Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-11-13
For the Arkansas Inlelligcnccr.
The Cousins.
BY cLEMENTfNE.

/ ItruunmOnH xv.
: nave Just received letter from your cousin. AZ
cert AsAley, who will visit us next week and Il,
wish you would make an agreeable impression n,
iii'i' as ne mas recently returned from Europe oute
an amateur and conhosleur, and very wealthy. by
Inc oy; and am you can do so. if Won will
nor De so simple and chId-lke in your manners
because you the dolised child of wealth, -,
rehts-of universally acknowledged beauty and
besides that, an heressl'' Mr. Drummond w,s ,
distinguished and efficient lawyer, he had on rIv
Sacr rliceu hmselt to the shrine of n?ananaon but
niu Iouno, 100 late, how unsatisfyng are is plens
ures ne married at an early age The beautiful
daughter OF an INDECENT and obscure widow
"ho' oein9 elevated to his rank and position in So
ciety, became vain, proud and self-wiled with
very little compass. Their daughter. an onIv
chiil, was just lingering the threshold of tear
lui ana passionate muebrty, and was transcend
emily lovely and beautiful: her hair buno toosa
and long in clustering ringIeis. its raven hue CON
'rasting strangely, yet agreeabIy with a face and
neck, winch wed with the Parian marble in purity
ana polish, and with eye dark as night, vet len
aer as sorrow. Set in the midst Of ali the wealth
beauty, grace and intelligence of the citv. she
was decidedly the belle Of the ton-the queen Of
Inc 0edu MONDE, she shone forth as the brilliant
star OF Venus-a star of the first magnitude with.
Out rival. with indisputed sway. Notwitbstand
ing her pre-eminent loveiness, her simplicity and
unsophstIcatedness won its way TO evorv be,r,
Hor cousin, Albert Ashley, was earIv left Fl.
therless, but by the judcious care and mental
training of pious and intelligent mother. he be,
came an interesting youth, and was prepared to
enter college at an carl age, he studied closely.
hhisaed hls collegiate career, graduated with con-
siderable Sonor and soon left the shelterng shad-
ows OF Alma Aiater. During his stay at college
he was so unfortunate 10 lose his mother which
afflicted him extremely; he was then left the sole
master of an immense fortune. He was Young
man OF overfowing kindness of heart-of warm
anu hooie lmPuises-great cooquial powers in
snort. Just such as 10 win for himself the unds-
guised appreciation and unaffected admiration of
all who knew him. He had always a great desire
Tor travelling, and having no incumbrance. he now
determined 10 crafty his long cherished propens.
ty. lie accordingly embarked for Europe where
he spent four years in visiting the courts-the
most renowned watering places, and all the most
prominent features that throw around fair Eng
land the spell of hallowed recoIections. His
rare personal beauty-hs accomplishments and
profound intelligence, and his wealth awarded to-
MN thai position IN society. 10 which few are en-
titled. he had reveled in the in the mazes of
fashionable life-had been thrown into the vortex
of It's pleasurable intoxicaton, where the incense
oil fatterIng homage, but had not, as MANY do
become infected by the dissipation and froIics of
iorelgn courts; on the contrary, he had extended
considerably his knowledge on all subjects as eve
ry one who makes a tour of the continent is ey-
return to his American home" the land of the
free and the home of the brave.''
The appointed day arrived and with it Albert
Ashley. lake glance with your minds eve
kind reader, into the richly furnished parlor. ana
behold it adorned with every luxury that art could
devise or wealth procure. Mrs. Drunimond was
entertaining the gallant and much admired Mr.
Ashley; but where is Clara? She is out making
calls, but soon returns; is she dessed worthy TO
receive this elegant cOnnoSieur? I? Is it in the cx.
tremity or the relSnIng mode No, she is attir-
Fed IN simple muslin of snowy white. whose
graceful folds revealed so admirably her svmmet-
rlcal hgure and partially concealed her tiny foot
which, half coquettshly, was partly advancing
and partly retreating: the ornament which adorn.
ed her person, was a gold chain of superior value
to which was suspended a costly minature-a ia
theirs Christmas present! She received Albert
with an ease and grace eminently her own and
by the endearing appeliation of Cousin! Mrs
Drummond looked daggers at the daueht for this
and was compelled to leave the room 10 conceal
her Chagrin. The cousins entered into IL conver-
sation, and there was cessation of Alber's pulse
as he listened to the ntonatons of her sverv and
bewItching voice, and he could but mentally com
pare her 10 the beauties that blazed in the foreign
courts, but to their great diSpa ragemen He WIS
evidently struck with the fascination and lowell
ness of his cousin Clara he admired her simp-
city, and her graceful and brilliant conversational
against falling into, were those which won his
heart, and made him 50 beauty's slave. Thus
passed days, weeks and months time flew on un-
needed; 1.-The golden hours on Angels wings sue
ceeded each other in rapid succession. 4
| 1t was Il lovely summers evening-lhe air was
refreshing and fragrant; the pale moon.bea
quVered on the spires Of the church, casting
abroad fretwork of lucid ray land silently roam.
ing through I" forest, gIado and gen.'' The cous-
ihs were seated in recess in the garden Clara
had been playing few airs on the lutte, but it
now lay neglected at her side. A painful pause
ensued Albert broke the silence +" my sweet
COUSIN he spoke - for the last week have been
anxious to obtain private conference with you,
but the continued routine of my company pre-
vented it. You are aware how entirely deeply
and devotedly love you, and have sought you,
this evening" to declare my passion now give me
, one word of assurance that it is reciprocated-
You are the arbitress of my destiny-if you re-
ject my suit am wretched man, but if accept
+ ed, my study through life will be 10 strew your
path with roses, and in any way possible to con-
situte your felicity. throw my fortune and
myself at your feet. She placed her small, lily
white hand within his, and replied 81 am thine
-only thine"
To the readers of this unpretendng story we
loplu will ,nrL thar