Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-01
Whole No. c3G.

hoou' all anu elegant III person, her lace
had become one Of exceeding sweetness and
beauty, while the grace of her manners aud
the gentle dignity of her bearing gave her ad-
ditonal attractions. Fred had become COM
pletely weaIied with the society OF fashionable
women. lie had beea courtcd by manGuvr-
ing mammas, and nirted with by designing
young ladies'. aud made love to by romantic
damsels, until hc ran some risk of becoming
coxcomb, in spite of his better nature. But
creature of such rare loyeliness, with 80 much
freshness of feeling, such a fund of originality
Of thought, such total ignorance Of all cOnyen-
tlonallsns. yet So perfectly feminine in her del
lr'te reserve and shrinking modesty, was like
the discovery of new star 10 an astronomer.
1t opened TO him a world OF light unknown be-
fore.
Mr.. Melcombe had always been connois-
SSur IN female beauty, and he was almost as
much struck with her exceeding lovclincss rs
his son had been. llc regarded her very much
as he might have done fine picture added to
his collection She was an ornament TO his
sumptuously-furnshed house he was graiiGcd
by the admiration she excited he was pleased
10 have such a statue Crected 10 las J,HcrOhnce
and nhen Mrs. Gordon requested his influence
e. procure the situation of governess .Or Alice,
he positively forbade her to entertain any such
idea. She vas handsome enough 10 III a
niche in his saloon, and there he resolved 10
place her. Alice was one of those glad, gay
creatures who seem Ike embodied sunbcams,
and cannot help dlllusing light and warmth
around them. She had the most cheerful tenn
per, and the most allcciionate heart in the
world. When she found herself installed in a
luxurious home where her mother was treated
with the respect due To her relationship, aud
h,, l,r toI aud la,
while the only claims made upon her were
those of daughter in the house, she gave her
self up TO the fulI enjoyment of her position.
Generous, alTtost TO a fault, she bad no PAINFUL
sense of obligation towards her bcneiacior,
while her gratitude only gave additional ten
dcrncss 10 her manners, and won for her rc-
doubled affection. She soon became csscnial
To Mr.. Mecombe. lie was ioad of music and
no one sang English ballads like Alice ; he
liked game of backgammon, and Alice soon
mastered the lntrlcaclcs of the game, without
ever becoming TOO rood q player he WAS par
ticularly tenacious Of old habits in dress, and
no one could plait his linen-cambric stocks so
welt rs Alice IN short. both his pride and his
selfshncss were gratifed by her means.
1t is strange how blind very prudent people
often are. Like far-sigh,ed persons in a crowd
ed ihOrOughflre, they are busted IN looking ont
into the distance, and therefore overlook objccis
AT their elbow. Mr.. Mclcombe had kept his
eye steadily fixed upon a certain prosI crti,e
marriage between Fred and budding Miss,
whose father was not only n ma HORairc, but
could also boast of some hereditary descent,
the want of which was the secret trouble OF
the successful merchant. lie had determined
that his grandchildren should have some claims
to birth as well as riches, and he had set his
heart upon finding some tenth transmittcr of "A
foolish face on whom 10 bcs,ow his handsome
son. OF course, in poor 'p1rrcnm' America
no tcah transmitlcr could be found, but
IoUrth with wealth sufficient to make amends
for the deficiency was a most desirable alliance.
He WAS only waiting until the lady should be
cmancipated from the school-room. @beh lie
Designed to unfold lis plans to Fred, rot
douh,ng his cooperation.
Unfortunately for his fathers schemes, Fred
quite regardless Of we-born helresses, had
taken 1t into his head 10 get up little ro-
nance, a. a reircshmcnt to his weary spirit,
and had fallen desperately III love wuh lu$
cousin Alice. Now this Was the most natursl
thing III the world, and of course ought Ia
have been anticipated by Mr.. Mrlcombc. But,
precisely because II WAS extremely probable,
II had never entered into his head while he
was schening for far-olf advantage. Mrs
Gordon was sadly alarmed when she dlsc5tef-
ed the young peoples fancy for each Other,
and the first thing she did was 10 send \ lice
away nn a >slI Ia a friend Before she had
been gone a week. Mr.. Mclcombe insisted Gp--
ON her return. because the house was 80 louely
without her. and her mother. unwilling p be-
tray the true cause Of her absence, was obliged
to summon her home.
1t would hardly be fair 10 rsc our Asmodcan
skill III unrouEng hearts and heads, otheySIso
we might sec some very queer hnsIcs begin
ming Ia bud ia Mr. Melcomlps : brain. He
scarcely dared give them shape, but he deter
mined 10 get Fred married, and then he would
decide about himself Could it be that ho
thought of giving Alice maternal claim t0
Fred respect To be sure he was ,erging
tow ards his seventeen year, aud Alice was
scarcely eighteen, but stranger MATCHES had
taken place Alice was admirably ealeula-
ted To smooth the pillow of declining age
wIcs of younger suitors
Whatever were his ideas, they were dcs-
tined to perish undc, olopcd. Fred Nlclcombe,
feeling himself quite old enough to manage hrs
own aiiais, and determined not to risk a rciu-
sll by asking consent, fairly persuaded Alice
tn clopc wnh him. 1t Was certainly ycIy
wrong, but they iancicd they could not live
without each other. and as Fred mover sts~
pected that Ahcc stood some chance oi be-.
coming his stcp-molhor, he took the osly
means in his power of securing her society Ion
the rest of his days Whether her company
would have been equally agreeable TO hin 10
the venerable relation Of nlnmna,' oi course
can never now be- clearly asecriaIped.
Mr.. Mclcombc was no longer the active man
of business, whose foot seemed 10 spurn the
soil il pressed lie had lately become subject
10 attacks of fccblcncss aud lassitudc, which
might have warned him Of hic's decline, had
be been disposed to listen TO such moniton'.--
But his lgrasp upon tic world had gained ~
cnaclly all 1t had lost IN strength. lie ordcr-
cd double cushions in his easy chair. had his
carriage new hung with improved springs,
drank twice as many glasses of his octogenarian
Madeira, aud determined To fight hls way tn
The grave inch by inch.
lie received the news Of Frcd's mart5ge
with stern aud concentrated anger, that WAS
Ear more terrible than any ebulli,iOn Of rugc.--
All the hard, cold obdurucy Of his character
was called forth. l.o determined to punish III
parties IN such a mann as io make them tsD-
u. 4 a T.. t.