The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-11-29
VOL. Vino. 80.

of the world, and placing perhaps too great
: value on riches, had good heart. This
: question for a moment staggered her. But
at length she answered frankly.
"Certainly not. But then Miss Oxley
surely is a loveable girl, and one any gen.
tlemen could love-"
"Here you mistake, my dear aunt. Miss
Oxley is very sweet creature, cenfeSs;
and yet she does not approach my beau
ideal. cannot, therefore, love her. But,
IN this mysterious portrait, behold every
thing | could look for, since. not only does
the mere physical beauty of the face equal
my beau ideal. but there is all that evidence
of pure and sensitive, yet lofty soul stam-
ped there. which should desire. The orig
inal of that portrait, knov, is the noblest
of her SEX"
"Why what rhapsody ~ said the aunt
with quiet smile. "but seriously, should
like to see this portrait. Why" she asked
little archly, "dldn't you bring it with you?
It's not quite two hundred miles betwixt
city and city; and then, you know, l could
have hung it in my parlor, and adverti-
sed all my friends to search for the origi.
nal"
1t is impossible to say how long Mrs.
Templeton would have continued in this
half teasing way, but at this instant the
street bell rung.
"Who can il be, at this hour and on such
night p said she, breaking short off in
ker conversation.
Miss Becketth has brought her work home
said the footman, 'and she would prefer
hearing your opinion oft, if you can atforl
her the leisure"
"Poor child ~ said Mrs. Tempieton. in
a tone of commisseration. "send her up at
once. She doubtless wants the money!
continued the lady, "of she would scarcely
have walked here through all this peiline
storm. And she has seen better days too,
or am mistaken. Keep your seat, Ed
mund," she said. as her nephew rose to
leave, ''you can throw yourself IN that char
where you won't be noticed; and besides
| wish you to see my pretty mpstresS,'
she continued in a gayer tone, "for III stake
my new ponies against your hunter that
she's quite as beautiful as your portrait -
Indeed | know no one who equals her III
loneliness, and you are aware there are not
few pretty girls among my acquaintance "
Edmund sank to his seat just as the door
opened. Not wishing to intimidade the
vister, he did not look up until she had ia
ken her seat and began conversing with
Mrs. Templeton. At length, however, he
cast his eyes towards her. The young ladv
wore a close cottage bonnet, and as her side
was turned toward him he could not see her
face. But he noticed that her form was
one of exquisite proportions, and that
her foot and hand were of the most del
Icatc mould and size. lie thought too
that he had never heard a voice half so
musical; and when he noticed the thin
shawl which she wore, he could scarcely
retain his feelings. At this instant the
young lady, not aware that third person
was in the room, turned her face in his di-
rection. lie started and uttered Involunta-
rily an exclamation Of delight for there,
exact in every feature and in the expression
of the face, was the living counterpart, CT
the UNKNOWN PoRTRAIT! Yes 1t was
indeed the beautiful original who sat hcforc
him in her surprising Ioveliness, seeming
more lovely TO Moreton's eyes from the OBJ
vious penury against which she so no5ly
strove.
We leave our readers 10 imagine the Sc
quel. The agitation of Moreton forbade
concealment, and his words, apparently so
extraordinary to the young lady, but which
were quickly understood by Mrs. Temple
ton, soon brought matters 10 a crisis. She
took on herself the explanation, and with the
tact and delicacy of her sex, acquainted
the ngitated girl with sufficient 10 account
for her nephev's conduct.
We may suppose that the little family
slept, that night, under a warmer roof than
they had been accustomed TO for many
long day but in this matter, with an equal
regard to tact and deIicacy, Mrs. Temple.
ton only appeared.
Alice could not long resist the earnest
pleadings of Moreton. One who had loved
her so long and faithfully in secret could
not fail to make her happy; and besides
her own heart, when she began to see her
suitor's good qualities, pleaded powerfully
in his favor. Before spring had ushered
in her flowers, Alice was the happy wife of
Moreton,
The portrait. which had first made her
known to our hero, had been painted Just
before Mr.. Beckett's failure, and when he
became bankrupt he had been unable to pay
the artist for the picture. 1t was sent to
the exhibition TO be sold but us this was
in another city no one knew who was rep
by the UNKNOWN PORTRAIT.