Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-22


told Clara to look her prettiest, as young lady
was to be presenta stranger, just arrived in town
who said to have most remarkable and ias-
cnating accomplishments Clara's vain and eager
eye ran over the crowd in search Of one who would
have the hardihood to rival her. She had scarcely
assured herself that there were none but familiar
faces around her, wien the lady of the house ap-
preached and begged permission to introduce her
to Miss Horton, the young lady whose coming she
had announced. The company fell back as the
hostess led Clara and her mother through the fold
ing doors to the centre of another apartment where
young lady stood beneath the full blaze of the
chandeliers, leaning on the arm of a young and
distinguished looking stranger Clara gazed in
tently on the form of this rival beauty and feel
ing of relieved self-complacency dmpled the roses
of her cheeks. Those on whom nature has lavish
her living lilies and carnations, very apt to de-
preciate the charms of those whose pretensons 10
loneliness are based on other attributes than mere
beauty of complexion. That of the young stran-
ger was what Clara called dark and it might have
appeared so, contrasted with the dazzling white
ness of her own but il had that oriental delicacy
and transparency seldom found except in east
ern climes. Her eyes were so dark and resplen-
dent that their brightness would have been almost
overpowering had they not been sotened by long
sweeping lashes, of the same jetty hue as her lux
uriant and shining hair. Her figure was exquisite
in reposc, and from its waving outline promised
that grace of motion, which is more pleasing than
beauty itself, There nothing conspicuous in
her dress save a small diamond star that sparked
amid the darkness Of her tresses, like lone star
planet on "night's ebon brow" The gentleman
on whose arm she leaned, ah
"Not his the form, not his the eve,
That youthful maidcns 0 fy.'
Clara marked him as her victim, and met his eX-
ceedlngly earnest gaze with glance Of soft al
lurement. The young lady, whose appearance be.
travcd familiarity with the most elegant and fash
! bnlr tod
degree of embarrassment while passing through
the customary forms of introduction. She colored
| deeply, and her eyes were bent down with an ex-
preston of modesy and humility entirely unex-
pected from her previous bearing.
"IIorton!" repeated Mrs. Dushane, when her
name was announced: o. have brother of that
name in Europe. 1t is long time since |
have seen him, however" she added, with sigh.
"Then hope you will have pleasing associa-
tons connected with me- madam" said Miss Hor-
ton, in sweet, low voice.
Mrs. Dushane, who prepared to wage war
fare with one who might rival her daughter, could
not help feeling the charm of such afability and
sweetness. Sle wondered who the Mr. Aston
was who accompanied her, but notwithstanding his
juxtaposton with the attractive stranger, she could
not but hope that he the rich and distinguished
individual Heaven had destined for her favorte
| child
Music was the order of the evening. and Clara
first Being from early childhood accustomed to sing
and play in public, she had no fatering of modes
} ty, to mar the brancy of her execution. She
sang and played she did every thing else for eff
feet - and it was generally such the most exac
ting vanity could desire. Mr.. Aston and Mis-
Horton stood near her and evinced, by their sen
attention, the most fatterng interest in the beau
tfu songster.
"And now Miss Horton" cried the impaten
; hosess-and " Miss Horton" passed from mouth t.
; mouth, as the circle passed and narrowed aroun
her" perhaps Miss Horton would prefer the harp
pne ), and spleKda instrument was drawn toward
her.
Clara was no proficient on the harp having in
: fit Of obsnacy, given up her lessons, because tn
chords blistered her delicate fingers She felt
thrill of envy, as she behed Miss Horton seat her
self gracefully before the Tyre such the shep
4 herd monarch once swept" and pass her whit
hands over the strings. At first her touch wa
soft and her voice low, and she looked at Clara,
e if deprecating her criticism; but, after a while
: looked at no one-she thought of nothing but tn
spirit of music that filed her soul, thrilled throug
: her nerves, flowed in her VEINS and burned upo
J. her cheek. There was no afiectation in her mar
i ner-there was enthusiasm senslbillty, hre-br
e it was the fire from within, Illuminating the temple
which its intensity sometimes threatened to destro
e 1t is true, she once twice raised her gloriou
g black eyes to Heaven, but it was because mus
d naturally lifted her thoughts to Heaven, and hi
l. glance followed its inspiration.
e Are you not weary? 2" asked Clara, after 81
d had again and again yielded to the entrea,es
ID her auditors to give them another and yet anoth
Is strain
g "No," answered she, rising; "but I must n
ID forget that others may be, Notwithstanding their
ID parent sympathy with an enthusiast like myself"
l. "Oh! Mr. Deamere," cried Clara, addresslr
lie pale pensive, and intellectual gentleman, wi
had stood, as if spell-bound, by the harp, do n
er look reproachiully at me; did not think OF pit
~ ting stop to your ecstacy"
to "You are right" said he, drawing deep insl
r ration, 81 was forgetting the mortal in the immc
tn tai !"
m ooh! that we all, and always could !" exclaim
IS, Miss Horton; but those who speak of immorta
n ty in a scene like this must be singularly bold"
rs "Pcrhaps it would be more in keeping by I'll
n window, which looks out upon the magnihcence
e. an evening sky" answered Mr.. Delamere, with
ng smile so winning she could not but yield to the
H. vitation; and seated in curtaned embrasu
ng which admitted the fresh night breeze, she so
Of found she was with companion to whom she W
not ashamed to communicate her most glowi
N thoughts, for she "received her own with usurl
as lie had travelled over many lands over the cou
" / tries from which she had just returned-and S
he felt if she heard once more the song of the
To- pine peasant, the rich strains of the Italian imp
As vistore, or beheld again the sublime and stori
'ut scenes wildly impressed upon her memory.
But, at times her distracted eye told Of other
as ects of contemplation. She thought of the mot
er whose unkndness had embittered her childhoC
an now smiling unconsclously on her neglected @
zen spring. and she onged to throw herself on her ne
IN and ask her to forget the past, and welcome ba
ere her no longer ugly Fife. She looked at her S
BE- ter on whose angelic face evil passions had left
zen trace than the rough bark on the CLASSY wa
It, and forgetting the scorn and contumely she h
to heaped upon her in the first dark portion of
zen life, she yearned to embrace her. own those sn
-, ing lips, and call her by the sweet of sist
the "Not yet" said she to herself; 81 have prom
eff ed my uncle to shine before them little VIII
if at least till have won their admiration as str;
- ger, and triumphed another, ere | allow them
ed recognize in me the hated and ugly Eifie."
Surprised at her silence Mr.. Deamere watch
be- her thoughtful varying countenance with an int
his est that surprised himself His early history "