The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-15


beautiful drapery which had impaired to
her such ideal lovelhess. | knew that |
was lavori,o in the family. for | was
wealthy and independent, and, perhaps,
of all rheresa's admirers, what the world
would call the best match. maliciously
asked her to play on the piano, but she
made a thousand excuses, studiously
keeping back the tue reason, her dsor-
dered attire. asked her to play game
of chess, but she had headache she
was too stupid; she never could do any
thing on rainy evening.
'At length took my leave. inwardly
blessing the moving spirit which led me
abroad that night, Il. ii the spell which
had SO long enthralled my senses was
broken. Theresa called up one of her
lambent smiles as babe adieu.
Never call again on rainy evening"
she sporlively SAID, Il am always so rech-
edly dull. believe was born to
live among the sunbeam, the moonlight
and the stars. Clouds will never do for
me-
Amen y l silently responded, as |
made good my retreat.
The rain continued undated, but my
social feelings were very far from being
damped. | had the curiosity to make
another experiment. The night was not
far advanced, and as | returned from Mrs.
Vane's fashionable mansion, saw mod
est light glimmering in the distance. and
hailed it as shpwrecked mariner halls
the star that guides him homeward.-
Though Young | knew there were many
rainy days in life, and thought compan-
ion who was born for sun-beams alone
would not aid to dissipa,e their gloom
| had, moreover, some suspicion that the
daughter who thought it sufficient ex-
cuse for personal neglect, that there was
no one presen, but her mother, would as
a wife be equally regardless of a husbands
presence.
While pursued these reflections. my
feet involunlarily drew nearer The light
which had been the loadstone Of my
opening manhood. had continued TO
meet Mary IN the gay circles we frequent
ed, bu, had lately become almost stran-
ger to her home. Shall be welcome
guest? Shall | find her en- dishabiNe,
and discover that feminine beauty and
grace are incompatible with rainy eve
nings ? heard sweet voice reading
aloud as the door opened, and knew ii
was the voice which was once music to
my ears. Mary arose on my entrance,
laying her book quietly on the table, and
greeting me with modest grace and
self-possession peculiar TO himself. She
looked surprised, little embarrassed, but
very far from being dispeased. She made
no alusion to my enlargement, expressed
no establishment at my un:imely visit, nor
once limited, that, being alone with her
mother and not anticipating visitors, she
thought it unnecessary TO wear the hablli-
menls of iady. Never in my life had !
seen her look so lovely. Her dress was
perfectly plain, but every fold was ar
ranged by the hand Of the graccs. Her
dark brown hair, which had natural
wave in it, now uncurled by the dampness
was put back in smooth ringlets from her
brow, revealing face which did not con-
slider its beauty wasted because a mothers
eve alone rested on its bloom A beauti-
ful cluster of au,umnal roses, placed in a
glass vase on the table perfumed the
apartment, and bright blaze on the hearth
din'used a spirit Of cheerlulness around,
while it relieved the atmosphere of its
excessive moisture. Mrs. Carlton was
an invalid, and suffered also from an in
Aamation of the eyes. Mary had been
reading aloud to her from her (avotie
book. What do you think it was 1t
was very old fashioned one, indeed--no
other than the bible. And Mary was not
ashamed to have such fashionable young
gentleman as | then was see what her
occupation had been. What contrast
TO the scene had Just quilted How |
loathed myself for the inlatuation which
led me to prefer the artificial graces OF
belle to this pure child Of nature. drew
my chair to the table, and en.rcated that
they would not look upon me as a stran-
ger, but as a friend anxious to be re-
stored to the forfeited privileges of an old
acquaintance. | was understood in a mo-
ment, and without a single reproach, was
4
Iiariy. The hours had wasted with
Theresa seemed kind Of mesmeric slum.
Der, blank in my existence, or, al least
a feversl dream.
What do you think Of rainy even
ing, Mary 2 asked before left her.
Il love it Of all things replied she
with animation rhcre is something so
homedrawing, so heart-knitting, in its in.
d,anco 'rha Ianonbo,, ;,s ,,k,.h k;pI