, 1842-07-02
Francis Beverly, her faithful Mentor,

\
ever by her side. In a month from
the time that she took her first les
son, she wrote to her brother with
her own hand, and so much did it re-
semble that in which Frank had writ
ten, initiating as he had, purposely,
a woman's small light chirography.
that the difference was not known.
The correspondence between them
now became exceedingly interesting.
He was, it appeared,a lawyer of
standing and intelligence, in Charles
ton, South Carolina, engaged in an
extensive practice. Important bust
ness, he said, would keep him away
from her at least six months, but he
urged her to come to him at once.
But she wrote to him, that she would
prefer remaining with the kind friends.
though poor and humble in life, who
had been to her father and mother
when there was none to take her in,
until he could come to her. He then
sent her a considerable sum of mo
ney, and kept up with her a frequent
correspondence, in which he seemed
DESTROYS of learning as much of her
cast Of mind and habits of thinking
as possible. All these letters. in the
simplicity of her heart, she submit
ted to Frank, and also her answers;
and any suggestions OF his we're
promptly adopted by the maiden.
The frequent visits of the young
man to Mrs. Grand's soon became
village talk, greatly to the annoy
ance OF his stately sister Isabella, who
let no opportunity pass OF remonstra-
ting with INN upon the subject. This
he took a. very kindly, and still con-
tlnued to pursue his own course
One evening as they sat together, she
said to him in a tone of concern
81 wish you would give up your
foolish visits to that Fanny Lincoln"
"Nhy so, sister,"
"Because, everybody is talking a.
bout YOU"
swell, and what do they say ?" in
quired Frank, quite composedly.
"Why, they say Of course, that
you are going to marry that GIRL"
Isabella replied, in an indignant tone.
"Do they, indeed! Well, really,
i! is strange how things Of this kind
will get out."
"Brother! what do you mean?" ex-
claimed Isabella, springing TO her
feet as suddenly as if a pistol had
been fred by her ear.
"Why, mean TO marry Funny
Lincoln" replied the young man, in
4 calm tone Of voice.
For a few moments the sister was
so bcwildered and confound hal she
could not speak. At length she
said
"You but trife with me, brother"
"lndeed, | do not" Frank said. in
a serious tone. 81 have spent four
months now, in the daily study Of
Fanny Lincoln's charter, and am pre-.
pared to pronounce her far superior
to any young lady that it has been
thus far my let to meet"
Poor Isabella was for a time mute
with surprise.
"Surely," she at length said, "my
brother is not going to disgrace him
self and his sister thus"
GLOW can it be disgrace to marry
Fanny Lincoln!' he asked.
"\Vho is she, or what is she, bu,
the servant of a dairyman's wife?"
Isabella replied with warmth.
81 will tell you," Frank said, calm.
Ily. "She is the adopted daughter o
Mrs. Grand, who has raised her with
all the care her condition would al.
low her to hestow. She is pure, and
gentle, and innocent"
"And ignorant, and vulgar, and
forward, and"
mo by any MEANS" Frank said
interrupting his sister. "For four
months she has been applying herself
to books with an eagerness and ASST
duty that has produced what | must
call wonderful results. Few young
ladies Of my acquaintance, in this vii
lage, except indeed my sister, have
mastered more substantial volumes
than she. And what she reads she
understands and retains. AS to vul-
garity, Isabella, you are again mista-
ken. Nature formed her a lady, in
mind and action. Few, let me as
sure you, have more ease of manner
or more true maidenly dignity Of
character. And forward she is not,
but is rather inclined to shrink, and
this shrinking disposition seems to in
crease more and more every day."
But nothing that Frank could say
had any effect in reconciling his Sis
ter. She would not consent to see