Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-19
"ohl You have not betrayed usi'' exclaimed

"ohl youhaye not betrayed usi' exclaimed
Eliza.
Lady Clara related all lihaihad passed, reproach-
ing her warmly, yet not harshly, for the leyiiy
and coqueiry that her conduct had displayed.
Deeply affected. Eliza Domer sunk on her
knees and enueated Lady Clara to counsel, 10
protect and advise her.
81 am young am weak, ;" she said "no moth
er's counsel ever fell on my ear; tl this hour
never thought my conduct could bear such an in
terpreiaIion; for, in the midst Of all my folies,
my love for Harry was omnipotent, aud hence-
forth will strive 10 appear worthy Of his
Lady Clara raised the weeping suPplicant as
she said
"May find il so, and then il shall be my busi-
ness to promote your marriage: but as protec-
tion against YOURSELF enjoin you tOrelate 10 Har-
ry the subject Of our CONFERENCE.-The conylc-
ton your past conducI has forced on me, and the
d, termination you have made Of acting more cir
cumspectly for the future. Your father dimes
out, and this evening will make you and Harry
acquainted with a tale which will force you TO
loathe, as do, the name Of a coquette."
Faithful TO her promise, Lady Clara repaired
with her young guests to her private sitting
room, where she was sure Of no interruption.
"You have often asked me, Harry" she began,
'why supposed myself so well able to discover
of what a coqueue is capable. Alas! alas! who
should know better than myself3 for ! was fin
ished, heartless coquette. Happiness IN its
brightest form wooed me; was beloved by one
on whom doated, but the deadly sin Of coquetry
was too strongly interviewer in my nature. You,
Harry, must, almost fancy, remember some Of
10 | oh fo ri Y
years were passed with US, and though my poor
sister was not your mother, neverdid any one per-
form mothers duties more conscentiously than
my dear Mary did to her husbands motheress
boy; and when, at that husbands early death,
your uncles would have relieved her from the
charge, she begged you might remain with her
I'LL you were ten years old. You must surely
remember Chaworlh Castle, its turreted walls, its
moats, its fastnessesl
"But to proceed with my tale, was the youn-
gest of three sisters; we were left orphans at an
early age. My eldest sister diedvery young, and
when Mary married your father (then a widower,)
] was consigned by my guardian to her care, |
loved her tenderly, and save on one point, her
wish was my law; but vain were all her tender
admonitions against my besetring sin. Not TO be
admired by all, not TO be singled out from the
crowd, was position too painful to be endured,
and no sooner did new face appear than every
art was used, every effort was made by me to at
tract attenton-but, once secured, the charm was
gone-conquest was my aim, its preservation |
cared not for. was in the very zenith of this
occupation, when your fathers sudden death for
time arrested me. | really shared my poor sis
ters affliction; happy would it have been had the
retirement into which it forced me been produc-
tive of more salutary effects. Mary, ,everthought-
(ul for others, would nothcar of thsseclusion be-
ing prolonged beyond the period of my mourn
| ing. At first, | resisted wish that should again
go out; but my entroaties to remain with her be-
came fainter on hearing that one of the stewards
appointed at the approaching races was young,
rich and handsome nobleman. twas not in ma
ture-at least, not in my wicked nature, to leave
the field open 10 my former rivals and fully arm
ed for the conquest, departed my chaperon,
for the races. | had not been long in the grand
stand when the stewards came up one of them
| recognized as an old admirer, the other was a
perfect stranger. For the first time in my life,
my manner was confused-l felt tmidity quite
foreign to my character; and when the stranger
addressed me, my voice trembled in giving the
simple answerhis question required. The whole
time remained on the course, this feeling never
left me, and during the drive home | scarcely
spoke. On my return, my sister observed my
agitated and reserved manner.
"My beloved Clara, "saidshe, chow selfish has
my sorrow MAIDEN have allowed you TO share
my seclusion so long, that the first scene of gale
ty is too much for your nerves, but this must not
continue" and turning to my companion she ad-
ded, "dear Mrs. Chisholme, depend on you TO
take Clara to the ball this evening""
81 made faint resistance to this proposal, but
my sister would hear of no excuse, and by the
time my chaperon returned TO conduct me Ihith-
er, had conquered my unusual nervousness, and
was again myself. My toilette that evening occu-
pied more of my attention than it had ever before
done; and when my sister, with burst of affec-
ton, pressed me fondly TO her heart, and called
me her beautiful Clara, | again uembed from
gratifed feeling.
son entering the ballroom, the two stewards
advanced to meet us, and the young and hand
some stranger Of the morning asked permission
to lead me to the dance, which had been delayed
till my arrival. That evening completed the in
fatuation Of the morning, and, seating myself on
Marys bed, who was awake on my return, told
her that trusted, for my sake, that she would
not deny Ambulance to Lord Ernest Waivers
when he called next day.
"Assuredly not, my loved Clara replied that
gentle sister, "if you really are anxious to see
him; but, dear one, you must not enlist me in
yourvictimzing plans, they are unworthy of you,
and"
"Ohl say no more, Nary" cried I; "see Lord
Ernest, and then tell me if he is likely be the vic
tim of any woman"
"And Mary did see Lord Ernest; day after day
he came, and my very nature seemed changed
lived but in his sight, and even the civilities o.
other men were sickening to me.
"The summer passed away like dream; the
autumn tnts had already clothed the fine old trees
in the park. Our walks, our rides were curtai