Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-22

| !
ond look had arrived at that time of life
when the controversy begins as to whether
woman should be rcckoned young or ar
old maid.
This midde-aged person was Quakeress
and beautiful to excess. Retaining an ex
quisite complexion, even when her hair was
beginning to change, she seemed person
ificaton of the autumnal loviness which
makes one forget that of the spring and
summer. Her voice, mellowed by time
was better calculated to linger in the cal
than the lighter tones of youth and it har-
monized well with her soft, dove-like eyes,
Z" That seemed to love whatc'er they looked upon"
Yet there was no feeling in this love, sucl
as we of the world demand in the love 81
her sex the richness of her cheek was as
cold as the bloom of flower and as with
noisless step, and demure, nun-lke air, she
| glided past, felt as if | had seen portrait
walk out OF its frame, a mastery imitation
of woman, but only an imitation.
This was why | turned round and looked
at her again; and as looked, n kind of pity
rose in my inexperienced heart that one so
fair should pass through life unstlrred by its
eXctements, untouched by its raptures, e.
ven untroubed with its sorrows. As the
novelty wore off, hated the cold formal air
of everything around the atmosphere chill
ed me the silence disturbed me; and the
next morning | was glad to launch again
upon the stormy world, and leave this lonely
oasis to its enchanted repose.
Some time after, when giving the history
of this day to friend, who proved to be
personally acquainted with the place and
people, he told Ire that the lady on whom
had looked twice had been for many years
not only the reigning beauty of Elm's Cross,
but the benevolent genius of the town and
neighborhood; and he related passage in
her early life which made me qualify little
my opinion as to the passionless tranquility
of her feelings, and the uneventful blank of
her history. Not that the thing can be
called an adventure, that the incident has
any intermlXture of romance-that would
be absurd. 1t passed over her heart like a
summer cloud, which leaves the heavens as
bright and serene as before; but somehow
or other it infused suspicion into my mind
rous the conduct, human nature is every
where alike-that the difference is not in
the feelings, but their control.
Her father was one of the wealthiest IN
habitants of the town, and Martha Hargrave
was an only child, the expectant heiress of
his fortune, and likewise possessed in her
own right, of $4,000 safely invested. In
such circumstances, it may be supposed that
when she grew up from the child into the
girl she attracted not little the attention
of blushing striplngs and speculative NAM
mas. These were, with the exception OF
one family, of her own SocIety--for Mr..
and Mrs. Hargrave were Quakers of the
old school, and confined themselves almost
exclusively within the circle of Friends. -
TIE exception was Termed by widow lady
and her son; the former an early intimate
of Mrs. Hargraye, now living ON small an
nuity, from which, by means of close econ
omy, she contriyed to save little every year
to pay for her boys outfit in the world
Richard Temple was well calculated to be
the OBJ Jet of mothers doting affection
he was fine, spirited, generous, handsome
lad, two or three years older than Martha, O.
whom he was the playmate in childhood
the friend in youth, and something more
after that. How it came that a pennies
boy thought as he did of the Quaker heir
ess, may seem mystery; but it must be
recollected that the conventional distnc
lions of society make but little impression
upon children brought up together npoI
terms of equality. Richard looked upoI
Martha as his sister, ill he began to feel
personal injury the admiring looks tina
were thrown upon her by many of the youn!
and even when the fact at length force,
itself upon him that she was rich, and h
poor, that she rolled in carriage and h
walked on foot, that her parents were anon
the first people in the place, and his onl
one solitary and almost INDECENT widow
the encouragement of his fond and unrt
fecting mother, and of his own gallant heal
triumphed over the misgivings of prudence
and the affection of the boy was suffered {
ripen, unchecked, in the love of the youn
man.
While this process was going on wit
Richard, in Martha the widness of chile
hood sobered gradually down into the d
mure circumspection of the Quaker girl
Her step became less buoyant, her glance
less free, her speech less frank, her air moi
reserved; and as time wore on, Richar
occasionally paused in the midst of one
his sallles, and looked at her in surprise,
a kind of awe, as if he really felt for
shadowing Of the approach of majestic w
manhood. But nevertheless, when he eau
one day to bid her farewell before his ex
dus into the world, her heart was too full
! the memories of her childish years to r
$ member its new conventionalsm, and 81
stood before him with her hands crosse
: upon her bosom, gazing into his face vii
: a look of girlish fondness, that was mac
y still softer by the tears that stood tremblir
: in her beautiful eyes. He was to procee
Il to London, to be completed in his initiate
: into mercantile business, and might be a
u sent for years--perhaps for ever-for h
e mother was to accompany him; and Ma
/ tina felt the separation as her first serio,
n distress. Richard was old enough to
l. aware of the nature of his own feeling
IS and perhaps if Martha had been in one OH
8 grand moments, he might have dared to a
= peal TO the growing woman in her heart
II But she appeared to him on this occasiC
4 SO young, so gentle, SO delicate, that hewou
1t have thought it a proclamation to talk to h
J. OF love. AS the moment of parting arrive
< he drew her towards him with both hand
N his arms encircled her waist and-how
happened l know not, for the thing W
re wholly out of rule-his Inns were pressed