The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-07-18
WHO is SHE?
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

"MARY MURRAY, you say-and, pray,
who is she?"
These words were addressed by one
Young lady TO another, III reference 10 an
acquaintance TO whom one Of them had
Just bowed.
"Who? The daughter of Widow Muir
ray. A dear, sweet, amiable girl as ever
lived is Mary, too-you ought to know
her."
"Pd rather not" said the first speaker,
with a toss of the head. ''The daughter
OF widow Murray, who keeps petty
thread and needle store! Why, the next
thing will be to associate with ones kitch-
en- maids"
"But, in this country, Emma, it is merit
that makes the rank" replied the other.
Here, you know, we have no aristocracy.
Mary Murray is more beautiful, more ac-
complished, and more amiable. too, than
half my school mates"
"Well, can tell you one thing, if you
keep up your acquaintance with her, you
will be cut by all genteel people. Do you
think the Livingstons, Harrisons, and
Lawrences will come to your parties if
they are to meet shop girls there!'
"They can do as they please" replied
Kate Villiers, with spirit. sBut one
thing is certain, shall not give up Mary
for them, as like her for herself and not
her ancestors. Besides, for all know,
she may be as well born as they are;
never thought to inquire
Just at this moment handsome young
man, riding beautiful horse, passed, and
made bow to the young ladies. The
Ill a.;
notice from one of the richest and most
fashionable men in the city.
"Dear me" said she, show glad l am
he did not see you speak to that Miss
Murray! He would never have noticed
either of us again"
Kate Villiers curled her pretty lip i'll
scorn, as she replied.
"Frapk Hastings is too sensible to be
affected by such thing, | fancy. But, if
he's not, he is only the more to be pit
led." And warming with natural indig-
nation, she continued. sit vexes me be-
yond patience to see people, in this coun-
try, talking of the gentility of their fami-
lies, when, out of hundred, there is
scarcely one that is not descended, and at
no great distance, from some honest me-
chanic or respectable farmer. Take our
richest families! A century ago they
were poor, while the real old gentry of
that day are now generally beggared.-
Who was Astor? A poor German lad
Who was Girard? A French cabin boy.
What was Abbot Lawrence once? A Yam
kee wood-chopper. So, too, our great
statesmen, Clay, Webster, and Benton, all
rose from nothing. We ought to ask, not
who PERSONS ancestors were, but what
they are themselves"
A few days after, as Kate and her ac-
quaintance were walking together, they
met Miss Murray, who, unconscious OF
offence, stopped to converse with Kate.
Emma was evidently uneasy, the more so
as her keen eye detected Frank Hastings
promenading down the street toward them.
Polileness, kept her stationary, for mo-
ment. but, as he drew nearer, the disgrace
Of being seen with the daughter of a
''thread and needle woman" as Emma
called Mrs. Murray, proved too strong for
her courtesy, and she abruptly broke
away and went into store, pretending a
wish to purchase some ribbon.
Frank Hastings, IN eantime, came saun-
tering idly down the street, and only per.
eeived Kate when close upon her.
"Good morning." he said, bowling, his
eye attracted by Miss Murray's pleasing
face. "Will you take pity on an idler
Miss VIlliers, and allow me to accompany
you in your walk?"
Kate, who was eagerly engaged, and to
friend, answered frankly, for she and
Hastings were almost as intimate as
brother and sister.
81 shall be pleased if you will. Only
you must be very agreeable, for my friend
and l are used to having sense talked to
US, and, if you don't acquit yourself cred
itably, we shall black ball you, as you
say a. the club, the next time you ask for
PERMISSION TO walk with u.s.
FRANK, however, needed no incentive to
induce him to talk his best; for the sweet
countenance of Mary, in which every
emotion of the heart was reflected. was in
SPlration enough.
They stopped at last, at Mrs, Murrav,s
little store. Frank looked with some s,,r
Prise at the humble appearance of tho
dwelling; but this did not prevent his
pow to Mary being deeply respectful as
ne walked off with her friend.