Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-14

affair, or even remote lnstIgatOr. And so,
after being the theme of conversation for a
few days and an occasional subject for the
exercise of DR.. Parknson's teasing propen-
sites, the sensation it had made subsidized,
and the whole matter seemed to be forgot
ten.
CHAPTER w.
The season for buds and blossoms ap-
preached, and the time for Esta to resume
the duties ~ her school also drew near
She &>d entirely recovered her health, and
move it&A her wonted bloom, and the
cheerful and beautiful light that ilIumina-
ted the chambers Of her soul shone out in
every feature. The valentine, l have said
seemed 10 be forgotten in the tresher occur
rences passing time, as nobody had made
his appearance TO acknowledge or apologize,
though am obliged, as truthful historian.
to confess that the post-office was gultless
OF bearing any prohibitory documents to
" St. Valentine" or any other saint, in ref
ence 10 it. MIR. Bodkin, the beau actu-
al" had continued his evening calls, till
ceremonIous acquaintance had ripened into
respectful and admitting friendship, on
both sides; and it must be admitted, that
but for his unfortunate visage-that "thorn
III the flesh" which nature seemed mali
clously to have fixed upon him by wav Of
an offset to the splendor of his intellectual
proportions and the faultessness of his phys
icai endowments-Esta Henshaw would
have surrendered. 1t was impossible to
shut her eyes 10 the demonstrations of abb
sorbIng interest she had awakened in his
heart, and she found herself powerless to
Try TO repel, discourage, Or extingulsh 1t,
because, whether she would or no, some-
thing within her own bosom tremendously
responded. Since the advent of the Dd-
guerreotype, her heart had been the arena
for conflict between vision and reali-
/ y, like Ossian's, between the Esprit of
Lodi" and the King of Morrin''- whether
the spirit was the vanquished party in the
strife remains to be seen. Follow me, pa
tient reader, and pcrchance | can pilot you
to the solution of the question.
The evening before Es,a's projected de-
parture had arrived, soft, lovely moonlight
evening, DR.. Parkinson was absent from
home on professional business. Mrs. Par
kinson was engaged in the nursery with a
'teething' baby, aud Esta sat alone in the
drawng-room, reading or mcditatIng, histo-
ry saith not which Circumstances, falling
out naturally enough, sometimes seem 10 be
mdrvellously accommodating ofiener
remorselessiy Maynard. The posture of
affairs this evening was of the accommoda-
ting class.
The door-bell rung, and Mr.. Bodkin was
announced, Of cOurse-he had been an
uounced every evening for week. and his
his society had become almost indispensa-
BILE. He took his seat as usual IN the
shade, but never had his extraordinary pow
ers been exerted to such commanding adj
vantage. HIS observations, his criticisms,
his anecdotes, were lucid, penetratIve, and
pithy, and the larger hours drew OH apace,
while neither seemed to be conscious how
time was escaping. At length, after brief
silence, Mr.. Bodkln placed his chair little
nearer to Esta, and sat down in the light,
where she had full view of the unnatural
and formidable ugliness of his physiogno-
N.Y. Esta involuntarily turned her face
away.
With evident embarrassment, he begged
permission TO make Il disclosure to Miss
Henshaw, before her departure which lie
had long hestated to make, lest she might
call him more than prescriptions. But he
owed it 10 himself, and TO the profound re-
gard she had inspired ia his heart. Sir.
Bodkn proceeded with candid exposition
Of his pecuniary resources, spoke of his
present fldtterng and productive conuec-
ton with commercial affairs, and stated that
it was fortunately in his power to place the
lady who should do him the honor To unite
her destiny with his IN station which lie
hoped might be satisfactory TO any reasona-
bic ambitIon--and then, with honorable
frankness, be declared the state of his affec-
ton toward Miss Henshaw, and concluded
with the offer OF his heart and his fortune.
Poor Esta was almost dIsconcerted-for
a moment her sei-possesson proved COM
pleiely recreant, and she trembled in irreso-
lutte confusion. One thing was indIsputa-
BILE to her inward conviction-no man had
ever anchored himself SO firmly in her re-
CARDS as Mr.. Bodkin-she had never met
gentleman whose character she so cordially
approved in all its Developments, or IN
whose society she felt more satisfying pleas
ure. Ia the hidden depths of her soul she
acknowledged that she loved him-and yet
with all the beauty of his mind, and the refin-
ed and courtv elegance of his manners, his
face was intoleraby and unconquerably re-
pulsive But then he had laid down a
treasure richer than the Golfers of mon
arch could afford for her acceptance, and
what should she do! Her pride and her
honor protested against the hayward rejec-
ton of such au offer without rendering a
reason she could not compromise the
truth, and say that she experienced no re-
ciprocatioE OF his affection she could not
do SO much violence to her own seli-respect
to advance so weak and puerile objection as
his unfortunate face-and yet she could not
say yes, for she felt that his vlsage was
abomlnabe to her, aud the Daguerreotype,
like half successful rival, seemed to d.
vide her heart and abide in her presence
sleeping and waking.
Then followed silence of few minutes,
during which | will not deny that Mr. Bod
kin watched the workings OF Esta's coun-
tenance, from behind his goggles very crit
cally and very nervously, aud with all his
keen and disciplined perceptions, he was