Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-11-26
select Tales.
From the Christina Watchman
CLARA NOR IDA U N 7,
BY NJ. G. SLEEPER,

| do wonder how people can be SO INDECENT
exclaimed Julia Cleveland as, with compla-
cent smile, she put the finishing stitches in an
ottoman cover 1T is really astonishing -
There's Clara Mordaunt-
And what of her? asked her brot her, laying
down his book and fixing his eyes on the speaker.
Goodness, how you do starte one! wonder
when the name of my old payfelIow began to
exercise its magic over my chiyalrous BROTHER
If you have any matrimonial intentions,'-
Suppose do Julia Tn such cases it is not
an honest answer to an honest question that is
resented, but impairment interference and jeal-
Gus inslnuatlons
We'll, Fred | will not assert it as an estab-
lished fact, but | do think Clara is indolent-
She has a seamstress and waiting maid, and
she does none of things which girls of our rank
usually do. She does not practice music or
drawing, she does not read, for | have question
ed her upon all the light literature that has come
out this summer. She does not embroider, and
she invariably declines sewing for fairs and So
cieties, giving money instead At our compo-
stion club she was always Late and, though she
wrote twice splendidIy, she has not met with us
for three moRths.'
The young man seemed absorbed in his book
but he felt keeny, for he loved Clara Mordaunt
He remembered her serene countenance, her
heartfelt welcome, her delicate reference to his
tastes, and the freshness and Leauty Of her
thoughts and expressions Many kind acts too
had been accidentally made known to him
But an INDECENT wife! A dsagreeable vision a
rose Of dlsordered house, neglected servants
and ill-traned children. Several crcumstdn-
Ces, too, unnotced at the time, occurred to him
as confirming what he had just heard, Although
he had called frequently he had never seen Clara
engaged in any feminine occupation. In the
evening when no other guest was present, al
though her aunt frequently brought out her work
table, she usually sat beside he uncle, upon a
cricket, holding his hand or leaning against his
knee. She frequently looked anguid, and often
declined going out Disappointed severely he
resolved not to visit her again until he could do
so unmoved
Was it indeed sol Was Clara Mordaunt for
getful of the Injunction to redeem the tme?-
Was she permitting lifes beautiful spring, its
abor-hours to glide past unimproved! Left an
orphan at an early age she had been adopted by
Mr.. Mordaunt, wealthy and childIess uncle
Her wardrobe was elegantly furnished, the most
expensive school selected at some distance from
the city, and she was dismissed with an iniunc-
ton that she could evince her gratitude only by
her rank as scholar Thus urged on and
gifted with brilliant talents, only few of the
most perseverng attempted to rival her Her
performance upon the harp and piano, her draw
ings, her compositions, the purity fher French
and Italian, excited the envy of her school-mates
and the pride of her teachers. She, herself
determined upon long course Of study after
she should leave school. She imagined herself
perpetuay scaling new heights and beholding
new beauties Yet few loved Clara. The am
bilious are always selfish, and she had no time
for thoughtful kindness She was always cour
teous but her habits of application were sucf
that it was with difficulty she could detach heI
mind from intellectual subjects. Upon then
alone she was eager and animated She recog
nzed but family her relations to man. She fell
no interest in those around her, in their pursuits
their incllnations, their wants. She was gener.
GUS in giving but she knew nothing ofthe warn
heart into which the stranger, equally with the
friend, may pour lis experience, sure not only o
aid but sympathy
The term with which she was to close he
school studies began but amidst her many avo
cations the still small voice reached her ear
Gone unto me, it said Come unto me-
Clara was not to be easily won. Her occupa