Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-30

man into doing wise thing"
Florence smiled archly, but instantly
grew more thoughtful.
well, COUSIN" she said, II will try
Though think you are rather liberal in
your Inscriptions of power, yet can put the
matter to the test Of experiment"
Florence fillmore was. at the time we
speak Of. in her twentieth year. Born in
one of the wealthiesi families in -, high
ly educiied and accomplished, idollzed by |
her parents aud brothers, she had entered |
society as one born TO command. With |
much native nobeness and mngnanimiy Of |
character, with warm and ilnpulsive feelings, |
and capabiiiy Of everything high aud
great, she had hitherto lived solely for her
own amusement, aud looked on the whole |
circle by which she was surrounded, with |
all its various actors. RS something got up
for her special diversion. The idea Of in.
huencing any one, for better or worse by
any thing she ever said or did, had never
occurred to her. The crowd Of admirers,
Of the other sex. who as matter of course,
were always about her. she regarded as
80 many sources Of diversion but the idea
Of feeling any sympathy with them as hu-
man beings. or Of making use Of her power
over them for their improvement, was one
that never entered her head.
Edward Ashton was an old bachelor
cousin OF Florenee's. who. having earned
the title Of oddity. in general society, avail
ed himself Of ii to exercise a turn for tell
ing the truth TO the various young ladies Of
his acquaintance, especially 10 his fair cous-
in Florence. We remark, by the by. that
these privileged ruih.ielIers are quite
necessary Of life 10 young ladies', in the full
tide Of society; aud we really think II
would be worth while for every dozen OF
them to unite to keep person of this Kind
on a salary, for the benefit OF the whole
however. that is nothing 10 our present pur-
pose ; we must return TO our fair heroine,
whom we left at the close Of the last CON-
versaiion, standing in deep rerete by the
window.
"li's more than half true" she said 10
herself-"more than half, Here am
twenty years old. aud never have thought
Of any thing, never have done any thing,
except to amuse and crafty myself; no pnr-
pose--no oblec,--nothIng digulfed moth
ing worth living for only psrlor orna-
meGi, heigh.hol Well, really do believe
could do something with this Elliot; and
yei-how dread TO try"
Now my good readers. II you are aniici-
pa,ing a love story, we must hasten to put
in our disclainer-you are quite mistaken
in the case. Our fair, brilliant heroine was
at the time OF speaking, as heart.who!e as
the diamond on her bosom. which reflected
the light in too many sparkling rays ever TO
absorb il. She had, to be sure, half in
earnest, half in Jest, maintained a banter
ing, platonic sort Of friendship with George
Elliot; she had danced, ridden, sung, and
sketched with him; but so had she with
twenty other young men, and as TO coming
to any thing tender with such quick, bril-.
liant, restless creature, Elliot would as soon
have undertaken TO senlinenlallze over a
glass Of soda water. No, there was deci.
dedly no love in the CASE.
"What curious ring that is!' said Eli
OF tn her. day or two after, as they were
reading together
! ITS kniglh's ring" said she. playfnlIy,
as she drew il of aud pointed to a coral
cross set in the god-"a ring Of the red
cross knights Come, now, I've great
, mind to bind you to my service with it,"
, "Do, lady fair" said Elliot, stretching
; on, his hand Cor the ring.
l. Know, them" said she. "if you take
this pledge, that you must obey whatever
: commands ! lay upon you in lis name"
? 81 swear 7" said Elliot, ia the mock he
: role, aud placed the ring on his finger.
r An evening or two after. Elliot attend
I ed Florence to party at Mrs BIS
Everything was gay aud brilliant aud iher'
was no lack of either wit or wine. Ellio
$ was standing in little alcove, spread will
refreshments. with glass of wine in hi
: hand. IL forbid ii; The cup is poisoned,
e said voice in his ear. He turned quick
y ~, and Florence was at his side. Ever
y one was busy. with laughing and talkin
!. around, and nobody saw the sudden star
y and flush that these words produced. as FL
$ hot looked earnestly in the lady's face
: She smiled. aud pointed playfully to III
o ring but after all, there was in her fac
h an expression of agitation and iutere'
n which she could not repress, and Elliot-lell
e however playful the manner, that she wa
" in sarnesf--and as she glided away in III
crowd he stood with his arms folded, an
y his eyes fixed on the spot where she diI
l. appeared.
"Is it possible that am suspecied--thI
20 there are things said of me as If I were
G dangerl" were the first thoughts that Aasl
e ed through his mind. How strange that
g man may appear doomed, given up, an
a, lost. to the eye of every lookcr.on. befoi
pr he hegins to suspect himself This WI
n the first time that any defined appTehensio