The Arkansas banner., 1846-03-25


 my mother, and consequently, scarcely con- sclous of the awful loss we had sustained Al the time l was placed under the tuition of Dr. Singleton, she was taken home by Mr. Elton, one of our guardians, and in his house was educated by governante, along with his own two daughters.
 This gentleman was a retired merchant, who had had his feelings scared ard his coffers filled by long residence in one off the West India islands, where his acauain- tance with my father, who had the command of the military on that station, commenced On his return to England, he had married the heiress of Chellington Park, q valuable estate in Sussex, and finally taken up his residence there
 So situated, Matilda and were not in the habit of meeting, save for few dayssevery i second or thnd year during the Mdsum- mer or Christmas holidays; and although the peculiarity of our circumstances might have naturally tended to loosen the bonds of filial affection, yet we remained very dear to each other, probably from the feeling that so little of our family blood now ran in living veins She was now tall beautiful girl of sixteen, quiet and retired in her manners, but with a stately reserve, which, to common observes, was little apt to be mistaken for pride. Like most beings so constituted, her affections were ardent, her sympathies and antiquities were any thing but lullewarm; and, to her justice be it spoken, that those who knew her intimately loved her best
 Notwithstanding his want of attentions to my siste., as our guardian, she had grown up to be an accomplished as well as beautiful creature. Mr. EIlon was completely man ol the world, and evinced this both in his private and political aequaintanees, and in his l bowing down to the Baal of wealth never 1 allowing what he considered as trivial cir cumstances, to stand much in the way of his convenience By many he was lauded, and he was not insensble to lis own landations, for the dutiful interest which he had taken in our family concerns; but his control over our pecuniary matters was an item totally overlooked by the multitude. His ultefior conduct, however, towards my sister, evinced the operation of those principles which guid- cd his conduct.
 was now within few months of com ing of age, and had resolved on dedicating a few years to foreign travel, Whenevefloflane put me in possession of the means for carry ing my plans into execution From the re- solution had taken of remaining single, knew that should have an ample snaeen- cy for all my wants; more especially us, stunning the gay world, had no inclination but for studlous or contemplatlye retirement
 While anxiously looking forward to the time when was to be my own master, and the manager of my own concerns, received letter from Matilda, which instantly tool, me into Sussex. It is unnecessary for me to enter into a minute detail of the business, bu the leading circumstances were Us follows
 A long-cherished mutual attachment be- tween my sister and Frederick Elton, tho heir of Chellington Park, had been discover ed by the fathers proposing to his son tht eligibility of the union of their family witt that of notable baronet in the neighbour. hood, through whose borough influence h, calculated on the securing of a seat in Far lament The disappointment, the wrath, tn, fury of the old gentleman on this deyelope mcnt of aAars, can scarcely be conceived.- He summoned Matilda into his chamber, ant after pompous recital of all the benefits ht had bestowed on our il-starred family, taxet her with having acted with the basest ngTat itade in having entrapEed the affections 0 one whom she knew, or ought to haVC known; she never could have looked forwa4 10 as her husband. This was too much fol a being so highly minded and of such deli cale feelings as my sister possessed to bea without open and instant rebellion Tht meekness. the almost serviity with whlcf she had for so long series of years acctIs toned herself 10 bow 10 the opinions, ant obey inc behesis of one to whoAl she ha looked uD with almost filial reverence, was as by the touch of taisman, thrown aside and instead of the quiet, retiring, obedien creature he had always found her, he behelc before him woman of dign fled soul, deter mined resolution, and intellectual strength ' conscious of insult, and able to resist it , With force of character almost peculia 10 himself, Matilda demanded a conference with Frederick, and, stfling the strong emo lions of her bosom, she endeayored to per } suade him that an engagement formed a theirs was, in secret, between such youn!
 .44,ifs, a44A, as i turned out ia- direct .op position 10 the wishes of their friends, conlt not be considered as obligatory, and ough to be immediately broken off by mutual con sent That it was for her happiness as wei as his that this request should be compiled with, and that each should endeavour [, bury in oblivion all that had passed between them.
 , Young Elton was, no doubt, as mucl struck as his father could possibly be at thi change from gentleness and confding a1ec F ton, to stoica indifference or haught, regardlessness. His pride, too, was not 7 little touched, that he could thus be throwl 1, off on the instant like cloak loosely worn and that feelings, which had taken years i f their fostering, could be nipt by all hour frost He endeavoured to rcmonstrate au to exculpate himself from any snpposition ( having entered into his fathers views ;,5u still, as the Jew merchants answer to tn l entreaties of Bassano, was, "The pound ( . Gesh,'' the resolute words of my sister were ''let our clandestine engagement be broke f of.''
 |. Notwithstanding all this, however, poe X Frederick could not so easily be off with th l old love and on with the new, and. for fu IF month. resisted the importunities Of hi. fat