The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-23
BOOK SECOND.
IN-CoNTINnED.


planned, as far as the note did, the absence of
Louis, and General Stuart Gordon surmised that
this business in connection with the execution
at Major Somerville's, and then he proceeded to
give the account Of it that he had heard in the
course Of the day.
Early the next morning, Mrs Stuart Gordon
summoned her housekeeper, and gave her orders
for the dinner. Little Louise was almost as hap
Ply as it was possible to be and General Stuart
Gordon walked about leisurely and smilingly-
And in the fulness of joy and hope
Seemed washing his hands with invisible soap,
In imperCeptble water"
Nothing was wanting to complete his happiness
but this family reconciliation, and now it was
about to come off When three o'clock struck, he
mounted his horse, and, attended by Apollo on a
second, rode down to the bridge, to wait for and
welcome Mrs. Armstrong there. He waited on
the bridge, amusing himself by looking at the
Election of the green banks and graceful trees in
the clear water, or 10 looking towards Mont
Crystal for the appearance of the carriage. AT
last it came in sight, and wound slowly down the
hill. General Stuart Gordon rode forward, and,
while Apollo held open the wide gate to admit
the carriage when it had crossed the bridge, the
General advanced to the carriage door, and, bow
ing to his very stirrup, said, earnestly
"Mrs. Armstrong, am most happy to gee you
Permit me to attend you to The house, where the
ladies await your coming with much impotence"
81 thank you, sir, and welcome you back to our
neighborhood"
Not one allusion, even by apology, was made to
the past. The only difference was an elaborate
Difference Of manner the part Of General
Stuart Gordon, and a stately gracousness on the
eide Of TIE lady Sending his servant on to the
house to announce madaIn's rfryM Oh the Isle OF /
Rays, the courtly General himself rode at the
ladys carriage side, opening the gates, pulling
aside the bOughs that crossed the road &c.
When the carriage drew up before the mansion,
and Mrs. Armstrong prepared to alight, the Gen
eral threw himself from his horse opened the car
riage door, put down the steps, and, after assist
ing the lady to descend, drew her arm within his
own and led her up the stairs to the piazza, from
whence Britannia and Louise advanced to receive
her. Then, to show her the highest possible re-
spect, instead of ringing for servant, Britannia
conducted Mrs. Armstrong to dressing room
herself, performed the part Of femme de ehamLre,
by assisting the lady to lay off her bonnet,
shawls tippets, &c. Louise was there also, with
sal volatile, cologne and glass of wine, in case
her mother were fatigued.
The whole family strove, by showing Mrs
Armstrong the highest honor, to testify their
appreciation of her visit. Britannia, entirely
disarmed by Mrs Armstrong; seeming kindness,
and reproaching herself for the pride and vanity
of her display the day before put off all state,
sunk for the time the Mrs. General Stuart
Gordon" became Brightly" and gave her per-
sonal attendance to Mrs. Armstrong with def
erence she had never shown in her governessing
days As for General Stuart Gordon, he was 80
enchanted with Brighty's goodness as to fall
freshly in love with her that day, and kissed her
every time he got chance
If Mrs. Armstrong; SEEMING kindness had
worked such miracles of reform, and created such
happiness, what cannot real kindness do? Try it's
effect reader, upon your worst enemy
But Louis had not come home. Where mas
Louis? 1t was four o'clock, and the family were
oil in the drawing room, and dinner was about to
be served without Louis. Louise was not On ex-
acting little wife. Her affection for Louis was
too moderate and too disinterested for that but
she pas getting little impatient for his arrival
mould have felt little lost and lonesome but for
the presence of her mother. They dined without
him.
At last, late in the evening Louis Stuart Cor
~ xarl
travel-stained. Without presenting himself in
that condition in the drawing-room, he hurried
at once TO his own apartment, and sent for Louise
She FASTENED to him.
"My dearest Louise he said, coming forward
and embracing her. how happy am to meet you
again after days absence"
$50 am | glad to see you, Louisiana, oh
Louis, mother has Gomez
al saw her carriage. | shall be very happy to
see her"
0Now, dearest Louis-or rather, mean, Louis,
you naughty truant, you what kept you away
so longp
"Ah, Louise sad, sad business, Perhaps
you heard of the execution at Major Somer-
ville'sl"
dyes! yes!-wellp
"Wcl it appears that Susan wrote to my IA
Their for assistance, and we never got the letterw
ooh what pity"
"And, of course knowing nothing about the
execution, did nothing to arrest its i'll effects,
and, in one word, Louise, when called on Miss
Somerville this morning, ] found her alone,
plunged in grief at the expected sale of her fos-
ter-parents, George and Harriet, who were then
supposed TO he in the slave pen at Peakville. The
sale was to have come off to-day. ! hurried to
Peakville at once, but arrived too late. A slave
trader from Alexandria had already purchased
them, and had set out for that town this very
morning So my own Louise, | went back
to Miss Somervlle with this news. She was
80 much distressed, and | sympathzed with her
SO keenly, that have determined TO set out for
Alexandria tomorrow morning hoping to reach
that city before the poor couple are shipped to
the South
@And 80 you will leave me again so soon,
Louis?p
"Would you have me hesitate a moment, Lou
ise7n
ooh, no! Poor Susan But how long will
you be gone, Louis2"
A week, perhaps, my dear"
"Oh, dear mel week IL is so lonesome
here without you, I.ouis" @E@~'' 49,
During this little talk, Louis Stuart-Gordon
had been changing his dress. His toilette being
now complete, they went down stairs into the
d!awing-room Louis Stuart Gordon advanced
to Mrs. Armstrong and welcomed her with an
easy grace, raising her hand respectfully to his
lips with an afectiOnate gallantry, as if nothing
had happened Then turning, he EXPLAINED 10