Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-02
select Tales.
ELLA WINSIlIP.

wedloek itself state OF Bliss; but she and /
were not born for the dark atmosphere Of pow
erty which fate would probably under present
circumstances, spread over our tender heads
My inheritance, Charley, will never cause my
brain any over excitement for spendor or extent;
and hers is worse by far, fer, although an only
child and motherless, Elias father keeps her in
durance vile as regards the purse-strings, and
lives himself in the most frugal style He is but
a clerk in one of our houses here What pat
rimony can he leave from this for Elias dow
ry.'
What then do you mean to do George!-
You must be careful how You toy with those
delicate heart-strings of hers, or the day will
come when the memory of that blooming cheek
and sparkling eye will be more hard to bear
than the worst taunts of your most bitter foe
Marry her or leave her now, George De Witt,
or the love have borne you will turn to ashes,
which shall never know life and warmth a.
gain
They stood upon the steps Of the Aston House,
these two young men, while they discussed the
matter of life and death to the heart of sweet
girl, who at that moment perhaps, was dream
ing sweet dreams of love and happiness, as she
performed her household duties with a song up
on her lip and bright joy in her eye One of
these young men, as may have been seen, was Il
nobeman Of Gods own ennobling, a champion
of virtue, a defender of woman's only treasure,
her good name The other, man in love
without the means to marry as he wished but
with the heart to betray the woman he adored,
They were friends, but as opposite in principle
as friends might well be. The friendship of
Charles Grey was founded upon appreciation of
the natural generosity of Georges heart, and
other agreeable qualities which he possessed, as
well as deep interest on account Of some uu-
governabe traits of character, which might lead
him into error, and, perhaps, unspeakable 'sut-
fering. George was resolute in the perform
ance Of any favorite object; and now the most
delightful, the deepest passion of his SOUL was
moved by Ella Winship, whom he must OBJ
tain
The friend of his youth stood beside him
advocating with passionate warmth, with all the
eloquence Of a heart bursting with conendin2
emotions, the pure right by which she wouc
become his own spotless wife: and his own spir
gave sweet echo to such persuasions Blu
years would have to pass before he could make
his home as flee from wants connected will
luxury and taste as were those in which he was
an accustomed guest, and he would not intro
duce his friends to a more humble one. Hi
exterior was prepossesslng, and he had man,
friends among the fashionable and the gay
though few knew Of the serpent of evil which
lay coiled around the spring of generous emo
tons in his heart. A slave to sensuaty, HOY
can we wonder that, feeling for the first tim
the full power of love for being so like fair
in ghtness of step and heart, George shoul
find the serpent defiling the pure current of hi
better affections, and drying up the fountain
whence could only spring Elias hope and hi
own safety.
With one parting and earnest word from
Charles, the friends separated George wit
face turned toward the star of his true, but pol
luted adoration and his friend with his, pale
anxious and despairng, turned from the gaz
of the passers by, it being book too easil,
read Of his hearts agony, He, too, loved tn
sweet girl, who stood so much like an uncon
scious victim before the altar Of his friends sci
fsbness! But how different was his love-
He loved too well to hope In his souls wor
ship he believed her too pure, too much crea
ture of a farer world, to be the companion O
such as he, the wife of his bosom He did no
hope, he only watched her as she moved along
or smiled, or performed some gracefully kim
act for her father or his friends, and thought o
no more blessed a man than he who should OBJ
tain her. And now he had heard one who ha
watched her as he had and loved her, not as h
did; oh no! talking cody of writing shame OIL
the fair brow he would not have dared to touch
and fixing those eyes, which danced with sue
light and joylulness, in the dull gaze of hope
lesness and despair Gould he save herr II
would make one attempt, yet trust mostly tC
the angel of purity to guard her fairest Aowe
from the worse than bloody hand Of one VIII
thought on her destruction. The very absenc
of guile from the spirits of love, which file
the chambers of her heart, might be the caus
of her loss; for she could not think one so kind
and apparently her friend, could mean anything
so deadly to her peace as the plan laid out b.
George.
Once in his own room and upon his knees
Charles suppressed feelings burst forth in pray
er, such as must reach the plying ear of tn
Merciful One he pleaded with. He prayed 70
the mantle of heavenly protection to fall upo
that lovely head, he prayed for his rivals happ
ness in the pure possession Of his own believe
one, rather than she should fall from her sise
hood with the angel of light, he prayed for cor
fdence in the power which, unseen, keeps vrtu
and innocence from flowercoyered pits forme
in their path by mans corrupted hands; and, q
he prayed, sweet peace stole over his anxou
spirit, and angels administered unto him of hope
heaven-fountained draught. He rose from b
knees, conscious that he had gained the hol
spell he needed to keep his heart from breakin!
and, while it was upon him, he communed wit
himself faithfully, as regarded his duty both
tho of INlla Il Ill