The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-03-21
IN chains the one, SO many less fortunate
ladies were sighing for.

The winter was nearly spent when a
: new star appeared amid the galaxy of fa-
shlon and beauty. Great was the commo-
lion among the upper ten thousand; and at
the opera, the ball, the private circle eve-
rywhere was ringing the name of the beau
ty and the heiress, Miss Manly Leslie
Herwood procured presentation to her
what was it caused his heart to thrill
when her eyes met his, and made him for
get even Clara Merrill? She was beautiful;
could that be the charm! He gazed and
gaZed upon her queenly and graceful form,
her classlcally formed head. with its hea-
Wy braIds of rich brown hair folded around
ii; her exquisitely sculptured features; her
cleaning brow and large proud eyes; her
clear pale cheek and lovely lip-he listen
ed eagerly to every tone of her low, musi-
cal voice, till he was convinced that it was
one of his boyhood's dreams, grown to
perfection and gifted with life and breath
+ Clara MerrIll's power was over. p .-e
Bays anc.. weeks passed by and he was
ever lingering by the side of Miss Manly.
There was something mysterious and in
| comprehensive about her which he could
not account for. She ever treated him with
the same unvarying coldness; she was
ever proud ard dignifed; and yet he dared
to love-to worship her, madly and devo-
tedly. She was so peerless; so unequalledl
/ and yet every tone and look thrilled his
| heart like the forgotten music of old. She
was very intimate with Ada. who often
threw out mysterious hints which he could
not understand. One dav he found them
III Ada's boudoir. There was soft lieh!
IN the eye and warm glow on the cheek
of Miss Manly which was indescribably
beautiful. On some light pretence, Ada
: left them alone. Leslie was embarrassed
and asked her to sing. She hesitated, col
ored, and began; a#r
young heart is pining NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: a
The gladness has fed f.om a once merry tone;
An eye has grown dim, and a check has grown
pale; a . ,..,.... .I.,
She was loved, was orgotten-and-.
She attempted to finish, but her voice
ttembled, and she burst into tears. Les
lies heart beat faster, and he felt it was
tine moment to decide his destiny. In ago
ny of mingled hope and fear, he poured
forth wild and hurried confession of his
love. He dared not look in her face, but
he implored her TO pity him, to speak and
end his suspense. A low sob was the only
reply. He raised his eyes to her face: |
tears were standing on her downcast LASH
es, and her cheek was burning crimson
They told he was accepted, and he caught
her small soft hand in delirium of de-
light, and pressed it to his lips 1t was
withdrawn, and her large dark eyes were
lifted half proudly, half mournfully, to his, Z
and her tones We're low but firm, as she !
said
perhaps, under other circumstances,
Mr.. Herwood, | might be induced to ac-
icept the HAND you have so generously |
Offered me. Butt have young friend |
surely you remember her, Lille Lelford; |
and for her happiness and your own, II
must. remind you of your duty. Think |
not that could ever consider YOU blame /
less or worthy of love with the knowledge |
embittering my existence, that an inno- |
cent young being was sinking into the |
grave because her affections had been
gained and thrown away by one whom I |
called my husband. Dream not. then. |
that shall ever listen to vows which | |
have reason to believe false or unenduring
but if have any influence over your feel |
ings, prove it by returning to her you have
so heartlessly forsaken.' ~
o She arose and left him to the burning
thoughts OF shame and guilt and despair
WHICH agltated his bosom. "A thousand I
conflicting emotions troubled his heart, as /
he tossed that night on his restless couch; !
and when he came with heavy eyes and
aching head to the breakfast table, Ada
informed him that Miss Manly had left
the city that morning. 2 roaav50-lJ
be For week he roved restlesslv about
the city, plunging into every kind ofI
amusement, and striving to forget his late |
refusal by renewing his attentions to Miss
Merrill, but that lady was no longer even |
lnterestlng-the1 name, "Lillie Lelford'' 4
was forever ringing in his memory. So |
one pleasant spring morning Ada was sur
lprised and delighted at the proposition of |
her brother, to return for short time, to |
the residence of their friends, the Har- |
-yeys. They were soon borne, by car and |
carriage, back to the little village where |
they had spent the preceding summer so I
delightfully."-. AS they passed again through |
It's quiet streets, ..a thousand olden MEM
ories' gushed over the heart-strings of
Leslie. and strange fear filled his pulses |
as he passed by the silent cottage of Lille. !
What if she had forgotten hinl-what if |
she were DEAD?
Scarcely were the greetings of friends
over, when Leslie begged Ada to call on !