The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-16

hooaa for ,ro General Staart-Gordons
couldn't make noise here; IL one shouted, th'
.ound would be smothered in satin aud down
What place!D
aSit down, Gertrude!"
aCaut. Don't like the looks Of the place
besides, was just going over to the Crags to sex
poor, dear Susan, and | thought would not pas
you thought would just run up and see you
Mira Stuart Gordon.
aYou put quite surprise upon us" said Bri
tannia
"A shock, why don't you say | 'spose
ought to have rung Lord never had pa
thence to wait until servant came to open the
door, and a lady came down. ! never indulged
Mrs Armstrong-even her High-loftiness-ir
such notions. Oh have you seen your mother
Louise ~
aOh, no, dear Gertrude! | have not even
r---,~~- A. <---- -~----tL~ I---t 4h;-L ~
that How is she, Gertrude Can you tell
me7n
"Mrs Armstrong keeps very close house-sees
no one but the minister and the doctor ~
1.-THE doctor Is my mother in bad health ~
aWcll, no; do not think so, but having
nothing else 70 smuse herself with, she thinks oi
nothing but herself, her own body, aud her own
soul-which is the reason, suppose"
"Oh Brightly, you hear! My mother in bad
heslthtn
IL do not believe it!p said Mrs. Stuart
Gordon.
aWell, good bye, good bye! must 60, must
goi should smother in sweets here!
Some love to roam Ger the wide foam,
Where the shrill winds whistle free,
But chosen band in mountain land,
And home in the woods for met"
And, singing and shouting, she ran and bounded
down the stairs and out of the house.
Oh, Brightly doyou mark that! My mother
in bad health ~
al do not believe so, Louise Her minister and
physician visit to amuse her, while they eat her
dinners
"Oh. Brightly, this family arrangement ID
killing to me; il is, indeed it is. Four months
have not heard from my mother :, her only
child, who never left her an hour during sixteen
years on, Brightly go with me to see her ~
!. MY dSaf GOussx 7 will Ssoesst lSsa, NJ ss;-
lively necessary, but my opinion is thaty you had
better 90 alone. My visit might not be accept
ablen
'sBut oh, Brightly do go. Surely you owe
that much to my mother
al sent her our cards yesterday, she therefore
knows that we are at home.n
"That was proud thing in you to do, Brigh-
tyl"
81 was dealing with proud woman !"
at would have been more friendly to have
driven over to Mont Crystal, this morning.
"Mrs. Armstrong should call here"
"Oh, Britannia Britannia do not cherish
pride in view of all Gods bonntiful blessings to
you Go with me to Mont Crystal Make the
first advance yourself; you are the younger,
This quarrel must be reconciled 1t must it
must 1t kills me Oh, Britannia ! am not
strong suffer 80 much | eat nothing, scarcely
sleep but little, and ! am growing so feeble.
am sinking under II, Britannia! 1 shah die
Look how thin am 4" And the poor child turned
up her muslin sleeves and held up the two Slim
NEST little white wrists that ever were seen.
2 "Poor little arms poor, dear little arms ~
said Brightly, taking them and kissing them.
Come, sit in my lap, Louise, want to pet you %
and she held out her arms. Louise dropped into
them, sobbing. Louis loves you so much, my
dear! You ought to be happy"
"Ah how can while this estrangcment lasts I?
Oh ! feel sense of guilt, Of treachery even,
in the comfort receive from Louis's affection !"
"Sweet Providence was there ever such
perverted head You have been taught from
your earliest infancy mp az religion, 10 wor-
ship your mother, only her and have been mis-
led in respect to all your other womanly duties,
But, poor thing, will not distress you'll will
20 with you!n And touching the bell, "Send
Mrs. Louis's maid to her dressing-room" she
said to the servant who obeyed the summons.
The man bowed and withdrew. "Now, love, 60
make your toietD
Britannia proceeded to make hers In truth,
Britannia herself desired the reconciliation Of the
families house divided against itself cannot
stand Britannia knew that the houses Of Mont
Crystal and of the Isle of Rays were all-powerful
.kUI xlok toI tla ,vq,
over The neighborhood. Besides, Britannia saw
that Gen Stuart Gordon, whom she adored, was
himself uneasy at this estrsngement, and she wish
ed to see him comfortable In addition to this,
Brightly rather admired Mrs Armstrong in some
respects-rather sympathized with her pride, and
cherished rather pleasant recollections Of her late
home at Mont Crystal. The reader must have
observed one popularity Of Brighty--nsmely, the
propensity to look on the bright side Of every
event and the fair side of every character thus
though she perceived the darker traits of Mrs
Armstrong; character, she never dwelt upon
them in her heart and though she had expert
enced some dssgreeable things at Mont Crystal,
she only brought away with her its pleasant mem
cries. This was no happy system OF philosophy
with Brightly it was simply her hsppy nature.
And then Britannia sympathized with Louises
sorrow, and with Louis, as suffering with Louise.
Lastly, Brightly, like her old General, was too
cordial heartednot to like family peace and good
fellowship But as there is leayen Of nnrighte-
BUSINESS in most human motives, so Brightly took
a little wicked womansh pleasure in going in
state to make visit Of ceremony at the house
from which she had been 30 summarily discharged
five months before. Britannia made grand tot
let Brightly became rich and tasteful costume
perfectly. Her appearance was decidedly disnn-
gushed There was an air Of high-bred refine
ment in the expression Of her elegantly ohiselied
profile in repose, and seen beyond the edge Of her
white French nat and dropping plumes. Never
were satins, velvets, plumes, aud cygnet down,
better bestowed than upon Britannia Taking a
little card case Of wrought gold in her hand,
Brightly descended the stairs, where she was soon
Joined by Louise They entered the carriage,
and were driven to Mont Crystal Hopes fears,
and anxieties in regard to her reception torturing
the heart of LOUISE little genial desire Tor
family amty, little feminine exutation, agitatng
the bosom Of Brightly, as the carriage crossed the
bridge between the island and the shore, and
wound up the hill, bringing them in sight OF the
splendid front Of Mont Crystal. The carriage
drew MP before the massive iron bound green gate
always kept closed The porter opened 1t, ana
the carriage drove up the broad avenue, hanked
on each side hy row Of locust trees and stopped
before the door A footman alighted from De
hind, and opened the door. The heart OF Loa'Sc
paused in its beatings--she could scarcely SIT
she grew pale Britannia gave her footman her
card-MRs GEN STUART-GoRDos.
"Take this to Mrs Armstrong"
The man bowed, and waited to receive that Oh
Mrs. Louis. :,
"Tell mother Pm here, and dying 10 see her,
faltered the half-fainting Louise.
The footman went up the broad marble steps
rune. sent in the card Brightly watched hin
from the carriage. She smiled TO herself, heI
cheeks flushed, her eyes danced.
"Oh. she will not receive us, know perfectly
well, now,n said Brightly.
Brightly was mistaken. "Mrs. Armstrong
compliments, and she feels grateful for Mrs Gen
Stuart Gordon's call, and begs that she VII
altohtD