The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1846-06-19

passing "f1ow delightful 1t Will be,
thought she, "to hear him talk whole
evening! | hope he will not send mamma
word when he is coming again! lfhe does,
woe be unto mel shall be sent away"
; Strange to tell. the poet did take pains
to let Mrs. Elton know that he was about
to honor her with his COMPANY again.
Grace was directly desired to spend the
evening with her friend Mary.
"How provoking" she thought. why
am | sent out of the house in this style
every time any one comes into it!"
Grace was not in avery good humor. She
walk ed slowly along the street with her
eyes cast to the grouud--vexed with her
self because she codldn't help. thinking of
Mr.. Norton--and vex ed witirher mamma
for denying her bis delightful society.
However," thought she, 81 have al
ways admired him ever since have seen
his poems, and there's no harm in thinking
of poet" At this moment her foot
caught itself in string which lay tangled
in her path-to save herself from falling,
she caught at the nearest pest, which post
proved to be no other than Lawrence Nor.
ton! In her haste to release the astonish-
ed poet from her embraces, she fell, and
the young gentleman imagining that she
had tainted, took her unceremoniously in
his arms, and carried her into the house
that seemed nearest: Great was his NOR
tifcation when he found that the lady had
not tainted, and ifhe might Judge from the
color of her face at the moment, had no
thought of doing so. 1t was happily the
home of kind Mary IIartly and she had a
faculty of making verybody at ease in her
presence. 1t was soon ascertained that
Miss Grace had sprained her ankle, and
that her walking home was out of the ques.
tion. Mary was very sorry-bnt neither
papa nor brother was at home, so Lawrence
Norton went off very cheerfully for car.
riage. Grace was assisted to creep into
il by the poet--he could not do less than
to accompany her, and in few minutes
the gentle, uncompl plaining girl was lying
comfortably upon the sofa at home with
papa, mamma, and Lawrence Norton
around her. What coild mamma do!
Could she send the young man ont Of the
house! Could she forbid his lookingly ex-
tremely handsome! Could she orJer him
to become tedious, common place, "prosy
dosy" in his conversation!
The next day, however, Mrs. Elton took
good care to conine Grace to her own
room. at will never do" said she, ''for
you stay down stairs, where we are con
stantly in danger of having visitors"
Moreover the dear mamma, anxious to as
certain, If possible, the state other laugh
ter's heart began to talk of Lawrence
Norton. But how should she discover
that which Grace knew not herself! A
serious address on the evils of falling in
love followed this examination, and so
deep was the interest of the subject, that
Mrs. Elton did not perceive the approach
Of the dinner hour, nor the wellknown
ring of her husband. At last forcble
entrance w as made into the room by the
dear little man himself.
"Why what's the matter!" cried he
here I've been waiting for Inner this hal I
hour--dinner growing colder and colder,
and hotter and hotter. Then come aud
knock al your door ill my knuckles are
black and blue--no answer--caiI till my
lungs are sore--no answer--lnd now ]
should like to know the meaning Of all this
By this time Mr.. Elton's wrath had evap>
Grated and he threw himself into chair,
and burst into fit of uncomfortable laugh
ter, when the astonished mamma mad e
known to him tie subject of her mornings
lecture.
"And all because you fancy that Poof
G race may be smitten with tile perfections
of Lawrence Norton, or the poet with hers!
Did not tell you, my dear, that the man
has a wife!' uud Mr.. Elton ran down to
the parlor.
Mrs Elton foil owed her husband, and
Grace, with the blood rushing away from
cheek aud life, threw herself back upon
her pillow in an agony Of contending emo
tions. She had learned that of her heart,
which is not often easily taught-why
should she n OF with wonder and with shame
own TO herself that she loved Poor Grace!
How her mamma W wondered at the feverish
6ush of her cheek, as she returned TO her
side-how she instantly sent for DIR Mor-
ton, aud how anxiously she watched his
face as lie sat by the pillow OF his patient!
The DR.. was wise as well as good man
He did not attempt to administer a dose
TO the sick heart, but simply recommends
ng quietin significant tone, he withdrew
Alasl TO what quiet was Grace now con-
demned. The servants went about with /
listed slippers; papa was obliged to part
yltb his boots the moment he entered the |