Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-23
CARROLLTON, OHIO.-FRIDAY, JULY B. 18R

his love, have still lcss notion Of her bsin,
made fool Of by him"
ma, nobody ever told you that il was love for
me that was declared in that letier," remonsiru.
ted Olivia, considerably relieved by the idea thai
the whole rdcule ofthis business might be laid
upon hei mothers misconcepiion Of the affair.
"NobOdy ever told me in plain words, perhaps,
but was made 10 believe IT, and did believe IL
and believe so still"
81 am sure never thought il was. " said Char.
loue.
/ And here we mustdo Charlotte the Justice to saw
that she did not, in this instance, tell falsehood.
II IS true that she never believed the leuer was OF
the nature that Olivia tried 10 make them think il
wasi but she saw what were her sisters wishes,
aud readily gave her aid toward forwarding them.
Charlotte had one redeeming quality, which, il
| her sister had possessed mind capable Of ma
/ king use Of il, might have converted her vices in
to virtues, an1 produced, from her strong and en-.
ergetlc character, a noble and eslimable woman.
/ Charlotte was extravaganty attached TO Olivia
but, unfortunately, that sacred tie Of sisterly ai
lection was neither restrained by honor, nor reg.
alated by principle; and Olivia, who might have
made any thing Of her that she had chosen, EN-.
ployed her merely as a tool, TO aid her 10 her de-
I signs Of artiice and cunning. But we beg par.
don Of our readers for having kept them so long
/ from the scene of action.
81 believe the matter may be easily explain
ed" said Swinburn, addressing himself TO Mrs
Mein-"l wrote TO Miss Olivia, il is true, anC
expressed myself in all the ardor Of passion; but
the object of that passion was Maria Darnley
not your daughter"
"A very likely story, truly!" returned the Ia
dy. at is very likely thing that you should
write to my daughter, with whom you had neyel
corresponded, nor ever had any great intimacy
TO tell her of your love for Maria Darnley! No
Mr.. Swinburn, you must not expect that so con
temptiblea subterfuge will pass current with me
however my foolshIy good-natured daughter may
try to aid you in it,"
"Then," added the young man, "as canno
submit TO be suspected of a talsehood, must b.
obliged to produce Miss Olivia's letter 10 me, ant
beg she will at the same time, show my answer
which was elected solely by the strain of hel
episte."
And as he spoke, he put his hand very delb.
erately into his pocket, and brought out letter
which Olivia knew at once TO be her own. Oar.
ling across the room, as if an electric shock had
passed through her, Olivia endeavored 10 snatch
the letter out of his hands; but he was TOO much
upon his guard for her to succeed and, in an og
ony of fear, she exclaimed
"Oh, Mr.. Swnburnl do not, | entreat you
show that foolish letter."
"Then, at any rale, let mine be shownl" re
monstrated he.
"Oh, hav n'tir! cannot tell where it is!
believe it is burnt!"
eyes, saw you burn it, Leevy, just before w
came away!" said Charlotte, with as much com
posurc as if she had spoken the simplest truth.
| ooh, WE'LL am toe much man of bushes:
not to keep copy Of my letters" returned VIII
liam, "and have it here!" unfolding paper as
he spoke.
"There is no need 10 show either of them,
interrupted Charlotte. "Ma knows well enough
that it is nothing but o misunderstanding of hel
own. Don't you, maj" added she, appealing
with significant look to her mother.
"Oh, yes" replied the mother, in a subdueC
tone, for she was convinced by the agitation o
her elder daughter, al the thought Of her lette
being exhibited, that the sooner the matter wa;
hushed up the better. 81 am convinced | wa;
mistaken, and therefore we will drop the subject
"Before it is finally abandoned" said Swim
burn, 81 must give you notice thatf everhear o
your propagating the idea, in any form, of Mari,
Darnley having accepted rejected lover, bolt
these letters shall be Immediately made public.
ooh, there is no danger of any Of us bein!
anxious to claim the honor of your addresses,
returned Charlotte, recovering her usual perness
"On the contrary, we shall be most anxious Il
have the pleasure of congratuIa,ing you and you
young and beautiful BRIDE"
"And believe me, said Swinburn, gently, ye
emphaticaIly, ''you never saw bridegroom
prouder of his bride than shall be when | cal
call Maria Darnley WIFE"
So saying, he bowed to each and left the room
The moment the door was shut, loud dersiv
laugh, evidently intended for him TO hear, burs
from Charlotte; whilst Olivia made an attempt a
her usual litter.
"Poor things" thought William, smile O
contempt passing over his fine countenance-
"they fancy themselves Maria's superiors. Bu
let very few years pass over their heads, ant
see which will have the advantage, even in per
sonal appearance. When lime has furnished tn
brilancy of fthercomplexions, and destroyed III
delicate moulding Of their features, where vii
their beauty be7 Whilst my Moria's face, whic
bespeaks the richness of her well-stored mind
and the benevolent purity of her heart, will onl
gain fresh lustre from each succeeding year."
Though Charlotte had made an effort to laugh
in the hope of morliryng Swinburn, she wa
really but little disposed for gaiety: and she, wit
her sister, accompanied their mother TO the bee
room, where they spent the time in gloomy S
lence and inactivity, with the exception fdressin
for dinner, until the bell rang to call them TO pal
take Of that meal. The dinner, too, passed owe
almost without word being spoken by any {
the three. To be sure, Charloue's tormentc
was not there, so that nothing occurred to pre-
woke her to pertness, and she seemed but liltl
disposed to cheerlulness.
"Well one blessing is, Cousin Fred will b
here soon, and then we may raise our heads an