Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-02-04

much interested. Never before had ]
seen the face OF Ada beaming with
such radian! smiles: and Mr.. Herbert
where had the look Of cold sarcasm
vanished' In every feature of that no-
Bile countenance, content and animation
seemed again toreign. He was,eyident.
ly exerting himself 10 the utmost Z
please; and, as / gazed on the com
manding form and the manly beauty 81
his face, | involuntarily murmured u
myself, sAnd it will not be In yainj
The dance being ended, my surp5i@
was still further increased when ii{ime'
diatefy 4eadfng his iafr partner 10 ]
seat, Mr.. Herbert bowed and retired
A few moments served to solve the
mystery. He had evidently been in
quest Of our hospltable hostess; for they
both advanced towards Ada and myself
Il had joined her,) and Mrs. Elton ex.
claimed.
For my guests sake as we'll as my
own. my dear Mrs. Middleton, am
delighted to find you still here; partlc.
ularly.' she added, 'as have an act of
kindness to perform. My friend, Mr..
Herbert, is most anxious to be admitted
to the honor ofyour acquaintance. Will
you allow me TO present him to you
and also to Miss Montagu.'
In the softest accents Mr.. Herbert
assured me of the satisfaction he expe.
rienced at the introduction which had
just taken place; but he added, must
our acquaintance end here, or may |
be permitted to call and enquire after
your health to>m morrowP There was
no resisting the smile which accompa.
MED these words; and Mrs. Elton plead.
ing that he might be indulged,' | could
only assure him of a hearty welcome
in Grosvenor Street.
From that evening Mr.. Herbert be-
came a constant vister at my house,
and our attendance at all the ensuing
fetes of the season. With talents of the
highest order, and possessed of CONVEX
sational powers which have rarely
seen equalled, excelling in almost eve>
ry accomplishment, can it be wonder
ed at that the heart Of my young friend
became deeply interested in him? He.
the fastidious Arthur Herbert,th court
ed and caressed, bowed in worship at
her shrine.
A little while, and "a change came
DER the spirit ofher dream There was
more of thought on that open brow,
and though happiness beamed in every
glance, yet was the merry laugh less
frequent. A spell, a mighty spell, hath
bound her,--ay, love, deep devoted
love now reigned supreme in that gen.
tie bosom. As | had anticipated, the
feelings of that heart once awakened,
no oplate, save the waters Of Lethe's
fabled stream, could ever after Iull them
to repose. Strange, strange fatality! Ii
was not until | had become too we'll as.
sured Of the intensity ofthat girls love
that learned to regard with mistrusl
and suspicion the being whose fatal in
tercourse was destined to have so bitter
an influence on her future life.
| knew not what | dreaded. The
manner of Mr.. Herbert was tender ano
devoted. In public, as in private, he
was ever by her side; but from all
learn, he had never breathed a wore
even to Ada as to the probability o
their future union, and yet the time O
his departure for the Continent wa!
fixed for the ensuing week.
Could it be possible, that one wht
seemed so generous and so noble hat
basely trifed with the affections o. q
trusting girl, with no ulterior motive bu
the gratlfication ofhis vanity? l trieo
to repel these thoughts, so disparaginl
10 his honor; but more than once of lat'
had heard the name Of Arthur Her
bert coupled with the degrading epithe
ofmale coquette. And Ada heard it too
but the look of scorn she cast upon th'
speaker showed in what light the infor
nation was received by her. AS tht
time for Mr.. Herbert's departure drew
near, Ada became restless in the ex
treme. Icould see the struggle which
was taking place within; the wish t.
appear clam when the breast was tori
with contending emotions. She coult
not doubt him to whom she had giver
her heart and soul; yet was it possible
he could mediate leaving her fo
months without demanding and receiv
ing from her the assurance other faith
Yet it was so. The farewell wore
was spoken, and the man ofthe worlt
went forth to mingle in the pleasure
and dissipation of the gayest metrop
oils, without one thought Of the break
ing heart he left behind, without ont
pang for the ruin and desolation he hat
caused.
turned TO her whose happiness
knew was wrecked forever. There sht
stood, in the attitude Of one suddenl!
| ~f