Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-06
Whole No. 92S

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\ twas not without struggle thai Mrs. Ellis
brought herself to reply to this letter, but az
there was no help for it, reluctant welcsin"
was dispatched. Her next object Was To gcb
Robert on. Of the way for the period of t,mi-
| lys visit hut without success. Ashleigh Was
not disposed TO move. lie heard the announce
ment Of Emiy's Intended visit with great COM
pOsure, and turned a deaf ear to all his aunt's
Suggestions on the subject of pleasant summer
trips and wa,ering-places. She soon. hCwev-
er, saw that her efforts were useless, and gayo
up almost with feeling Of despair. 81.
H Mrs. Gaythorn and the roses made their az
pearance together, for in early June she ar
rived. A meeting, after such painful changes,
could not fail TO be marked with much emolio,':
and IN the excitement Of her feelings, Mis-.
Ellis iorgo, her intention 10 watch \ sEleighs
reception of Emily. Time had not been idle
since they parted, and there were Observations
to make on both sides. Emily was startled at
the great change in Alls. Ellis appearance,
and pleased with the marked Improvement
which had taken place n Ashlegh bat tlr
strongest feeling of surprise was elected by the
alteration in Sophy. Sophy, the in.rac,abo
hoyden, the rebcllous, the self-willcd, had
/ forfeited all claim to her former titles, and Mas
now quiet, elegant, selfpo,sessod woman.--.
/ The same luxurlant golden hair was there, iA6
same changeiul expression Of couhtenancc, but
all else was unlike the undisciplneJ, Inform
ed girl she had left; and rs she looked from
her to Ashiegh, some shadows Of raistyN.G
cauc across her mind, for Mrs. Ellis, in i.r
coarse bat shrewd suspicious, had conecturIu
truly Eniy, tired OF her dull and contracted
manner Of life, and remembering As!ltighs
expectations from his aunt, had planned this
visit purposely, with the intention of endeavor-
ing TO regain her former hold upon him. Her
vanity assisted in smoothing away all obstacles,
for except that she had lest her girsh look,
she was as beautiful as of old and in al the arts
Of fascination, more skilled ilan ever When
she saw Sophy, however, witnessed her aiitar.-
tons, and remembered how clcse,y she and
Ashleigh had been tl,own together daring
some months past, her hopes faered some
what. She called TO mind her former slsli-
cions Of Sophy's interest in him. and detcrmn-
ed 10 watch them both closely, TO the father
shaping Of her own course.
4 S0phy's thoughts snd.ieelinss N this ,imc,
il would be found more difficult 10 unravcl.--.
/ The powerful influence which Ashleigh Lgd
early exercised over her mind, left traces
which neither time nor absence had power Ia
ellacc. His image was interviewer lncxtrica-
bly, with an important revolution in her char
acter and inner hfc and she could no moro
blot the impress of his mind from The web Of
her existence, than she could cast into oblivion
any given number OF years Of her life. When
Ashlegh became the lover Of her sister, So
ply was too young, too innocent % comlrc-
hend that the sentiments which fixed her mind
towards him, carried with tloIn . germ OF Il
passion which might have oycrsha5oWcd her
whole heart. Before the hour came for that
passion 10 blossom, or those feelings TO untan-
gle themselves, the tender bud Wnhercd a..
fell TO the ground Ashleieh became the low
or of her sister, and she learned 10 look u,cn
him as u brother. Years, However, had gone
/ Ey since then, and many changes had taken
place and Ashleipl had returned to them tho
same, save with such Improvement az her ms.
urcd Judgment taught her to pIrcciate. l!c
was not now, as formerly, among them only
he was of tncm--Ec formed part OF their
household Hourly lie was her companion,
and dav by day the mind which a, FIST cu.o.-
ed her own. poured out 10 her lis treasures &C
thought. Of memory and Of experience. For
mouths past, she had uuconsciuu.,y looked for
his opinion To- guide her; by tie couch OF Their
declining relative ihey had watched, illcd wn.,
the same interest; day after Gay his arm SUP
ported her IN her walks by his side she stood
when the tailigh, decpcncd ~ holy siiiln ~
around them and when The din starlight, H.
splash Of waters, the sumner wirG ana ihp
heavy odor Of flowers, in blended power stt..
DER them in their evening hours. she had lste'
encd To his voice ill 1t sank into her heart,
united with those sights aud sounds Of beauty,
warming into life those latent feelings 81 loig
slumbcrlng ihere. I'LL her sister arrived, Sc
ply lIvCj as IN pcasan; dream; bat aNrr
Emily came, there were moments OF palhfal
awakening. bitter slcums of scli-hnuwedgc,
that made her shrink from herself and en-
dcavor to hide, beneath any plausible subtcr-
iuge, the humiliatiug nu,h.
Emly's plans soon became evident 10 those
interested in observing her; but the sentiments
of Ashlcigh. who was more prac,.ccd iu. con-
cealmg his feelings, could not so easily BE-
lathuncd. lie neither sought nor avoided
her; no dcviations from the general rules rf
friendly Intercourse marked his d,meanof. 80
that II was impossible for the closest observer
To discover whether it was resolute I1ido ~
calm indifference that influenced lis irarncr
Even Sophy, whose every faculty had aecoEo
sharpeucd by n;spi', - Ot her own TCdiEeys,
was at "a loss to decide. There were momcnis
when she believed that Ashlcirh cid Lot hide
his tine. and that sac should again be startled
by some sudd n announcement o. lis intended
marriage with Emily, and she ic.; Sreri,s
wish that the hour would come; ior, 20 Lcr
sensitive conscience, tie unchantablc thoughts,
the bitter feelings that would occasionally Iisc
up in her heart towards her SISTER, wtr - sin-
iul rs they were irresistible, AID no rrayerful
endca,ols on her part could Wholly suppress
them.
Nearly two months Of Mrs Cayihogn's ,isit
had passed away, when one morning. soon ai-
ter breakfast, che entered the little parior whore
Sophy sat alone. She paused on ihe thros.
hold, and for few minutes watched attentive
" the unconscious pirl. Sorhy had been n,
work, but her hands now rested idly la her
lap, aud her gaze Was sloadtdsly bent ulun
tie table beside her, upon witch rested the
hat, gloves and cane of AsLloish, which aL.
parenlly had been but recently lett there. Tho
soft color IN her checks, the dewy hight in her
eyes, the abstraction ol her uhol, attitude, ex-
pressed far beyond words, the dreamy tender
NESS of her rc,oric. 10 the quick eye ii ica-
Gus suspicion, these spoke volumes. nnly
entered the room, and took scat near Sollil,
who silently resumed her netting.
Sophy,' said she after moments pause,
" are YOU acquainted W,th this niairiInOllsl
scheme which mamma Ias planned for vou!"