Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-19
CARROLLTON OHIO--FRDAY, MARCH 10 1slz

No, no, not even were 90 lsgo to come between
u.s.. You have taught me 10 love you fondly, and
therefore must trust you fondly. None but
yourself could break the bands Of love and trust
you have forged"
"HaIf laughing. answered, "shallI tryl"-
Mary frowned, and saying il was late, arose, and
passing her arm through mine, bid Ernest good
night.
"As soon as we were alone, my sister lectured
me for the silly speech had just made. My be-
setting sin was ones more reused, and fearlessly
| replied
'Not so silly as you may think, Mary. lhave
for some time perceived how very sure Ernest
feels; must give him some alarm or we shall,
even before marriage, sink into absolute lirle.
ness"
"Greatly alarmed for my happiness. my sister
warmly and tenderly exPostulaied agains, my
folly but in vain"
"Will itbe believed, that from that hourmy for.
meractswereH again resoued tol JustaIthatiime,
two yisiters, Lord Beauvoir and his brother, Mr..
Lester, came to pass some time with Us, and de-
voted myself TO the task Of captivating both. Err
nest was so provokingly calm under my first out
break, that was piqued into a continuance ofmy
I folly.
'Your sisters guests engross much of your al
tention, my dear Clara" at length he observed;
"and am jealous Of the time you feel il right to
give them"
"Fool that was! this very speech so confdng
which should have made me blush at my treach.
cry, seemed to inspirit me to do worse. Ernest
had pronounced the word jealous;' he said be
was jealous Of the time gave; but he must also
/ be Jealous ofme or my triumph would not be com.
plete; and in defiance Of my sisters remonstran-
ces, rushed headong in the vortex of folly
had planned. One night Ernest had besought me
TO sing, and had made a thousand silly excu.
ses, when Mr.. Leister. ignorant Of the subject of
our discourse, for we were standing apart, came
up, and with one Of his bandest smiles, entreat.
ed me to try some manuscript music which had
just been sent him by professional friend.
was about to refuse-my first impulse was good;
| had been listening TO Ernest for ten minutes.
and something of his noble nature had infused
tselfinto my mnd-but my evil genius prevail
ed. What a crowning triumph this would bel
now he must be miserable. beheId him in i'm
agination at my feet, beseeching me 10 restore
him to my favour such an opportunity might not
again occur and taking off my gloves, walked
deliberately TO the piano-iore, and was soon en-
gagged in decyphering sweet and plaintive mel
Iody. Once turned up TO see if Ernest was list
ening, but he was not within my sight, aud
though began TO ,remble little at what had
done, proceeded TO the end oClhe air. On quit
ting the instrument, perceived Lord Beauyoir
reading. my sisterwas bending overan embroidery
frame; could not be mistaken-a tear fell on il
and Lord Ernest was no where in the ROOM
Half frantic, rushed into the vestibule, and was
told that Lord Ernest had gone out to walk.
ran as fast as my trembling limbs would permit
to the terrace, where we had so often walked to-
gether, and in the temple where the first words
oGlove had passed our lips-where our troth had
been pllsated-I beheld Ernest. His hat was
} off, his face was buried III his hands, his arms
restngon the table before which he was seated.
Esprang forward, and ere he was aware fmy ap.
proach, was on my knees implorng him to for
give me. He raised his head and looked at me
, with look fsuch intense pity, that became
speechess with shame and contriton.
''Cara," said he, "what is all thisl One ofus
must be under some strange delusion-explain
to me what it all means You, who ! left a
short time since directing your attention to Mr..
Lester, Fastening 10 fulfil his slightly expressed
wish, though the same wish had been refused
when urged by me-are now here in position
unbecoming woman. For Gods sake, Clara,
speak the truth; tell me if you have found that it
is on Mr.. Leister, and not on me- that your hap
piness depends. The discovery will be bitter
; one; but be candid, and fear not; will be your
triend though may never be MORE
"Every word Ernest uttered was dagger in
my heart. Did he really talk of giving me up
to anotherl Oh! the very thought was torture.
clung to his knees, adjured him to hear me;
protested that | cared for no one but him-but
I that wanted TO make him Jealous.
} "He started as though an adder had stung him.
Never shall forget his colorlcss face as he
said
"Great God! can it be possible that such an un.
, worthy, wicked thought existed in the heart so
fondIy worsbiPpedl"
"He seemed literally choked with emoton.-
! The sight of his anguish was too much for me;
and tainted. On recovering my senses, found
) myself on a sofa in my sisters dressing room;
that dear sister and Ernest were bending over
! me; the latter still deadly pale. On my attempt.
ing to speak, he raised my hand to his lips, and
said, very gently
'Clara, for your sake and mine, do not, en-.
treat agitate yourself. Now that see you re.
stored to animation, can leave you; tonight We
will no talk"
81 grasped his hand and tried to retain him
t but, bidding my sister goodnight he left the
; room.
"During many hours Of that eventful night
did Mary try to soothe and comfort me.
"Oh, he is hurt-he is angry with me; hat
] you but seen the look he bent on me just before
lost my senses, you would not wonder at my
anguish"
Y "Towards midnight, worn out by crying,
fell asleep; but Ernest's words, "Is it on Mr.
f Leister your happiness dependsl" rung in m,
ears, and with painful shrek | awoke. Thu
e passed the night, and in the morning | was to-
S feverish to rise. My sister told me that after
/. had left the drawing-room The preceding eve