The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-09
From the Ladies' National Magazine.
CLARA ROGERS.
BY EMILY H. MAY.

Il tell you once for al, angrily said The
: imperious motherin-law OF Clara Ro'
gers, that if you marry Herbert Curran
will disinherit you. What sacrifice
yourself to a pennless adventurer-you
who might have had, and may even ye,
have, Mr. Lowrey the millionaire
But do not love Mr.. Lowrey,' said
Clara firmly though with blush, while
Herbert and | have been playmales for
years; and until his fathers death, and
the discovery that he was bankrupt, you
said nothing against his suit, dear moth
err
And what if l did hot?' exclaimed
Mrs. Rogers, her cheek coloring with in
dignation A pretty pass things have
come to, when a daughter talks in this
way to parent Go to your room, miss /;
and make up your mind to dismiss ali
thoughts of Herbert Curran, or meet nv
seyerest dispeasure.'
Clara obeyed, weeping. When she
reached her chamber, she flung herself
on the bed in an agony of tears.
'Oh! she sobbed, that had some one
10 advise me. What shall | do? NV
dear father charged me, on his dying bed,
ever to obey mother, and, indeed she has
been kind 10 me in every thing hut this
believe, too, she thinks she is acting for
my welfare, but little does she know the
torture she inficts on me. She is welded
to wealth and show, and lancies cannot
be happy il | marry poor man like Her.
bert. But little does she know nv heart.
With him life would be sweeter in cot
tage than with others in a palace Yet
how do | talk2 Ought | 10 disobey a
parent? Will not my own mother, now
in Heaven, and my dear father frown on
their child if she consults her selfish feel
ings rather than her duty. Who can
| fly to for counsel! If my good, kind un.
Gle was only here | might seek his ad-
vice, but he is in India, where he has so
long been, and whence, perhaps he will
never return. have no other near rela-
tive 10 go to. am alone, alone and
passionate flood Of tears, at this thought,
choked her Itterance.
AT length, she raised her eyes, and they
met her open Bible, which happened to
lie on the bed. They fell on these words
inscribed on the open page, Look unto
me in trouble, ard, with heart reproach-
ing her for not having sooner ought aid
from on high, Clara knelt at The bedside
and prayed
She arose comparatively calm, though
her countenance was still sad, and the
tears yet filled her eyes at intervals. But
her mind was made up to odhere 10 the
path of duty, let the consequences to her
own peace be what they might.
In the rear of the spacious mansion
where Mrs. Rogers lived was an extern
sve garden, at the foot of which natur-
al arbor. screened among shrubbery,
formed Clara's avorite retreat. Here,
some days after that on which our tale
commences, she was sitting, when
young man Of prepossessing exterior sud.
denly emerged from the shrubbery, and
the pext moment was at Clara's side.
Thank heaven = he exclaimed, Il see
you at last. For days have watched
FOR this opportunity. Cruel, cruel Clara,
why will you avoid me! | know you
love me then seek your happiness and
mine by clandestine union
Herbert said Clara, after struggling
with her emotion, 1T is you who are cru
ell. How often have l old you that, i'll
my mother persisted in opposing our
union, could not be yours. Respect for
myself, my duty to her. and regard to nv |
deceased fathers dying imagination, ali |
force me TO this determination. And how
can 4 consent 10 see you when, with eve.
ny interview, our hapless love will only
be increased
CLARA 4 said her lover, do [ deceive
myself, or are you serious2 You have
pledged your faith to me. you have said
that NO mercenary motive actuates vou-'
Il have, | have she sobbed, sohl Her.
bert, you knoI Icare nothing for wealth.
Il believe it, Clara he said. in sof.
ened tone, but why then refuse meq
can earn comfortable, though not a
splendid subsistence, for you. Fly, and
we will be happy in spite Of your lyran-
1ical mothcr-in-Iaw'
Herbert, Herbert said Clara. Il must
lot, will not listen to such language
Mother may err, but she thinks she acts !.
or my own good
Forgive me, dearest he said, but I &
I'm almost mad at the thought of losing 7
you. Reconsider your resolution, nv
'wn Clara. You doom me to misery BY {
'etuslng me--you make me careless of e
what becomes of me-:hink of all this, of s
Jour own unhappness, of the certainty Q
nat your mother is wrong, and that vour :
ather, ii living, would differ from her. 2
The weeping girl shook her head, /
hough she suffered it to rest on her low C
RS bosom. Herbert made last effort.
Clara 7 he said, with some severity,
you trife with my happiness. You have i