, 1842-05-14

SbS
you my word that my hand shall be
yours whenever you come TO claim
"But your parents, Edith,-what
will they say, if they had you cling
ing 10 a remembered lover, and per-
haPs rejecting some advantageous
settlement"
"They will suffer me 10 pursue my
own course, Edward, and will be
satisfied with any thing that binds
me TO my chi!dhood's home. ] am
too much the companion Of my pa
rents TO be looked upon in the light
of an intruder, when | prolong the
period of flial dependence"
"Then he it so, dearest; bound by
no outward pledge, we will cherish
our affection within our hearts, and
since we mustpart, you will still glad
den your quiet home with your sweet
presence, while will wander forth
to win the fortune which can alone
secure me my future happiness"
Three weeks after this interview,
Edward Ellis sailed for Smyrna, and
Mrs. Pemberton, as she witnessed
the ill-disguised agitation Of the lovers,
was compelled TO acknowledge that
~"after all, she really believed, if Ed
ward had s,aid, there would have
been match between him and
Edith"
But Edith buried within her own
bosom, her newly awakened emo
tons. Her manner was always so
quiet, that if her step did become less
light and her voice grow softer in its
melancholy cadence, it was scarcely
noticed by her thoughtless compan-
ions. She had learned that she was
beloved, only, in the moment Of sepa-
ration, and therefore there were few
tender and blissful r~ecollections TO
beguile the weary days Of absence;
and
"Womnn's love can live on long remembrance
<h"o ~ nv" lhoSiOub u ~ riIHntCsl tllUg
Affection gives, and hallows!"
She was n of those gentle beings
who draw from the font Of tenderness
within their own bosoms, 4 full
draught Of sympathy for the suffer
ings and wants Of others. She re-
turned to her selfdenying duties with
a more thoughtful spirit and a more
loving heart. Her character, always
full of goodness and truth, seemed to
assume an elevation Of feeling, such
as nothing but a pure and unseIfsh
attachment can ever create. A de-
sire TO become in all respects, wor-
thy Of him when she loved, gave n
new tone TO all her impulses, and her
vivid of duty became blendid
with her earnest desire 10 merit her
future happiness. Edward wrote
friend punctualIy to his young Charles
Psmberton. and every letter contain
ed some message to Edith, but she
alone could detect the secret mean
ing of tho apparently careless lines.
They afforded sufficient nutriment to
the love which was rapidly becoming
a part of her very being; and Edith
was content to abide her time!
In the mean time Mrs. Pemberton,
who became an adept in match-mak-
ing, busted herself in providing for
her younger girls, and was fortunate
enough to secure two most eligible
offers. Caroline, at eighteen became
the wife of a promising young lawyer,
while Maria, who was nearly two
years younger, married at the same
time a prosperous merchant, who had
lately set up his carriage and, as he
had no time TO use it himself, wanted
a wife 10 ride in it. Mrs. Pemberton
was in ecstasies, for she had succeed
ed in all her plans. Edith was still
at home, as 4 sort of house keeper,
head cook, chief nurse, etc. etc.,
sharing every body's labors and light
ening every body's troubles, while the
two giddy girls who had resolved not
to become useful as long as they could
avoid the necessity of it, were re-
specially settled in theirown homes.
She was never tired of extolling the
talents of one son-in law, and the fine
fortune of the other, while she spoke
of Edith as "that dear good girl, who,
| am happy to say, is a confirmed old
maid, and will never leave her moth
er while she lives" But this ma
nGuvre did not discourage several
from seeking the hand OF the gentle
girl. Her father wondered when
she refused two of the most unexcep-
tionable offers, and even her mother
felt almost sorry, when she declined
the addresses Of an elderly widower,
endowed with a fortune of half 4 mill
ion. and q family of fine children.-