Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-29


t. the ball.
The hall door closed, the sleigh drove off,
and poor Ellen felt as if the world was
nothing to her. In the solitude and silence
of her chamber her thoughts went back
TO the time when she first saw Charles
Germaine, when he turned from the beau
tful heiress whose family solicited his ALI
ance, and chose her portionless orphan
She remembered the summer eve when he
poured forth in words, his imprisoned
feelings, and taking her hand within his
own besought her to speak but one word,
and he would forever bless her-and that
word was not withheld; and she felt that
to lose his love would indeed be greater
trial than she could bear.
Sick and oppressed, and thinking the
air might relieve her, she prepared for a
walk, and telling Mary to fill a small basket
with nourishing food and cordlals, she set
out to visit the sick child she had men
toned TO Lucy.
1t was a clear, cold evening; the snow
lay deep and white on the earth and gilt
tered in the moonlight as if strewed with
fragments of precious stones. All was
s.ill-ihe village seemed deserted, and Ellen
walked swiftly forward, the snow crisped
and cracked under her feet, with a dis
tinctness which caused her to fancy there
were footsteps behind her, and almost
breathless, she arrived at the cottage.
After making some inquiries about the
little sufferer, and giving directions for ad-
ministering the medicines she had brought,
Ellen left the house, and was almost in
stantly accosted by person whom she
recognised as Edward Norris, a young
lawyer, who had more than once offered
her attentions which she was by no means
inclined TO accept. At any other time she
would have shrunk from his society, but
it was late, and she felt almost grateful for
his protection. The first step he took by
her side, showed her that he was into1ica-
ted, and more frightened than ever she
, hurried on in silence. till she reached the
gate before her uncle's door. As she put
! her hand on the latch, it was opened from
the other side, and there stood Charles Ger.
: maine, whom she supposed had gone to
M without her. Rather would Ellen
have sunk into the earth, than have met
him at that moment. Casting look of
contempt on Norris and bowling coldly 10
| ha he hot,
appearances were against her; and with
feeling of desperation she shut the door in
her compcnion's face, hurried TO her room
and burying her face in her pillow, gave
way to feelings unlike any other the heart
can experience.
"He surely will not leave me-" she
thought, "without seeking an explanation;
yet how can ! explain? No! Lucy's Sc.
cret shall be safe with me, even at the
risk of my dearest hopes" And kneeing,
she sought strength to her noble resolution,
from source which never faileth the up
right in heart.
A feeling of calm and holy resignation
came over her, and taking book she re-
solved to 81, up till Lucy's return. The
hours sped slowly ONT was on the stroke
Of midnight when sleigh dashed up to
the door, and in moment, Lucy, cold and
white as marble, entered the room, and
dropping into a chair, burs, into ht of
hysterical sobbing.
Lucy, dear Lucy what is the matterl"
exclaimed Ellen much alarmed.
At the sound of her voice, Lucy's sobs
redoubIed. In her agitation, her cloak fell
off from her shoulders, andihad she been
wrapped in her shroud, Ellen could scarcely
have been more shocked. Arrayed in her
ball dress of thin white muslin, her neck
was bare, its snowy whiteness fearfully
spotted with deep purple the effect of the
intense cold. A frill of rich blonde fell
from her shoulders. which was looped up
from the elbows, leaving the lower part
of her arms uncovered even by gloves,
while on her red and swollen wrists gilt
tered the fatal bracelet. As her eye fell
on them. she became calm. Taking her
hand, Ellen said kindly:
"Tell me, dear cousin, what has hap
pened! Why have you come home in this
strange way, and where is Frank Derfordl"
do not mention him!" exclaimed Lucy
al payer uish IN haar he mama l.