Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-04-14

me, dear mamma, answered Margaret, q
should not wish my husband to be so fasci.
mating; | want more than mere outside
qualities; and | should be inclined to dis.
trust man who was so very brilliant he
would never do for home. Don't you re.
member Beatrice, in much Ado About
Nothing when Don Pedro asks if she will
have him for her husband! No. she SAYS:
| should want another O. week days; your
grace is TOO costly for every day wear. =
And continued Miss Lester, laughing
cheerfuly, Il think it is much the same
with myself and young Heothcotc--he is,
in truth, too handsome for me =
Perhaps Margaret's feelings were natur-
al. Every true hearted woman likes to feel
proud of her lover or rather to have one that
she can rightly ntiustly feel proud of !;
there is no sensation hore delicious or more
unselfsh than this. But we doubt very
much if a woman, sincere, simple hearted
would feel love for a Philip Hea,hcotc, the
idol of ballroom, the admired and admir-
er of all the vain and frivolous. That Phil
ip had deeper qualities than these, was as
yet unknown-such was his apparent char
actcr; and Margaret was right when she
said that he was too handsome and too fas-
cinating for her.
Mrs. Lester and her daughter sat one
morning at their work, when there was an
nounced that bore of bores, morning visi-
tor and one never particularly welcome
at any time-the news-retailer of the place,
a sort of feminine Paul Pry. Country So
ciety, alas has not the blessing of London
visitng--no dropping the acquaintance of
these human barnacles. There was a sus.
picious twinkling in Mrs. Doddridge's little
black eyes, which showed she was brim-
ming over with news and out the infor-
nation came, at the earliest opportunity.
Have you heard of the fire 2
What fire ? asked the ever-sympathiz-
ing Mrs. Lester.
What, not about the fire at Farmer
Westerns, and young Mr.. Heathcotc, and
his accident p cried the delighted gossip,
glancing meaningly at Miss Lester.
Il am sorry for it, said Margaret, quiet
ly. What has happened to him p
Il thought you must have known-but
no (; | forgot. Well, he is not quite killed.
almost
Both the ladies' started; and to their in.
quiries Mrs. Doddrdge answered with a
long story, the substance of which, separa.
ting truth from fiction, we will tell in our
own words. Philip, coming home from a
country ball, had seen that most fearful of
all sights, especially in a lonely country
place, a houoe Ntv. IIo spurred his
horse to the spot, and reached it With assist.
ance, but too late. The house was wrapped
in flames. and the issi"o.'s aSe't mother
was still within-no one thought of saving
her. Heathcote, with a sudden and gener-
Gus impulse, rushed into the burning mass,
and they never thought to see him return,
until he staggered forward with his burden
dead in his arms, and fell inscnsble on the
ground. When he returned to conscious
ness, he was found to be fearfully burnt
one foot entirely crushed by falling beam
The young, gay, handsome Philip, who had
danced 50 merrily few hours before, and
charmed all, as was his wont, was taken
home by the gray morning twilight, dis
/ figured for life
Margaret Testers kind heart overlooked
with unmingled pity at hearing this mclan
choly story of her former lover. And thcr
his noble and generous deed She coulc
not have believed him capable of such
Her tender conscience smote her for hav
ing misjudgcd him, and many slight in
stances of his kindly feeling rose to he
mind, which showed he must have had
higher and better character beneath the on
in which he publicly appeared. There j
nothing so sweet or so all-eXtenuatlng a
the compassion of a gentle-heartcd woman
though exercised towards a rejected, o
. even faithcss lover.
Many months did Philip lay on his lionel,
and desolate sick bed, for he had no mothe
or sister TO watch over him. Some FEY
among those who had been so charmc
with him sent TO inquire after the poo
, young man, for little time. But the II
terest and excitement of the event soon die
9 away and long before the invalid was abb
to crawl TO the closed-up garden OF the oil
manor house where he lived, all had fors;
> ken him except one or two kind souls, WI
=. sent him book now and then out Of cha
ity. Among these was Mrs. Lester an
y when at last the young man recovere
;. gratitude, or somewhat else, warmer still
. led him thither the first day he left h
), home.
+, No one had seen him since his accider
# excepting his medical attendant. Phil
r could not bear that his former friends shou
see how tcariully changed he was. IL
o beautiful and classic features were scarce
(. recognizable, fer the deep scars left on h
Il face; and his finely moulded figure Al
St elastic gait were changed into an incurab
;. lameness. 1t was fearful shock /; such
!. none but strong mind could bear. B
|. Philip, through his long and solitary Hines
;. had thought much and deeply; and his e
ternal appearance was scarcely more chan
ed than his mind. Nevertheless, with q
|, his courage, he could not repress many
-. bitter pang, as he waited alone in Mrs. lie
n ter's drawing room, and caught Gimp
% of himself in the mirror which had so oft
beforetime reflected the graceful figure
d the handsome Philip Heathcote. When Il
,. door opened, and Margaret entered, he cou
q have shruuk anywhere from her view.
Q A hue, very slight, was in Margaret
" usually coorless cheek she looked on
IS at the young man, and then advancin
b. took his hand in both hers, and said in
r, frank, earnest, friendly tone, that went
Id Philips heart, Il am very glad, indeed,
see you here again, Mr.. lieathcote.'
h. There was no coincidence, no allusion
" his illness she did not avoid looking
i hin, bu, smoke and smiled with true a