Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-09-10

,olup,uous loVeliness was the freshness Of
twenty. or the fullness Of ihiriy-siN summers.
Very young she was not but II time had i'm.
paired single charm, art had renewed il,
and reiouehod 1t with brighter grace. Her
hair was black as night. and folded in superb
bAids-heavy and glossy ,nd sprayed with
diamonds--ln a shining crown around the
beautifully formed head, set with such eI.
quisiie grace upon her ivory neck. Her brow
was smooth and high and naughty her eyes
dark, smiling, aud flashing with g,ye,y, or
melting in irresistible sweetness, her mouth
small, bright aud persuasive, with a red, elo.
quent lip, curling into scorn, or cuping into
syren smiles. Lip and eve, brow and cheek
we're capable Of being melted into the mos,
bewilderng sweetness Ii was lIule
wonder that the impulsivc heart and poetic
isnsy Of the BOY II slStr,a vcr- euchanied
by her c.rvss,s and haueusg attentions
Ard sh,-oh It va. something fancIial and
charming to he the object Of the feryid dcyo.
rlon of boy. mere ehild--she would laugh
at him when the affair grew serious, and crrc
hi. love BY woundng his vanity.
As Clam drew 90 her gloves and surveyed
herself admrncl, IN the l,rs. mirror, she
murmurcd To hcrself,
They say Ralph Ellto, - ill--dangcr-
ously ~. wonder Il am the cause OF his
illness PshaU-a mere child. flnI love,
nonsense -senilmen,aliy' regret little
though, that pctted him SO much Du you
think any one could die of love tor you, Clara
Sunderland p" and she smiled ., the image
IN the mirror.
Come with me, beautiful syreu, Il you
would have your question answered, come
with me, and your heart shall tell whether
YOU can murder a brigh, and gifred being
with the cruelty Of your m,fl loyeliness
Comc-I would have you zee him die.
It was the voice oC Nellie Elliot that spoke
and. A. the startled Clara turned, she stood by
her side. 1t uasa Wild ihough,-thc sudden
impulse oi an excited and breaking heart
that had sen, her FROM the dcaih-bcd oi her
COUSIN, To summon hl, destroyer To witness
the iulnc>s Of her triumph. IIcr chcsk va,
pale, her hand partly upii,cd, her form dila-
ted 10 II, slender might. She wore no shawl,
and her burh, ruglcis hoa,cd uncovered
around her whole face.
"You ,lo, come o." she continued, grasp
ing the arm of Clara with her small white
hand
"Ar. you M, little rude this evening,
Mis-, Nellie | am engaged tonight, Tor
quite another affair, bu, | have an hour To
spare, aud II auy one is dyins and wishes to
see me, | will go. Ny sense Of duty Leads
INC TO rsgirl ,hr fcchugs Of q friend. Who
0, illw
The Up of the young g.rl cu'lcd With an
expression of such infinite ,cOrn thar It s'uns
lara : "N'tlluE ultANls
Come and see, " She aid hastily, 10 not
sop ipr your shawl moments are pTe;ious'
,aj she ,lmo', dragged the slr'eung eo4uci'c
from the apartment.
There VS. uo sound m the SICK chamber.
The crisis oi 10. fever had passed, and aP.
p,ren,ly diving, Ralph Elliott lly upon hi'
couch. lis cycs we're closed, his face "a'
a,hcn, and hl, form vas molloulc., one
could no, tell TINT he brcl,hcd
Tn, doctor at At d,c foo, oi the couch
with tear 10 h, klud ewes. The moihcr
kncl, nv the eide Of the bed with her face
hid IN II, folds, and her hand clasPing her
sous. Thcrc was uo sob OF moan, bu, 40
sorbcd in her still deep gricf, sh" did not
eyou know that Nellie had len the room.
SuJdculy the door opened, and the young
r,rl rc-appcarcd, art sehlai her came Clara
Sutherland. The burh, attire aud ir0ccI
trcsscs aud roured check Of the beautiful girl
seemed mockin.ly ou, or place IN ,hlt dim,
,,d ,p.rmcnt. amid lllc nc's aud dishclNcd
locks. She approached the bed with tr.m
bling step, and for momcu, the pallor oI hcI
c,up,enancc made the false crimson of hcr
check strangely icycrsh aud unnatural. The
phy,,cian ,ncuclt she would hln, with III,
.nlJen emotion caused by this strange iniru
sion on 80 solemn a scene, and would have
sprung to her eide to prevent her falling bu'
She recovered almost instantly, and stood viii
a cold, psopd lcok, regarding IN, still iaa'ur'
Of the diving.
A, length the mother raised her face from
the couch, aud rs her eyes fell on the form o.
Clara, a moan Of helpless anguish camc from
her lips, and she murmurcd, IN low rc
pIoachful tone, fraugh, with suffering
"why have YOU come now, Clara Su'her
land, with tina, beautiful, mocSing face 'c
smile a, the death Of your victim Have
you no respect for the anguish Of mothers
heau"
81 came because was commanded, VA
the cold reply. Your niece insisted on IN,
presence here, for what reason do no, under
stand, unless your son, numbering me among
HI, friends has sent for me to bid him fare
we'll. But If my presence is not pleasant
will willingly withdraw, having an engage
men, Of more lively nature.
A, the sound Of Clara's voice, slight
shudder passed over the frame of the boy
his brow contracted, aud his lips parted as
with an effort to speak.
"Mocker ~ burst from the lips Of Nellie,
"away, away! deemed that this scene
nigh, influence your iu,ure-might prevent
the sacrifice Of others at the altar OF your
v,ni,y, Bu, mistake you--l pray you 10