The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-19

tionalisms, and she stood before him with
her hands crossed upon her bosom, gazing
iuto his face with look Of girlish fonduess,
that was made still softer by the tears that
stood trembling in her beautiful eyes. He
was 10 proceed 10 London, 10 be completed
in his imitation into mercantile business, and
might be absent for years-perhaps forever
for his mother was 10 accompany him and
Martha felt the separation as her first serious
distress. Richard was old enough 10 be a.
ware of the nature oil his own feelings and
perhaps il Martha had been in one of her
grand moments, he might have dared 10 ap-
peal to the growing woman IN her heart. But
she appeared 10 him on this occasion SO
young, so gentle, so delicate, that he would
have thought it proclamation 10 talk 10 her Of
love. As the moment Of parting arrived, he
drew her towards him with both hands; his
arms encircled her waist; and-how it hap
pened know not, for the thing was wholly
out of rule-his lips were pressed to hers.
The next moment he started from his bewil>
derment; his eyes daZzleG /; Martha had
disappeared. He did not know, when in the
morning the stage coach was carrying him
from Elm's Cross, that young girl was sill
ling behind blind in the highest room Of
thai house watching the vehicle as ii rolled
away Till it was prematurely lost in her blind
ing tears.
| am unable 10 trace the adventures Of
Richard Temple in London; bul they ap-
pear 10 have been comparatively fortunate,
since, al the end OF only three years, he was
Junior partner in young but respec able
firm lie haG seen Miss Hargrave several
times during the interval; but need mol say
that their intercourse had entirely changed
It's character. Richard was not only inter
esled, but likewise in some degree amused,
by the lransmuiauion Of the young girl into
the demure aud circumspecI Quaker. In
essentials, however, she was-not altered, but
improved and exalted, and even her physi-
cal beauty had acquired new character Of
loveIiuess as the development Of her moral
feelings went on. But over all, there was,
what seemed 10 the young man, how that he
was accustomed 10 the common world, an
fitness OF manner, which repealed his aGvan-
ces and he continued 10 love on without
daring 10 disclose The secret Of his bosom.
What matter? IL was no secret 10 her whom
il concerned; for friend Martha, with all her
occurrences, had a woman's heart and a wo-
mans ewes. At the end Of the three years
have ,meniioned, Mrs. Temple died, and
Richard, now alone in the world, and with
tolerable prospects in business, began in due
lime 10 ask himself, with quaking heart and
"A flushing brow, whether il were possible for
him 10 obtain the Quaker girl for his bride.
After much cogitation on this subject, and a
thousand misgivings, his characteristic dar-
ing prevailed; and addressing to Martha an
eloquent history Ct his love, accompanied by
frank statement OF his affairs and prospects
and solicitation for permission 10 WOO her
ior his wife, he enclosed the letter, open. III
briefer one to her father, and dispatched
the Elteful missive.
The reply came from Mr.. Hargrave. 1t
was cold, calm, decisive. He was obliged
by The good opinion entertained by his young
friend Of his daughter, but Martha bad alto
gether different views.-Setting aside the
o3posiieness of their circumstances and posi-
,ior, in this world, which would IN itself
be an insurmouniable objection, their reli-
oious views were not SO much alike as was
necessary in the case Of two persons press
ing forward, side by side, 20 the world which
is 10 come. He hoped friend Richard would
speedily forget what, 10 a rational minded
person, ought TO be hardly disappointment,
and, when his fortune permitted II, select
from his own denomination vile othls own
degree. This insolent letter, as the young
man termed il, lad no effect but that Of rous-
ing the fierce and headlong energy Of his
nature.> He knew Martha loo well 10 be-
Iieve that she had any share in such pro-
ducton; and he wrote al once 10 MIR. Har-
grave 10 say that his daughter was now old
enough TO decide for herself, and that he
could not think of receiving at second hand
a repIy involving The happiness or misery oil
his whole lie. On the following day he
would present himself at his house IN Elm 5
Cross. in the hope of hearing his fate from
Martha's own lips, even il in the presence oil
her father and mother.
When Richard Temple passed across the
Dutch-like lawn Of the house, with It's drill
ed shrubs and flowers describing mathemat-
ical figures on ils level green, and asceDded
The s'eps, as white as driven snow, his hand
rrembIed as he raised the knocker, and he
felt his heart die within him. The sound he
made startled him by its incongruous want oil
measure, and he looked round tlmdly, as II
he had commltedan indccorum. Vixen the
respectable middle sed servant marshalled
him up stairs TO the drawing room, he follow
ed The man will delefence, as ii he had some
thing to say in the decision. The room was
empty, and he stood for some time alone,
looking round upon the walls, the furniture,
the books, the flowers, and reading in them
all The ruin OF his hopes. There was an un-
osleniaiious richness in that room, method
in its arrangement a calm assumption OF su-
perioriiy which made him quail. The an
ewer he had come 10 demand was before
him. 4. spoke 10 him even in the whispered
cadence OF the trees beyond the open win
dow, and the rnhnrried entrance Of the air
into the apartment, loaded with faint sweets
from The garden. The loneliness in which
he stood seemed strange &c his excited i'm
aginalion, and the silence oppressed him
and when al length The door slowly opened,
unaccompanied by the sound Of FOOTBALL
he started in nervous iremor, as if he expect
ed TO behold the entrance Of a spirit.
Martha entered The room alone, and shut
ling the door, glided cOmPosedly up 10 Rich
ard, and offered him her hand as usual. The
clasp, though gentle, was PaIPable; and as
he saw. in the first place, that she was paler
than formerly, and 10 the second. that slight
color rose into her face under his searching
gaze, he was sufficiently treasured TO nd-