
for her preference for him, and conscious
that he had not bestowed on her his full
affection, he determined to make all the
amends in his power, by lavishing every
kindness upon her, aud submitting implicit
y to her wishes. Having intimated to HIM
that she should prefer boarding during the
first year Of their married life, he accor-
dinghy engaged suite OF apartments at the
Aston House, where they lived in a style Of
spIendor and ease exceeding y agreeable to
the taste of both. Mrs. Waterton was ex.
tremely pretty, with an innocent, child-like
face, and graceful figure, and Charles felt
so much ptide in the admiration which she
received in society, that he forgot to notice
her mental deficiency. Their time was
passed in perpetual round of excitement
and gayety.
During the hours when the counting room
claimed the husbands attention, the young
wife lounged on sofa, read the last new
novel, dawdled through a mornings shop.
ping, or paid fashionable visits. The after
noon was spen, over the dinner table, while
the evening soon passed in the midst Of
brilliant party, or amid the pleasures Of
some public amusement. But living in the
hustle of hotel, with large circle Of &C.
quaintances always ready to drink Mr..
Waterton's wine and flrt with his pretty
wife, they were rarely left to each others
society, and at the termination of the first
twelve-months, they knew little more of
each others tempers and feelings than when
they pledged their vows at the altar.
Charles had learned that his placid Laura
was some what pertinacious and very fond
of dress, while she had been deeply morti-
fed by the discovery that Charles deceased
mother had, during her widowhood, kept
thread and needle store; but this was all
that they had ascertained Of each other
There had been no studying Of each others
characler-no opportunity Of practising
that adaptation so necessary to the comfort
OF married life. They had lived only in
crowd, and were as yet in the position Of
partners in d quadrille, associated rather for
a season of gayety than for the changefu
scenes of actual life.
The commehcemen Of the second year
found the young couple busily engaged in
for housekeeping. A stately
house, newly built, and situated in a fash.
ionable part Of the city, was selected by
Mrs. Waterton, and purchased by her OBJ
sequious husband in obedience to her wish
es, though he did not think it necessary to
inform her ,wo-thirds Of the purchase mon
ey was to remain on mortgage. They now
only awaited the arrival Of the rich iurni-
ture which Mrs. Waterton had directed her
sister to select in Paris. This came a. length,
and with all the glee of child she beheld
her house fitted with carpets of such turflike
softness that the foot was almost buried in
their bright flowers; mirrors that might have
served for walls to the palace o. truth;
couches, divans and iauteuls, inlaid with
gold and covered with velvet most cxquis-
itely painted; curtains, whose costly tex
ture had been quadrupled in value by the
skill OF the embroidress; tables of the fl.
nest mosaic; lustres and girandoles of eve.
ry variety, gltterng with their wealth OF
gold and crystal; and all the thousand ex-
pensive toys which serve to minister TO the
frivolous tastes of fashion. The arrangement
oil the sleeping apartments was on a scale OF
equal magnificence. French dressing tables,
with all their parapaernalia Of Sevres china
& crystal; Pysche glasses, in frames ofivory
and gold; beds of rosewood, inaid with Two.
ry, and canopied with gold and silver, were
among the decorations. But should the
reader seek to ascend still higher-the up.
per rooms-the servants apartments, uncar-
peted, unfinished, destitute of all the com.
forts which are as necessary to domestics
as to their superiors, would have been
found to afford striking contrast to the
spendors of those parts of the mansion
which were intended Tor display.
With all his good sense, Charles Water
neil. i. &.