Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-09-09
From Douglas Jerrolds Magazine.
\ STAR In THE DARK,


"There is future to all who have the virtue to re.
pent, and the energy to atone. :-ButUer Lyttoa.
SYou may call it foolish and romantic if you like,
but repeat that could easily forgive fault,
committed under strong temptation, and foreign to
the natural disposition, that series of petty mean
ness springing from and belonging to the charac-
ter"
Thus spoke Helen Travers to her sister, Mrs. Cum
nngham and the thread of their discourse is taken
up when first il was overheard. 1t was strange
spot for anything like sconfdentiaP' or ''sentmen-
tai" conversation to have taken place. but every one
must have Observed that subjects of interests often
arise in most xpected manner. The two ladies
had mistaken the hour at which morning concert
was to commence, had arrived somewhat too eally,
and had consequently taken their seats before any
other had been occupied. Perhaps, warming with
the subject under discussion, they had not observed
the few stragglers who from time to time dropped ln
and certainly had not heard the football of gentle
man who entered, and seated hImselfmmedately be-
hind them Just at the moment when some OF the at
tendants were making prodigious din in their re-
arrangement of the benches near the orchestra.
81 could not have married man in whom did
not take pride,' replied Mrs. Cunningham; ~ am
very sorry people who have ever been led away to
do anything wrong, but they must take the conse-
quence of their conduct; certainly anything like
disgrace, or the worlds censure, falling upon my hus-
band, would crush me to the EARTH"
sNot if his fault were the only fault of life, re-
sumed Helen: "Nay think his very suffering would
draw you more together. l have theory that the
very happy do not love half deeply as those who
have known sorrow"
al call such ideas perfect nonsense"
81 know you do" replied her sister with faint
SMILE and playing as she spoke with the fringe of her
shawl.
"Any one would think, to hear you talk, that, you
had fallen in love with scape grace or another,
and was seeking to excuse your folly"
"Susan! you know that there is nothing of the
kind. You know have never felt anything more
tasting than passing fancy which one shakes off
just as waking breaks up DREAM"
allow should kno,c2'
sSThen believe-I would not deceive you. Though
three dtwenty, indeed dread old maidsm far less
than ll-assorted union."
Helen Trayers turned her head as she spoke, and
though she did not perceive the stranger he caught
the profile of her animated countenance. But the
audience were by this time arriving, and the sisters
drew together to make room for the new COM
ers. There end to their conversation, of course
Notwithstanding certain family Likeness, lock
that was caught and then, the sisters were diff
ferent. The elder Mrs. Cunningham, was far the
most beautifully if exquistey chisseled features and
beautiful complexion could make her so. But though
quick and clever, even witty and accomplished, she
was deficient in sentiment and the powers of magin-
alton, was lover of detail; and therefore despsed,
because it to her incomprehensible, the higher
and generazing mind. A thoroughly worldly edu-
cation had completed her character and rendered her
a cold-hearted, selfish woman of the world without
enough of heart to feel the necessity of Affection and
vet possessing Unsuitable vanity that fed uni
versa admiration! Her sister former perfect con-
trast. With features less regular, her countenance
was as changeful as the sea; for it mrrored every
thought and feeling, they swelled up from her
mans heart. Early removed from the influence of
worldly minded parents, she had been reared by al