Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-07-02

| ter.
Pray, what made you utter that trusm
so very emphatically?' asked his sister, as
she laughingy looked up from her needle
work.
Because l never felt its truth so forci-
bly, answered Charles.
Il hope you have had no new evidence OF
their eccentricity, brother, said Susan,
archly.
Indeed have was the significant reply,
i thought that you, Susan were free from
the caprice that characterize your sex, but
believe now that women are all alike
| What have l done, dear CharlesP
oh, you know what mean, Sue, here !
find you as calm, quiet and cheerful, as if
nothing had occurred to disturb the cur
rent of your feelings, and yet only this
morning you deliberately murdered the
peace of as fine fellow as ever the sun
shone upon
Brother, this is unkind,' said Susan,
blushing deeply as she spoke.
Il do not mean to say aught that will
pain you, said Charles; but | cannot re-
frain from telling you that you have been
guilty of great injustice towards my friend.
May ask why you refused the hand of
Edward Hartleyp
who told you it was ever offered to my
acceptance, brotherl'
Il heard it from his own lips have Just
had long interview with him, and the
anguish which he is suffering would melt
the heart Of any one but selfish woman
Charles, you are angry, and of course
unjust; Edward Hartley has less sense of
delicacy than l supposed him to possess,
if he can thus pour his complaints into the
ear of another
why was l not informed of his propo-
sal, Susan? Surely, your only relatives,
your mother and brother, ought to be con-
suited on matter of such Importance
Il have no concealments from mamma,
Charles; she knew the whole affair, and
had / been disposed to accept his ad-
dresses, you certainly would have been
consulted
That is an excellent idea, Sue; if you
had accepted him, should have been al
lowed the privilege of knowing it after the
matter was settled
NO, brother, if had loved Edward
Hartley we'll enough to become his wife,
| should not have welded him without
your appreciation; but, when knew that
my decision was already made, felt
that it would be wrong to betray his con-
fdence by disclosing his prefer, even to
you
But | might have succeeded in persuad-
ing you to different decision
That would be impossible, Charles; my
objection to him, is one which only him
self could have removed, and it is too late
now
Yet you were once inclined to like him.
Il do not deny il; when first became
acquainted with him, his fine appearance,
his agreeable manners, and his varied tai
ents, excited my admiration, and but for
mammals kind watchfulness, might have
allowed my affections to become involved
but l am thankful that l was preserved
from such misfortune
"A great misfortune, truly you would
really have been an OBJ jet of pity, had you
become the wife of the handsome, gifted
and wealthy Hartley.
Mrs. Wharton had listened with deep
interest to the conversation between her
children, until perceiving Susan's flushed
cheek and fearful eye, she interposed.
Your sympathy with your friend, makes
you unkind to your sister, Charles; | will
answer in sober earnestness your ironical
remark, and can affirm with truth, that if
if Susan were the wife of Hartley, she
would be an object Of pity
why so, pray!'
Because he is thoughtless, selfish vo-
tary of pleasure; he spends his time, his
money, and his health, in round of frivo-
lous pursuits, which, to say the loast of
them, are vain and worthless
yet no one has ever accused him of vi
cious habits
Not get, Charles
'Oh, that is just woman's remark, Sc
we're, sarcastic and uncharitable; you can
not bring any serious charge against him,
and therefore you take it upon yourself
to predict future vices.
My son, trust you have never had
reason to accuse me of want of Chris
tan charity, but have lived long enough
in the world to know that when youth,
usually the season Of generous and lofty
impulses, is given up TO selhshness and
dleness, vice is not far distant. Edward
Hartley is still very young, yet he is al
ready noted for his epicurean habits, his
thoughtless prodigality, and his love of the
wine cup
mo, no, MOTHER interrupted Charles,
lyou wrong him, indeed you do; he is a
little wild perhaps, and possesses very
excitable temperament; but he has never
been degraded by intoxication.'
'Ah, Charles, you little know how insid-
ious are the first attacks of vice; the very
weakness which renders him unable to re-
sist the excitement of good wine and bad