Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-08-12

mood. And, whatever the penalty, she held
it sacred duty to submit the artists letter
to his notice. Her obligations as daugh-
ter, she held superior to all other consider
atoms. As soon then as her father rose
from his dinner, Alice placed the letterin his
hands, and with hurried step withdrew.
Had thunderbolt fallen at the feet of
Mr.. Montgomery, he could not have been
more surprised. His first impulse was 10
tear the letter to fragments,-his second
was to summon his daughter TO his pres
ence, and vent his indignation upon his in
nocent child. A beggarly artist! A crea-
ture to whom he had been patron7 Such
an adventurer to aspire TO the hand of an
heress-of his child! And. for few mo-
ments, the man Of the world was convused
with rage. But, Alice could never had ia
vored the hopes of this swindler--,his
mere vagabond And as the thought of
the mere possibility of such a circumstance
flashed upon the mind of the Banker, he
started from his seat as if a serpent had
stung him. Perceiving that he had lost his
self possession, he looked hurriedIy around
the room, and, seeing that he was still alone,
he took the letter from the floor on which
he had dashed it, and remembering the ne
cessity of policy and caution, again turned
his eyes and his mind upon its contents. 1t
was written with great plausibiiy. The
hand was neat and elegant-the language
choice and chaste--and the appeals such as
are we'll calculated TO touch the heart of
an unsophisticated girl. He called up the
person Of the artist to his mental vision and
endeavored to remember his manner and
the impression that had been made upon
him while the portrait of his deceased wife
was in progress. But the Banker could ar
rive at no conclusion. He had bestowed
little or no attention upon Rudolph, and
could scarcely remember his personal ap.
pearance.
A little longer, and he fancied himself
calm. He summoned his daughter TO his
: presence. She came. Her step was tmid
her cheeks were bloodless--and, as she
turned her eyes upon her stern parent, he
saw that they were suffused with tears
Nay, more; the form Of his departed wife
as she had won his proud heart in her early
brightness and beauty, seemed standing be.
fore him
"Alice, my child" he said, and his voice
grew thick with emotion.
In an instant the poor girl was at his fee
her whole frame convused; but no wore
came from her lips.
The Banker was unnamed. Had she
uttered volumes, the truth could not have
been more manifest to him. He saw tina
his daughter loved-but that she was pre-
pared to sacrifice herself to the will of be-
father. He raised her from her knee
he kissed her throbbing temples, ant
whispered few words of affection and Of
consolation into her ears,
you will soon forget him, Alice. He il
unworthy of you. Such marriage would
kill your father. The foolish passion aside
and you shall have everything your hear
can wish. l will order some splendid jew
elry for you tomorrow. And, on Thurs
day Alice, we will start for Saratoga"
A few big tears rolled down the cheek.
t of the heiress--her lip trembled with emo
tion-but no word of reproach did she
utter
But, who may describe the agony of tina
! poor young creature, when she sought heI
chamber that night! The glory and The
gloom had brig htened and darkened the SKY
of her being in almost the same hour
r She had but felt that she was loved ant
= that she loved again, only to be torn from
all the hopes and joys connected with a re
ciprocal passion. The sunshine and thu
I storm had burst upon her, and the flower O
! her first affections was crushed even in ii
happiest moment Of existence. She knel
, by the bedside, and prayed earnestly an
: long. She asked for counsel and assstanc
t from above--for strength to nerve her i
| the path of duty. She was young, sh
: knew, and inexperienced. Her fathe
h loved her fondly, tenderly--and hence, sh
e believed that il became her TO yield TO hi
will and wishes, even at the risk Of embi
IS tering the whole period of her after ext:
f tence. Poor Aicel How little did sh
J. know her own nature How little did sh
c know her own hearl How little the price
r, less affection, the enduring fidelity, whic