Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-03

Dlenued Win That oil her lover, and she would
often start as in imagination she met the
gaze Of the handsome stranger, and heard
his low, sweet voice-or felt the soft pres
sure Of his hand. She could not deny that
he was, save one, the most winning and ac-
complished man she had ever met but the
form OF her Henry rose TO her mind, as she
beheld him on that moon-lit night when
she had plighted her young love, and prom
ised never to give her hand to another. The
pearly tear started to her eye as she thought
how many and long might be the days which
would pass ere his return and she shud-
dered at the thought that they might nepcr
meet again. On the second evening after
the party, a servant handed Clara small
note. She repaired to her own room with
trembling haste for the writing seemed IA
miliar, aud she could hardly account for the
thrill which the sight of it sent through her
soul. She opened the letter with eager
haste, and glance at the contents explained
the whole. With throbbiIg heart and
flushed face she read,
Beloved Clara, are you still my own p
Henry has returned to claim his bride, and
is now waiting to clasp you to his heart
Meet me, when you shall have read this, in
our blessed retreat, and you shall hear all.
HENRY.'
Clara's brain whrled, her heart beat au-
dibly, and she was near iainting, but sudden
ly starting to her feet and clasping her hands
together, she exclaimed,
Il shall see him and so soon He is
even now awaiting me. Father in Heaven,
she continued, raising her fearful but Joyous
eyes, Il thank thee. My prayers are ans.
wered. / shall yet be happy-oh how hap
py.'
Throwing a shawl about her, Clara was
the next moment treading the path which led
to the end of the garden. She stood at the
entrance of the grotto, her cheeks flushed
her hair unconfned and floating in the eve.
ming breeze, and her whole form trembling
with emotion. And there, with his arms
extended, his noble face lighted with Joy
and his eloquent eyes beaming with love and
gratitude, was the dark eyed stranger--the
wealthy and distinguished Stanhope.
Clara, dear Clara, we meet again. Tel
me. Are you still my owni ?
The fair girl, overcome with astonishmenl
and Joy, could only articulate, Henry and
throwing herself on his neck, wept aloud
Was j. possible, that the rich, the courted
and admired Mr. Stanhope was her poor
pennyless Henry Bentleyl That he had re-
turned, uncontaminated and unchanged, 10
claim her as his happy, blest bride She
had only to raise her eyes to his face 10 be
convinced that it was no illusion, for there
was the high, calm brow, the thick auburn
curls, and the dark, eloquent eyes which
could belong to no other. She now wonder
ed that he had not been recognized on the
evening of their first meeting.
CLARA, murmured her lover, this blessed
moment repays me for all the tolls aud anx-
ieties Of the years of our long separation
To find thee still the same, though more
beautiful, and your pure heart all my own,
is more than deserved, more than | dared
to hope. Yes, Clara, feel that you are
mine, and my heart blesses you and through
life will bless you.
Dear Henry, sob5ed the weeping girl,
smiling through her tears, i am too happy.
i cannot believe that you are returned-l
cannot persuade myself that am not under
the influence of pleasing dream. But you
will not leave me again. and she chung con-
vulsively to his arm, as if she feared TO lose
him forever.
Leave thee never and parting the long
ringlets from her white brow, he imprinted
there feryent kiss.
But why, dear Henry continued the
lovely girl, why have you come back with
an assumed name-and why did you not
come to us Immediately on your arrival
i will explain all TO you, dearest; and
here, in this beautiful spot, with the silsery
moon above us, and the soft whispering
breeze around, will relate briefly what has
happened since babe you, on this self same
spot, an agonizing farewell
early the next morning, after bidding a.
dieu to your father, and silently invoking
Heavens choicest blessings on y0ur head, l
turned from this dear abode of my child
hood, this home of my happy youth, and d.
rected my steps toward the nearest seaport
determining to set sail by the first opportu-
nifty for India. You are aware, dear Clara,
that our parents were classmates at College,
and intimate friends; aad that after they
separated, a correspondence was kept up
between them for several years, and that, at
my fathers death, my mother having previ-
ously died, your kind father sent for me and
took me to his home, where was ever treat
ed as child. ] was left entirely destitute |;
for my poor mother, having married against
her fathers will, was disowned and the
Immense wealth of my grandfather, at his
death, was possessed by his only son, my
mothers brother. set sail for India week
after bidding you farewell, and after pleas
ant and prosperous voyage, reached the des-
tined port. You can Judge of my feelings,
a stranger in strange land, with no friend
or familiar face to greet my arrival, aud not
knowing whittier to direct my steps, or what
course to pursue. But God never iorsakes