Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-05-27
Among their numerous admirers was one

who mingled timidy with the throng of
the noble and the gifted that surrounded the
lovely heiresses of Fokstone, as if conscious
of his feeble claims upon their notice or
regard. Herbert Bellenden was younger
son, who, from his boyhood, had been des-
tined to the church, because a valuable H.
wing was in the gift of his family His
rectory was but short distance from Folk
stone, and the large estates of his elder
brother lay contiguous to those which were
the future inheritance Of the lovely sister.
1t would be useless to attempt describing
the progress of those events which gradu-
ally tended to compass the scheme of the
romantic but self-willed Lilias. She had
early discovered Herbert Bellendens pref
erence for Rosamond--she had almost as
soon detected her proud sisters mental
struggles against reciprocal affection, and
yet, in despite of these things, she resolved
to win the object of her love, even if her
path to the altar led over her sisters crush
ed and bleeding heart. All the powerful
machinery of woman's witness was put
in motion to secure the prize. All that she
could devise of boldness or of stratagem
was exercised upon the unsuspecting lovers.
By cunningly constructed tales of Herbert's
presumption, Rosamond was instigated to
treat him with degree of proud GOODNESS
almost amounting to contempt, while the
downcast eye of Lilias, her quivering lip,
her trembling voice, her agtated manner
when in his presence, were all made to bear
pal pable witness TO the depth of her own
fervent tenderness. A woman's cunning is
almost sure of success, because men rarely
suspect the sex until they have had some
experience Of their falsehood and even if
once deceived, personal vanity is usually
most powerful auxiliary on the side of the
weaker, but more subtle adversary. Her.
bert Bellenden was entirely deceived by
the devices of Lilas. He fancied that the
sensitive girl was cherishing hopeless pas
sion which she vainly struggled to hide,
and when he compared her ill-concealed
agitation of manner with the stern, cold
indifference of her sister, he could not but
wonder at his own waywardness in thus
humbling himself before the contemner,
while he turned from the worshipper.
One evening--it was the dusk hour of
twilight, and the shadow of the broad and
gnarled oaks threw deeper gloom over
the pathway, as Herbert encountered the
lady of his love. She was treading with
quick step narrow walk which traversed
the lawn, and lost itself in the darkest
woodland. A closed bonnet partly hid her
features, but the proud curve of those
smiling lips, the stately tread Of that tall
form was not TO be mistaken. He little
knew what thoughts of coming triumph
had lent that naughty look and that proud
step to the maiden who now stood beside
him. Day after day had he brooded over
his preference for the cold beauty, and
pondered on the belief that he was the
object of her sisters love. Sometimes he
was tempted to Danish himself from the
presence of both--sometimes he was upon
the point Of devoting himself to the gentle
and loving Lilias-yet his vacllating tenn
per led him still to defer the moment of
explanation. Now, however, he was nerved
by courage heretofore unknown to him.
! They were alone-no witnesses but the
silent stars could behold his agtaton-his
voice would reach no ears save hers--and
yielding to an impulse which he could
neither understand nor control, he poured
forth the long repressed tide of deep affec-
ton. Silently did the lady listen to the
burning words of passion--silently did she
sufer him to draw hertoward him--silently
did she hide her face upon his bosom, as he
prayed her to forget rank and fortune, and
parental anger, for the strong and abiding
love of husbands heart Did no misgiv-
ing seize him when he found the naughty
, and frank Rosamond listening calmly to
such a propositions Did he believe that
passion had so subdued her proud temper
that she would not only wed the untitled
r younger son. but even degrade herself by
clandestine marriage7
On the night following this unlocked fol
! interview, yelled and muffled figure stole
i silently from postern gate, which opened
r upon by-path through Folkstone park