Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-31
From Mc Ladies' World Of Fashion.
THE BRIDAL EVE.
by HARRIET BowLEs.

entering the chamber of the latter, at Sara
toga, they discovered costly necklace, with
a perfumed note accompanying il. Mr..
Wallingford is indeed all that is generous
and noble
The daughters cheek became tinged with
crimson, though smile rose to her lips
Us she contemplated her lovers costly Gift.
At that moment her heart was torn with
contendlng emotions: but alas she knew
that she could find no sympathy in her
distress from her parent.
Mrs. Benton was a widow, with no child
but her beautiful daughter. Aspiring, vain
and %mercenary, she resolved that Isabel
should make a brilliant match, and for this
purpose her mother had brought her dauqh-
ter to the Springs where her loneliness rem
dered Miss Benton the belle of the season.
Her charms had conquered among others the
millionaire OF the year, a middle aged re-
tired merchant and she in obedience TO
her mothers explicit commands, was on the
ensuing day, to become the bride of Mr..
Wallinglord.
But Isabel, though feeling it to be her
duty 10 obey her parent, could not submit
to this doom without many and painful strug-
giles. A year before she had met and loved
a young painter, when on a visit to a friend
in the country and though they had not
met for many months, his memory was still
fresh in her heart, and she felt that though
she might wed the wealthy MIR. Wallingford.
she could never give him the affection she
had already bestowed upon the poor artist.
AS the day appointed for her union ap-
preached, her feelings became more and
more acute, until now she could have huno
herself at her mothers feet and begged to
be released from her engagement, only that
she knew her parent would prove i~nexora-
Bile.
Alas J thought Isabel, as her mother left
the apartments, there is no escape for me
from this hated alliance. And vet Mr..
Wallingford is all that is noble and gener-
ous-yet-I cannot love. Oh Henry ? she
exclaimed, apostrophising her absent lover,
would that you were here. But what do
/ say? For months he has not written to
me, and alas II cannot conceal from my
self that | am forgotten. No, it is sinful in
me thus to think of one who has deserted
me. Oh! that he could ever forget those
dear, dear moments when we walked togeth-
er under the old avenue, while the moon
%glimmered down through the leaves. and
our hearts beat in unison with the music of
all nature around US. Oh Henry, dear
Henry and she clasped her hands, that
ever you should forget those hours
Nor have | forgotten them, dear Isabel
exclaimed a voice beside her, that thrilled
every nerve with ecstacy, and looking around
she perceived her lover, who had entered
the little parlor unperceived.
We will not describe the thousand things
that were said at this meeting. Suffice it
to say they were like all lovers p~rotesta-
tons. But the explanation of Henry must
be laid before our readers, though in a
more s~uccinct and less broken m amer than
he gave it. His tale, however, even as told
by himself, was short. He had written ac-
cording to promise to Isabel, but received
no answer. Again and again he had writ
ten, but always with the like success, until
at length his pride forbade him TO write
again. But his love had survived notwith-
standing the apparent GOODNESS of Isabel,
and having accidentally heard that she was
at the Springs, he had resolved to see her
and learn the worst.
Then it was your mother that intercepted
your letters said Henry, when Isabel had,
in turn narrated her story, 'and this marriage
oh Isabel dear Isabel, can you sacrifice
yoursclfP
Why need we tell the result. Love ever
t%riumphs. 1t was arranged that, that night,
Isabel should elope with her lover.
1t was between the hours of two and
three o'clock on the same night, that Isabel
who could not think of sleeping, stole into
the little private parlor that was adjoining
to the chamber of her mother, and not far
from the chamber occupied by Mr.. Walling-
ford. The position Of this parlor rendered
it one from which a nocturnal flight was
not only possible but easy, for in this parlor
there was a window out of which you could
with ease step in o the garden, and at the
end of that garden was one Of the leading
streets of the town.
Isabel was seated at a table on which
there was a small lamp and a tiny watch
The hands of that tiny watch seemed to her
TO be almost fixed, or to move as if nothing
could induce them to go on to the hours of
appointment. At first Isabel awaited the
hour of rendezvous without hesitation, and
without trembling but when it was APP
preaching TO the hour for the signal given
with her lover, her duty to her parent oc-
cured to her, and she hesitated. Affection
for her mother-for Mrs. Benton was still
her Notwithstanding long with her prom
Use to her lover. At length she said -
mo, | cannot fly. My mother my moth
er-harsh though you may be, [ cannot cost
you a tear. | will write a note for Henry,
telling him cannot keep my promise with
him, and to morrow | will throw myself at
my mothers feet and confess all. She will,
she must relent.'
Accordingly she took up a pen, and hast