Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-16
select Tales.
FALSE PRIDE;
Or What's in a Name!
ny MRS. G. H. sHERBURNB.
CHAPTER |.


It was on clear, bright autumnal evening
that Young man might be seen seated at a win
dow of the Astor House, Broadway, gazing abb
stractIy on the gay throng passing beneath
Many long years had elapsed since Ernest ALI
ston had babe adieu to New York, the city o.
his BIRTH deprived in early youth of tender
mother, her place was soon filled by one stern
and cold, whose calculating, ambitious spirit
was lily fitted to hold communion with the ten
der heart of the sensitive, enthusiastic boy
The father who SO soon found soIace for the
loss of his lovely wife, was the descendant of a
proud family in Virginia. He was of cold
rigid nature, deeming kind word or caresss a
waste of time and language; and when he mar
ried again, it was not for love, but to obtain one
who would receive his guests, superintend his
splendid household, and daily exhibit hei costly
dressed person in his handsome carriage-and
the widow Temple was well calculated to fill
this important office; so with a little orphan
neice Florence, she was duly installed in the
place of the refined lovely Mrs Allston. The
morning sun shone brightly i'll the breakfast
room-eyery thing was in prime ordel-each
chair and table seemed to know its pIace-not
a speck was visible on the bright furniture-Ern-
est, who had followed up the custom of his
mother in garnishing the table each morning
with fresh dewy flowers, soon had the satisGac-
ton of seeing his offering thrown through the
window as vile weeds-even the Canares in the
window seemed to MARBLE with less spirit, as if
missing the carressing hand which was wont to
garnish their cages. Ernest sat on a low chair
near an open window which looked upon the
garden-the soft, sweet air swept gracefully his
flushed cheek, and played with the long brown
locks which hung around his high open brow
the little Florence st. Clair was seated in his
lap, and his face rested on her young head,
bright tears fell from his dark eyes and laid like
diamonds among the long golden curls. She
was fair, tender child, graceful and bending as
a tender flower, and Ernest, repused by the
harshness of Mrs. Allston and the GOODNESS of
his father, entwined his affections, like the ten
drills of the vine, around the innocent heart Of
the fairy-ike child. His tears continued to
flow unrepressed-te wrung from too sensl-
tive heart. How long he remained there, he
knew not, until the shrill voice of Mrs, Allston
calling her niece aloused him. Hastily casping
the fair child to his breast, and pressing Ills lips
to her damask cheek, he sought his chamber, to
make preparations for his journey. His father
had that morning announced his intention of
sending him to Europe, under the protection of
a friend who was to make the Continent a place
Of residence for some years. Having directed
a servant to take his trunks to the next coach
stand, he prepared with pale cheek and throb-
bling brow to leave the home of his childhood.
He once more visited the room (now unoccupi-
ed) where his salnted mother used to kiss and
bless him when he would bound into her chamber
with his welcome offering of flowers. He re-
membered how the big tears would stand in her
mild blue eyes, and course down those pale
cheeks, as, while wreathing her slender finger
in his thick wavy locks, she would speak to him
of holy things and the Savior whom she would
soon Join in heaven. And how meekIy she bore
her sufferings And then he remembered with
a swelling heart how sweetly she resigned her
life--the solemn faces around-the dim-lighted
rooms-the sobs of her friends-his own an
guIsh as he gazed upon the pale, sweet face
with the Spring flowers in her hand, which he
himself had placed theFe--the heavy tread and
coarse voices of the men as they bore her cot
fin from the houso-the grassy, quiet grave
yard with the faint breath of the vloles and
lilies minglng with the dark scene of the fresh
earth-the solemn voice of the clergyman as he
repeated the prayers-and the dull, hollow
sound of the clods as they fell on her last mar
row resting place-and last of all, the sicken
ing anguish Of his boyish heart when he return
ed to that desolate home, no more to be bright
ened by her smile and tender glance He re-
membered all this with a heart almost breaking
and heavy sobs bursting from an overoharged
breast. Time passed on UNDECIDED, until the
voice of his slep-mother, as she returned from
her drive, startled him from his revere. A few
moments more, and he had bid farewell to the
members Of the household; and was on his way
to reioin his future companion on board the
packet, which was to sail on the ensuing morn
ing.
Eight years saw him once more on American
soil, recalled by the death of his father who hac
left his son sole heir to all his possessions. Mrs
Allson, accompanied by her niece, had left the
city for the South to reside with d rich relative
Ernest, whose heart yearned to once more be
hold the beautiful Florence, spent some months
in the Southern States endeavoring to find them
but being unsuccessful, he returned to Ney
York, and many tmid glance was cast iron
bright eyes at the handsome stranger in the he
tel window
CHAPTER H.
Caroline, do tell me the name of that gentle
man you were talking to last night. He is yer
handsome, and has such an air distingue. II
must be a foreigner
Which handsome one do you allude to! =
The men are all so handsome in the nneteent
cuntury, that one must know their names
designate them Do you mean young Levi
rust from Europel
Nonsense, Caroline; he has carroty hair
Well, then, Alexander Lee, with the spel
did teethl'