Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-12-20
THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER.
BY MISS MARTHA RUSSELL.
(Conc'uded,)

When quite young, Mr.. Hayden, in oppo-
silion to the wishes of ms naughty family,
had married "A gill of, what they termed low
extraction, whose dazzling beauty was equal
led only by her heartlrssuPss and her dispu-
sltion for intrigue. After Two or three years
spent in domestic contentious, she elopcd
with fashionable foreigner, leaving behind
her only child, a boy about two years old.
This deeply wounded her husbands pride,
aod his pride alone, for there was no cffrc-
ton to be wounded, the marriage having been
the result Of mere impulse. When left alone
with his child, Mr. EIayden's character under
wen, "A modification. He began to love that
child as he had never before loved any thing.
And the hoy was worthy of his fathers love.
As he grew older, his character revealed
none of his fathers violent pride or his mo-
theirs spirit for intrigue. Always pleasant
and amiahle, always truthful and kind, his
gentle, coniling manners won respect and
love, even from his fathers enemies. He
developed an exquisite taste for music and
painting, and, as manhood advanced, felt an
infinite longing to visit the cities of Italy, that
holy land Of the fine arts. He finally OBJ
| ldiUtu u ltlHtliHt tbNStHl IIbui lllS lbliIfi Z,
and after wandering and enjoying through
| Italy and several other countries of Europe,
he returned to Florence. to spend IA month
before he left for home. Here he formed an
acquaintance will, Colonel Crawford, an
invalid English officer, and his daughter.-
Mary Crawford was lovely as il poets most
delicious twilight dream. Her mind was IA
bright fountain of beautiful thoughts and her
heart svmpathised earnestly with all tina, was
| true and pure. She was nst such being
IS should find home in the heart Of Fran
els Hayden, and
"Slcnt one who trends on new fallen snow
Love came upon them, ere they were aware"
The stars of the Italian sky never looked
down on happier heart than hi-, when, on
the banks of the Arno, he won her promise
to be his own forever He wrote to his "a
thpr immediately, Giving fall account of
Miry's iamil,, aud asNlHg his consent To his
marriage How imp,iirnlIv he waited for IA
reply. 1t came, hu, instead of the consent
which he had Anticipated, his father swore
eternal hatred to the name of Crawford, and
b,dr him, on the peril of his curse, never to
see the girl again, but TO return home in
slanly.
1t was a near relative of Mary's father
with whom Mrs. Hayden had eloped, and
his sons proposal to marry into that family,
had reused the terrible indignation of Mr..
Hayden's wounded pride, which for years
had slumbrrcd.
From his fathers letter, Francis for the
first time learned the fact of his mothers
elopement. Days and weeks of anguish fol-.
lowed its reception. He knew his father
and felt that he would be inflexlble but he
loved Mary, and while he felt that she was
innocent, lac could not be false to tina, love
which, like sweet flower, had gradually un-
folded to bless him with its inspralon.-
He could no, ,rine with his relation to her.
they were married.
He wrote again to his father, informing
him of his marriage, giving lIIm his reasons
for it, defending Mary from his indignation,
and earnestly enlrealng his forbearance.-
In reply, he received a considerable sum of
money, accompanied by his fathers curse,
and learfuly uttered command, that he
should never again presume TO return home,
or see his fathers face.
"From that time" added DR.. Secly, Mr..
Hayden has not been heard to utter his sons
name. Francis finally went with his wife to
England, bat, suppose, his father has never
heard from him and knows not whether he
is still living"
, This disclosure suddenly opened up new
world of thought and feeling to Clara
Never before had she really known the ex-
perience Of pain. Hitherto her life had been
like a summer day, with jus, clouds and