Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-11-12


killing title, but never one who failed SO com
pletely as my lovely little pet in her child
hood. Rose Montrose. AT eighteen sh
was mistress of rare beauty, a sparkling flow
Of spirits, and most provoking, bewitching
disposition, short every qualification t
succeed in her ambition, except simple heart
| lessness Her mother was never more thar
mere fashionable. and had always sought
to educate Rose for the same useless life.--
Even at the point of death, she strictly en-
joined upon the guardian, a kind-hearted, but
inexperienced oddity of an old bachelor, to
keep her daughter in certain finishing es.
tablishment until she became properly quail
flied TO enter the world as fashionable
daughter of fashionable mother. One can
hardly wonder that her mind, trained under
these influences, took an artificial bias. -
And indeed, what young beauty, spoiled by
education fortune, and the close friendship
of romantic school girls, would have differ
ent ambition on her first peep at the world
from that of supremacy over the lords OF
creation! And so Rose Montrose fiirted, and
laughed and played the unmercful despot. -
But who knew her well, was perfectly a.
ware that all this was foreign to her charac-
tCl' UShcNO' iaCl, Ludb
commands arose from nervous timidity,
striving to conceal itselfin the role she wo'd
act, just as towards, sometimes IN endeavor
ing to assume coolness, rush desperately in.
10 the widest danger. In no other way co d
| account for her caprice OF a moment and
feeling for the next hour. Her lovers were
as perplexed as they were disheartened -
Her playful pettishness, would occasionally
subdue, and then break forth in torrent of
sparkling wit at the first semblaDce of senti-
meDt or feeling The truth was, that she
knew the sacred fullness of her hearts emo
ton, and shrunk from exposing it to one,
who might see but could not understand
As was said TO me, by young friend, Of
whom we shall speak hereafter, occasional
puns betrayed his sole ungentlemauly pro-
pensity, her artlessness was So plain that
none but an ignorant cockney could call it
heartlessness, and he confessed with blush
that he was once such an one.
Their walk had been extended to full the
second mile, before either of the pair awaked
from that absorbing conversation Rose Mon
trose was leaning OH the arm of young gen
tleman, whose dreamy, artist like eye had
been passionately seeking hers for the last
half hour in vain. lie had been pouring in
to her ear golden descriptions OF the olden
days of chivalry, and 10 depicting the tho'ts
Of others had artiully. yet without premedi-
tation, drawn forth his own. twas the skill
which love bestows upon even the artless.-
She had listened in silence through all tu-
mutuous within, until their path ceased be-
fore the verge OF u cliff. and she awaked her
self to the artificial again. 1t was to stop
the nervous beating OF her heart, aud inter-
rupt the burning word she yet onged to hear.
that she stepped forward to the very edge
and ratified on hurrIedly.
Mr.. Sumner, all this is very fne.--the
mean as we'll as your eloquence.-
But certainly those knights were as chival- !
fous as they were foolish to venture so much |
for such a supple. silly thing as lady smile |
Look half way down this frightful cliff, |
md you will see a few wild flowers growing !
Almost out of the very rocks. Now, If a |
,hevalier were here, like those you have de- /
'cribed how glad would he risk his neck and
seize those flowers to wreath in some lady's
lair! am glad The ga.lants of our prudent
lays have more sense
She spoke nervousiy, and as he cast his
,ye down the procpice, bent upon him an
mploring look, as if to beseech him not to
rear words that she would give worlds to
lnsay. But it was too late.
Were such an one here, he would rejoice
n the opportunity to earn boon that she
oud not refuse. He would place the wreath
n her hand, and she would place her hand
n his.
His words woro impetuous, lf.inquiring,
l. l.
She felt hor self-possession vanishing, yet
pake eagerly tho first words of her heart.
And she would keep the flowers forever
hen she shuddered and calmly added,
Come, let us leave this silly romance and
eturn.
They walked back in silence.
Late in the evening Sumner left the house
{ Mr.. Nevers after a very unsatisfactory
isit He saw that much of her coquetry
,as affected, but there was still enough to
ause him serious uneasness. Several times
@ had endeavored to draw from her an an-
wer to his ardent and undisguIsed avowas
{ love, vet hitherto she had avoided the sub
,ct WITH the full tact of woman, as he bitter
called her girish, blushing timidity. But
be had now almost challenged him TO the
roof of his devotion, and he vowed to ap-
ear before her on the morrow with claim
IT an audience, which she could not avoid.
here was scorn too, as he fanced, in her
me, as she praised the careful wisdom of
Iodern lovers. He determined to obtain
le flowers that night when none were a
road to witness aud ridiculo his attempt
The chivarous plan required some unro
antic means in the shape of an iron bar and
oil of rope. These he procured from his
eepy landlord, and after few minutes
risk walking, prepared to descend the cliff
th their help The bar was firmly driven
to the earth, and the rope with knots eve
few feet fastened TO II securely. With a !
rong grasp he then commenced his de-
,ent.
About halfway down he stopped to rest
n moment upon a erag that pushed itself
oldly out from the almost perpendicular side
the preOipce. Descending still farther,
0 found that tho rope resting upon tho edge
the rock just above, suspended him some
ozen feet out from the main wall; but when
0 had swung just opposite to the flowers,
Nv violent springs enabled him 10 gain a