Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-19
WHOLE NUMBER 647.

need say on this subject. You have lhoughtless-
y made a silly, forgive me wicked irialof your
power this time you have found il triumph over
my better reason, or should not nov be here;
but beware Of yehioring on q second trial, 70. re-
member that !, loving you above oil earthly be-
ings, tell you, that il could ssrer " toTercTi"
"For some days could not recover from This
scene. lancied that Ernest's manner betrayed
more Of pity than Of love. lie was called away
suddenly, and bis daily letters formed my world,
not onephrase, rotone line, bit msds mefsel his
worth, and often did | ask myselfhow ! could
have gained the affection Of such noble heaui
His absence had been caused by the return Of a
widowed cousin from India, who, with her baby,
was shipwrecked of the Isle Of Wight. No
lives we're lost, but the vessel sank and every ar
tcle Of properly went 10 the bottom; oil Mrs.
Munay's papers, her cashmeres, her pearls,
which were OF great value, and which her strait
ened circumstances rendered doubly so, we're en-
gulphed. Eraesl spoke constantly ofhis cousin,
ofthe deep sorrows with which she had been vis-
tied, and Of her noble and high-minded sentiments
he hoped, he said, that we should b. fnends-he
was sure must ike her. At first, felt disposed
10 do so, but the reiIeraiion Of her good qualities
awoke some Of my bad ones, till at length En-
est's praises Of another became wormwoOd 10 my
vanity, and resolved on his return, which was
daily expected, 10 show him by my manner tha;
| was hurt by his warm commentators Of bis
cousin. When he did return, the Joy Of again
beholding him, drove, for a time, all other
thoughts from my mind. But ere be had been
with US long. his frequent mention Of Mrs. Muir
ray piqued me; and when he spoke Of her, ei-
ther turned away, or hinted at some unworthy
moiiYe having, perhaps, prompted a line Of con-
duct which he represented as perfect. One day
he uttered something which my ill-disposed mind
construed into desire TO hold his cousin up as
an example to me, and this was an offence
which neither my love nor my pride could toler-
ate. spoke harshly and uuguardedly. Ernest,
who had not intended TO offend, made no con-
cession, and but for my sisters intcrpositon, we
should have quarrelled seriously. She, who
was candor and truth itself, could have no suspi-
cion of the hidden determines Of my mind; and
when she assured Ernest that it was my great at-
fection which rendered me SO sensitive, she
dreamed not that the bcseting sin Of my youth
was again rife within me. Her good offices dis
persed the threatening storm--bul from that hour
| resolved once more TO make trial Of my power
and force Ernest to expiate his offence. What!
should |, the reigning beauty, the Aaltered idol of
u little world, his own betrothed one too, be told
to take pattern by Mrs. Murray--by a woman
whose name had never been heard-whose bau-
ty had never formed the dream Of poet or painterl
Forbid it vanity! Forbid il coqueiry! In vain a
remembrance of the scene which followed on
my former trial recurred. Iwouid be guarded.
would not give him any real cause for unbrags
but once more would see him harrassed with
doubt and jealousy.
"My sister-my noble sister, dared not trust
with my plan, and alone could not execute it
with effect. You, Harry, were selected as my
innocent agent"
Captain Mortimer started--Lady Clara did not
notice it, but continued
"One morning, when all was prepared, / af-
fected to have some business in the viii
lage, and requested Ernest to employ himself in
my absence in answering a letter had received
from his cousin. al will send you the letter by
Harry, said l."
Lady Clara paused.
"Oh, remember il all, now" exclaimed Har-
ry; sit all becomes present before my sight, you
gave me letter to take into the library; YOU bid
me, on some pretence, entice Lord Ernest 10 the
window; youaIsodesired mesay nottoyouwere in
the house, but as soon as he opened the letter, TO
come softly and hold back thecurtanin (ronto(the
window, that you might see him reading it,
But dear Lady Clara" and both her auditors
rushed to her assstance-"you are iil-your
hands are cold as marble. OH what have
said to affect you thus!"
1t was some moments ere Lady Clara could
speak, but when sufficiently recovered to do so.
she replied; 'you have only continued relation
my courage failed under"
"Do not distress yourself by adding another
word" entreated both Captain Mortimer and
Miss Dormer.
"Oh! yes" exclaimed Lady Clara, "the self
sacrifice shall be complete, and may the lesson
not be thrown away. The letter gave you to
deliver to Ernest was not the one he expected.
but one which had cunningly and UNANIMOUSLY
fabricated as if addressed to me by some favour
ed admrer. No sooner was it out of my hand,
than became terrified at what had done; but it
was too late to retract, and nerving myself with
oil the courage could assume, 10 watch the et-
feet ofmy unworthy stratagem, stole softly into
the room where my sister was sitting-sat down
by her, and, as a sort of refuge from my fears
leaned myself against her shoulder. The cur
tain was soon slowly raised, and beheld Ernes
standing at thewndow, with theleuer open in hi:
hand. My heart beat tumutuously--my heac
grew giddy, the idea of treating il as jest passed
over my mind, and | burst into loud laugh
which my discordant feelings rendered hoarsc
and frightful-Ernest suddenly turned, cast one
look on me, and vanished. That look proclaim
that the second trial had, indeed, Severed US for
euer!"
Early on bright autumn morning, travel
ing carriage was seen rapidly traversing the
sweep in front of Dorngcourt. There was q
bus1le of servants, and the usual 1utter attendant
on departure for ajourney. Shortly lady o
grave aspect appears, leaning on the arm ofa
gentleman, who hands her into the carriage