The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-06-05
VOL. Nv.
for his hand trembled violently as he
held the note to the lamp.

tenance. n sue seemed to gather hope
as he read. At length he looked up.
"lmust 60, dearest" were his words.
"My father is not expected 10 live over
the night. He relents, for he has sent
for me. God bless you, Mary, and our
child" and a large tear rolled heavily
down his cheek.
81 thank thee, Heavenly Father"
said the wife, clasping her hands and
lifting her swimming eyes on high, "my
prayers have been heard. Oh! my
sweet babe, thou shalt no longer want"
and she clasped the sleeping cherub
in convulsive Joy to her bosom.
The husband dashed the tears hasti-
Iy from his eyes, kissed the mother and
her child ~fervantly, and snatching up
his hat and cloak, was rushing from the
room. So
81 will sit up for you, love- said the
wife.
The husband gave her a look Of I'M
uterable fondness, and stepped out into
the storm. 1t was raining fiercely, and,
at intervals, the thunder shook the sky,
an unusual occurrence at that season
Of the year. While he was making his
way on foot, against the driving tenn.
pest, to his fathers princely mans ion,
let us hurry owe the events which had
reduced him and a lovely wife to penu-
ry.
Sir James Hengist was decended from
n Of those ancient families of Eng
land, which had been great while the
Normans were still landless, and many
of which still remain among the gentry
of Cheshire and Lincolnshire, looking
down with contempt on the new no.
bility. In the course Of generations,
however, the family had become poor,
and Sir James, TO rebuild its fortunes,
had married a lady Of great wealth in
the city. Lady Hengist was as good
as she was rich, and won all hearts in
her exalted station. She lived TO see
her only son attain the age of twenty,
and then died regretted by all, and by
none seemingly more than by her hus-
band.
Lady Hengist had a niece, the daugh.
Their of a favorite step-brolher, whom
she had educated from a child, and
whose union with her son had been a
favorite project. She had long Sc
entertained this idea, and what
then was her qualification when she be-
held a passion growing up for each
other in the young peoples bosoms!
Her niece was, at this time, but fifteen,
yet already ripening into womanhood,
and one of the most beautiful and &C.
of her sex. Sir James ap-
to enter into his wife's plans, so
nearly a year their lives passed
away in that brightest of all dreams, a
irst love sanctioned by friends.
But Lady Hengist had been scarcely
hree months in her grave before a
marked change came over Sir James,
n his demeanor to his son. He was
continually reproving the young man,
Who no longer could do anything to
'lease him, and, being a high-spirIted
'outh, the heir was at length driven
rom the paternal roof by this constant
Toward the lovely Mary
however, the conduct Of
'ir James had been unchanged, even
When she ventured to expostulate with
i'm, as she sometimes did, in behalf of
lis son. There were those, indeed, who
aid he had interested motives in this, |
nd the truth oftheir suspicious became
pparent after the son had sought a
ONE else where. Mary was now six
cen, in the full maturity Of early Eng
Ssh beauty; and Sir James, overlook
his tacit consent that his son should
larry her, and, forgetting the noble
earted woman whom he had lately s
slowed to the grave, determined to {
rake her his wife. He was still in the !,
Of life, and might have succeed l
d with others scarcely less beautiful
IAN Mary. Buther heart was already
nother's, and she turned away in dis {
ust from his addresses. 1t was some I
me before she was aware of his in Q
for she would not believe he i
ould be guilty Of such %baseness, but .
then his attentions grew so marked I
5 TO become the kitchen gossip, she t
ould no longer shut her eyes to them. S
he made no effort now to conceal her
.spugnance. But Sir James was not d
} be foiled. In his youth he had been y
man of gallantry, and still piqued him t
If on his power over the sex. But
: tried every art in vain. AT length, n
'weyer, il became impossible for her I
remain any longer under his roof;
I'd she would have left il before, only c
lat she knew not where 10 20, and b
,sides she had INDUCED a hope that "
! remaining she might bring about a b
cancellation betWean hor lovar ,n -