Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-01-15

your IuuHu MS UeCk, ana CareSS MN great
deal. You must never get in passion before him,
for it spos your looks you know, my dear, you
are too apt to do it. You must be very attentive
to him when he is speaking, and be sure never to
, contradict him. | recoect it always dispeased
him to be interrupted in conversation"
81 hope he will not stay long if I've got to lis
ten to him all the time," said Clara, for know he
must be dry old thing"
"You will not think million of dollars dry, one
of these days" said Mrs. Dushane-"b6t, never
mind, perhaps he will leave it to Fife"
"To Efiem exclaimed Clara, with a laugh of
dersion. "To Effie the ugly thing oh no
Pm not afraid of her. You see if | don't please
uncle, without trying very hard either"
A servant, whose chief employment was to wait
upon Clara, was full two hours curling her hair and
arranging her Dress before the arrival of Mr.. IIor-
ton, and when the business of the toilette over,
she led her in triumph to her mother, asking her
eff Miss Clara did not look like perfect angel ~
A rapturous kiss on her roseae cheek an
expressive answer in the affirmative.
"Oh mamma, you tumble my frock," cried the
little BELLE in pettish tone. / don't love TO be
squeezed"
"Shal change Miss Efiie's dress 2" asked the
servant, as she was leaving the room.
ats of no consequence" said Mrs Dushane,
coldly she needn't come into the room Tonight
I'm ashamed my brother should see her." contin-
ued she, in a kind of soliloquy; she is so ugly
ana awkward ana Maynard, want 10 keep nef OUT
Of his sight as long as possible"
Mr. Horton had not been more than a week with
his sister before he discovered that though she was
the nominal head of the establishment, Miss Clara
was the real one and that her varying whims and
caprices were the laws that governed the whole
household. Eflie seldom made her appearance, and
then she seemed more like automaton than any
thing clse never displaying any traits of that SEN
sibiity which had so touched her uncles heart the
first night of his arrival. When company was
present Clara was summoned to the piano to enter
tain the guests with music, which she had been
taught almost from her cradle, or she was called
upon to display her graceful little figure in the ma
yes of the hornppe, the undulations of the shawl
dance, which her master said she executed to per-
lection.
One evening Mr. Horton sat reading in an upper
piazza, which fronted the chamber he occupied. 1t
was shaded by luxurious vines, which trailed their
fowery tendrils through the diamond trellis-work,
and excluded the rays Of the setting sun. Embow-
cred in the rich shades he sat unseen enjoying the
sweetness and freshness of declining day. He
heard the voices of the children IN the adjoining
room and he could not but notice that Claras tones
wanted something of the dulcet softness of her
parlor accents. He had scarcely ever heard the
full sound of Etfies voice, and he listened I'M
consciously to conversation which promised to
develope her character to most interested auditor.
Don't Clara, press so hard against this geran-
um," said Effie, in expostulating tone, "you
know mother will be very angry if it is broken'
81 don't care" replied Clara, evidently persistng
in her conduct; " she will not be angry with me-"
"But she will with me-" said Effie,"'" for have
the care of this flower, and if any harm happens to
it, she will blame me. You've broken off several
leaves already"
There moments silence, and then sud-
den and vehement exclamation from Effie again
reused the attention of Mr.. Horton.
sob Clara 500 what Won have donai Tho unoct
beautiful branch is broken-and you did it on pur-
pose too"
Clara laughed mockingly and the same moment
Mrs. Dushane was heard to enter the apartment.
Ellie Effie" exclaimed she, angrily, what
have you been doing How dare You break that
geranium, when I've forbidden you to touch a sin
gle leaf of it !"
81 didn't break it, mother!" answered Fife; 81
wouldrI have broken it for anything in the world"
{" How dare you deny it, when you are holding
it in your own hand you good-for-nothing little
thing cried the mother, with increasing anger
81 suppose you want to make me think that Clara
broke it-don't you?
"Clara did break it !" sobbed Effie; " she knows
she did, and tried to keep her from it.'
ooh mamma, didn't do any such thing" cried
Clara, with the bodness of innocence itself" you
know | wouldn't"
81 could forgive you for breaking tie flower u
exclaimed Mrs. Dushane in the husky tones of
suppressed passion, "but tell such another lie on
Clara, and you had better never have been born ;.
Mr.. Horton started from his seat in uncontrolla-
BILE agitation, dropped his book, and rushed to the
open door OF the apartment Just Effie, smitten
by violoDt blow, had fallen PROSTATE to the floor
her hand still grasping the geranium whose leaves
were scattered around her.
"Clarnda! !" cried Mr. Horton sternly, "unjust
unnatural woman-what have you done ?"
"She is a liar, brother, and | struck her. She
observed it," answered Mrs. Dushane, pale with
sngs She is not lin, md know i answered he
in raised voice. "There stands the liar !" point
ing to the now terrified and guilty looking Clara
Il heard every thing that passed between them
She broke the flower wantony, purposely against
her sisters prayer she broke it, and then basely de-
MES it. Rise, my poor child" continued he, trying
to lift Ellie from the ground, "you shall have one
friend to protect you, if your own mother casts you
from herr
Efie was only stunned by the fall, and when she
found herself in the arms Of Mr.. Horton she strug
ged to be released.
ooh! let me co." cried she, almost frantically-
she will hate me worse than ever. Oh how
wish / was dead how wish | was dead"
There, was something terrible in the expression
of the chld's large dilated black eyes, as in wilt
p9roxysh Of passion she Tepe2nGd this fearful eiae
her more closely.
''Cldrlnua, sHlu ne, soleinnly, you nave tina
} to answer for which will weigh like iron upon you
soul at the great judgment day. What has thi
poor neglected child done, that you treat her wors'
than an hreling, and lavish all your affection OIL
I that selfish and unprncipled girl"
> "Clara," said her mother, "leave the room in
7 stanty. This is no place for you, Why do yor
not obey me"
! Clara began to weep bitterly, but her mothe
took her by the hand, and leading her to the door
gave her in charge to a servant, with whispered
} injunction not intended for her brothers ear.
Snow let that child CO." said she. "If am t
r be arraigned for my conduct, don't want any lis
5 teners. Ellie, follow your sister, and mind tina
there is no more quarreling."
r "She shall not 60" cried Mr. Horton. g fea
> that there is safety for her out of my arms
Clarinda cannot believe the cruel, unjust and IN
natural mother see before me, is the sister whor
9 | remember in the spring-time of the hearts feel
, ngs, and in the genteness Of early womanhood"
"Brother, if you wish mo to speak, let that chill
, 90. | will not be humbed before her. or any hu