Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-12-08
A SELECTED STORY
THE ENHANCEMENT.
RY ELLEN ASHTON.

/ II
aWho do you think I have seen walk
ing with Mary Balfourl" said young
lady entering the house of an acquaint-
anee.
Who?" was the eager reply, for the
speaker was quite as fond of gossipping as
her visitor.
"Henry lie Clere! Only think what
match that would be for Mary SO rich,
so handsome and of such high family /;
but then suppose there's little danger-of
it, as Mr.. lie Clere is so attentive to Emf.
ly Melton, who is far lprettier. Only,
you know, the things not impossible
and if Ii should happen wouldn't it make,
atalk 2n
A few minutes afterwards the visitor
took her leave Her friend remained
at home while longer, but finally the
bright morning and the absence of other
visitors, induced her toassume bonnet and
shawl for the purpose Of making few
calls. At the first place she visited she
found the parlor full 1t was not long
before she said,
Have you heard that Mr.. Henry
lie Clere is'quite intimate with Mary Bal
four % Il
"Ah indeed said half dozen voices
Are you not mistaken 2" said one Of
those present however, after panse
e A few weeks ago Mr.. Tie Glere, to my GER
tain knowledge, did not know Miss Bal
four" a
Oh there can be no doubt of it, said
the young lady, coloring up at this implied
reproof, Miss Green saw Mr.. lie Clere
and Mary walking together this. morning;
and she said he was very attentive-very
lover like indeed A week, you know, to
fall in love is quite sufficient / shouldn't
gonder ifthey were engaged bafore many
days.
The speaker said more than she knew
to be exactly true, hnt she had been piqued
at having her story doubted, and she was
determined to support it at all odds,
and to annoy Miss Thomas, who had
questioned its accuracy. She, therefore,
added,
aIf I was Emily Melton I should be
dreadfuily jealous indeed don't know
that / should spaek to him. Every body
thought him as good as engaged to herr
A short time afterwards the company
broke up, and as gossipping was notorious
" an almost universal habit in the village,
each lady rehearsed, with the usual addi-
tons and variations, what she had heard
of Henry lie Clere, Mary Balfour,
and Emily Melton By evening the story
had grown to be quite serious affair Mr.
lie Clere, SO the tale-bearers had it, was
engaged to Miss Balfour, having fallen in
lore with her on the very night he frst
saw her
This had reached Emily Melton from
three or four ofiicious friends, and false
as it was, there unfortunately happened
to be several corroborating circumstances,
which induced hertz give il credence
Mr.. lie 0lere had only returned from a
tour in Europe about six months before,
and being rich, well born, and handsome
had become quite speedily, the match Of
the village. Caressed on all hands, he
had yielded himself to the whim ofthe mo-
ment, and firted without remorse, since
he saw that his fortune, and not himself,
ras the object II ssRit It was not I'M
til he had spent three months thus. that
he met Emily Melton, she hayijng been abb.
sent on visit to New York at the time of
his arrival From the evening oftheir first
Iacquaintance change came over Mr. lie
Clere lie saw ii Emily 4 pure high
minded girl, with 4 heart full Of the no
hlest and warmest impulses; and his soul
| at once yielded her the homage it had
Withheld from the selfish and calculating
bellies with whom he bad hitherto been
IthfoWn into contact
But Emily was not essiiy to Be WON
The wealth Of Mr. LIE clere was nothing
| il her eyes, snd she had heard him so of
ten accused Of coquktry, that, At frst' she
shrank from BIS advances, though, all the
/ time, yis}d;1f 3 <i'ent admiration to his
talents his a<c0npIishI, eats, and the
goodness of heart Of which Sic could not
hell seeing 50 many EVIDENCES But the