The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-11-22


The public ear who bad in secret done
The poor benefit, and half the aims
They told OF, took themselves, to kee them sound
ing,
He blazed his name, mGre pleased to have it there
Than in the book OF iIife."-PoLL
-'Ah, Henry-Henry Bentham--is that you'
have been looking for you" exclaimed an ndvid-
ual who had just closed the door, and was crossing
the yard in front of Mr.. Benham's dwelling The
person he addressed was also passing through the
yard. but in opposite direction, and by another
path, so that the two figures were barely revealed
to each other through the shrubbery, by the dim
starlight
"Walter Vinton,'' returned Henry, recognising
the speaker, sand what would you wish with
mei" .5., .p- 4s H, g-.a.a.t
"Oh, wish to converse with you for time"
replied Walter, in a tone of assumed careessness;
"will you not walk over to the counting room
with mel" sg- .,- t-. .-t, 4.7
"Indeed, Waltel I cannot" said Henry; II
promised my sister that would spend the evening
with her, and have been gone too long already
She will be waiting" s- s.tsas
"Lucy snot at home,' said Walter; 81 enquir-
ed for her, and your father informed me she was
absent" .- n.. arst....... n.s.
"Ah, am sorry: she was probably tired Of
waiting for me, and went out because she was
lonely. Well, then, l am at your service for a
short time;" and the young men proceeded to the
place designated which was but short distance.
"Report says that you soon to lose your
sister from your fathers house, observed Walter
as they entered, -s,--
at may be SOL fear it will be SO, though the
matter is not yet decided"
,WhY do you fear it' Are you not pleased with
the proposed marriage'"
"Lucy has been my companion, and bosom
friend from childhood" returned Henry, "and oi
course cannot look, without pain, upon the pros
pect Of our household cham being broken, and its
brightest link removed, even for short adstance
Besides, fear that her young and happy spirit
will scarcely learn TO sympathise with the serious
ness of partner, much older than herself. II
will be with difficulty that she will subdue her
grlish gaIety to his strict rules of conduct even
though he be the pattern OF kindness, and the mod
ell of benevolence.'
"Does she love him. asked Walter, while a
deep flush mounted to his face.
81 cannot tell replied Henry; "she certainly
esieems him highly. His good deeds have won
for him the admiration of every one and Lucy
joins warmly in the general sentiment with regard
to him. Whether he is such person as would
have been her unbiased choice, know not,-but
she is of temperament so mild, and gentle, that |
am convinced she would yield her own wishes,
whatever they were, to those of her father" "
"You say the matter is not yet decided"
"She has probably settled it ere this This was
the last day allowed for her decision - ..
"And you have no doubt that it will be in my
patrons favor"
"None. My father has laid almost his com
mand upon her, and his will is her law. The
wealth of your patron is sufficient to ensure for
her every comfort, and of these she might possibly
soon be deprived in her own home: and there is no
one to whose kindness. and unchauglng affection
we would sooner commit her. He is man in
whom have the most unbounded confidence"
ale is a villisn!' exclaimed Walter, impetl-
ously. The emotion which he had during the
conversation, been striving 10 conceal, now seem
ed to sweep over him with uncomfortable power
His face was 1ushed--the veins OF his forehead
swelled, and throbbed, and his lips grew more and
more compressed. until as Henry finished his last
encomium, he burst forth with the above excla-
nation. Henry gaZed on him with uDmingled
astonishment. care you mad Walter' What
is the matter1'' he asked at length
al repeat it, Henry" said Walter, 6rnly--
''Rchard Vinton is william"
"Walter do you love my sister, is it jealousy
which leads you thus to impugn the character ofa
man who stands thus high IN the estimation of
community, and who has loaded you with favors'
or what can be your native"
"Henry," exclaimed Walter. 81 have not de-
served this. And yet, he added, sadly, ''per-
haps tits not more than might have expected.
II is this which has kept me silent so long--itis
this which had so long blinded my own eyes /
knew that no one doubted his integrity-I felt
that, from his hand, / had received all possess,
and knew that my words would be received as
the rawlings Of mailman; but had not thought,
Henry, that you would attribute to me SO base
motive. II, beggar, and haneless as am, l have
not dared to lift my eyes to your lovely sister,
may l not yet stretch out my hand to save her
from the snare into which she is falling,--fromthe
storm which would surely burst over her head,
because Ifeel that she is too fair for such doom
And will you deem my heart black as that of
fiend because ! seek to do this"
"What motive can attribute to you, Walter,
when hear you speak thus Of man to whom you
confess you owe every thing whom the world |
man has lived in it. had not expected such
proof Of ingrstitude from you" asTl
There was silence Of few moments, during
which variety ofcontendipg emotions were vsl-