The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-06-20
CHAPTER II,

lHey CluSc tic uhy p"'"''
.Vhat charming family those liarcourls are
an id the young bride, Mrs Rutherford, the morning
after the ball; they warm hearted and hoSP'-
table. am sure no can know Mr. and Mrs liar
court without loving them, and their taste IL certainty
exquisite So,
GLOW IIarcourt can maintain the style he does re
piled her father, 'amazes me- II can't last long, for
know TINT he is embarrassed now; aud where the
money comes from is past my comprehension
wherever it comes from replied his daughter,
there appears plenty Of ii. In fact, papa, sus-
pcct Mr. IIarcourt is richer than you are aware Of;
for, you know, for years you have prophesied that
't could not last long, and yet it still continues
and the Ilarcourts are as gay and prosperous as
ever
Il tell you rejoined Mr. Campbell, impnticnty 'thnt
know it can't. wish, for Elarcourts sake that 1t
could. He is n warm. hearted, excellent man, and !
believe the young people are well disposed; but the
extravaganza with which they live, is most reprehen
sible and must end in ruin.
well papa said Mrs Rutherford, not choosing to
prolong the discussion, Il sorry for it, for they Ger
tainly do spend with taste and feeling too, than
any persons know
Il never heard before, Emily said her husband,
laughing soc peoples spending, with feeling, though
have with TASTE
Il mean replied she that the lIarcourts do not
fete the rich and gay alone For instance, their CIV
irg us this party. They know we are to live in n
very quiet, small way, and can entertain
them; but it is feeling of genuine kindness that
prompted them to show attention to old friend s
daughter
.Cerainly,' said one Of her brothers; and ii was
10 hriiopt marty that ho 4
been given this winter. How beautiful Ellen Har-
cout looked
sshe is, indeed pretty creature, replied Mrs
Rutherford. sFIow beautifully those delicate white
rosee conrased with her rich dark hair ;and her dress
was so very light and white that it was pleasure to
look at her.
Il don't know what her dress was replied young
Campbell, 'but never saw her look brilliant;
her eyes seemed fairly to emit light The first thing
you women always think of is the dress She might
have worn a calico, for uught know
you would have known quickly enough If she
had, rejoined his sister You gentlemen feel the ef-
feet without knowing the cause. and many time
in fact, they only looked shabby ~
Maybe answered her brother, 'but you II not per
suade me that it Ellen Harcourt's roses, and not
her eyes, thst admired last night
Il grant you, her eyes superb replied his sis
ter; they deep dark: you look in and in, like
looking in we'll
yes, contnued young Ca mPbell. 'and seeing
truth at the bottom. never saw rranker, nobler
expression
Julia is very pretty, too rejoned Mrs Ruth
erford.
yes, but not equal to Elem said the young man.
with earnestness.
Il don't know what prudent man will ever think
of marrying either of them said the old gentleman
A shade crossed his sons countenance but he re-
manned silent, till his father left the room and then
he said, addressing Mrs r Rutherford
My father is always harping on Mr. Harcourt's ex-
travagance. His children responsible for his
imprudence.'
mo Lewis, they are not responsible for it, but
fear they must be spo by it for any other life. Ellen
is all by that you say she s;yet cannot think,
she added, smiling that she is fir wife for poor
young lawyer
SHE would never sacrifice herself for wealth.,
continued he, warmly; she will never marry with
out love-
sNo,' replied Mrs Rutherford, she is too warm
hearted and pure minded to be mercenay. But
fear, Lewis, she is too expensive to be romantic
Not but what she might marry all for love, but
how. she would expect to have the world, too. In
short, Lewis, she might be induced to make the sac
ri6ce, and try the experiment; but then how would
she abide it? The details of small any
thing but romantic; and to unaccustomed
to exertion and privation, they might out balance
love-
Lewis's countenance changed, and he sighed
he said
sThat would be fearful, indeedn and the CONVEX
sation dropped
Thus were the Harcourts talked over by the very
friends of whom they thought it incumbent on
them that they should incur this expense. Among
the fashionable five hundred friends, the matter was
canvassed pretty much in the style, but in a
lighter and careless Tone Many wondered
where tha money came from, but few cared, so that
they had the benefit Of the extravaganza in pleasant
dinners and suppers, and the arcourts were univer
sally voted "a charming family who certainly under
stood entertaining They, in their turn, discussed