The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07

NOV travelling? How well acquainted people be-
come the first dsy--bow friendly the second-how
intimate the thirdl These coaches were arranged
with three seats for nine passengers. Generai
Stuart. C ordon always occupied the back seat, be-
tween his two Young ladies Louise was timid,
reserved and silent. Britannia bad 10 sustain
the conversation Britannia was seldom tacitorn
or ont of spirits always alive, awake, and seenly
obscrvan. Especially was she so now, in passing
through n part of the country very picturesque,
and entirely new 10 her. Not smile Of sunlight
on the mountain-tOps, not n frown OF shadows In
the valleys, not the singing of single brookiet,
mot the lsuph Of a single waterfall or the roar OF
a solitary torrent, escaped her notice. Nay, to
her poet.mind and artist-eye, the very lonehest
and rudest hut upon the roadside, with ehlldrehs
little red flannel petticoats drying on It's s'rag,
Cling fence was picturesque In appearance hhu
interesting in association. IL was home--Some-
bodg'S bo7H.
General Stuart-G Gordon first heGTd and lastly
Taspd to her talking was first attracted, then
amused and finally deeply interested IN her con-
yersation. There Was contagion in her poetry I;
IL galvanized into new life all the long-forgotten
enthusiasm of his youth. lay 1t down rs a gen
eral rule. subject to very few, If any, exceptions,
that when love or fever attacks elderly gentle
man. il makes quicker work with him than with
Younger one. The reason in the first case Is OBJ
vious: they have no time to lose
"in woong;
In seeking and pursuing
Tie light that lies
Ia womsns eyes
| said that at the Commencement OF the week OF
travel there was contagion in Brighty's romance /;
at the end, there was joy in the meeting OF her
eye--an electric shock in the contact Of her hand.
There was life, vigor, youth, buoyancy, in beng
packed into that back seat, between Brighty ana
Louise, although little Louise was no more than
a band box or bundle in the account j and there
WAS relapse into despondency-aye, reality-ln
the separation; and in his rebellious heart he
cursed the hour of evening that daily brought
them to an inn door, and broke up the party for
six or eight hours For his part, he preferred 10
ride all night but Britannia, though never diWn-
ing his motive TO be the love Of her own company,
would not permit Louise to become fatlgued In
this state of progress the party reached New York
city. week was spent among jewellers, milli-
ners, and upholsterers, in the mornings; and at
theatres operas, and concerts, IN the evenings.
This was all very new and delightful to both the
young ladies-as we'll to the timid Louise as to
the witty Britannia; and for General Stuart
Gordon's part, he desired nothing better than to
attend them on their shopping expeditions, or on
r. ererinF-' ~--""","Anta At The END pr the
week, having despatched all their purchases by
packet boats TO Alexandria, to be conveyed thence
to their place of final destination, the travellers
set out on their return home. twas now that the
attentions of General Stuart-Gordon became so
evident and pressing, that Britannia communing
with herself one night at an inn where the stage
stopped to sleep, thought
1T is certain that have been in very high
spirits-yes, and high beauty, too, ever since we
set out on this journey know ] have been ex-
cited by the novelty of travelling, the submiy OF
the scenery the poetry of painting and the
drama-aye, and the poetry of the je'relerS shops,
tool | know that | have been enthusiastic, in
spired, brilliant, sometimes; and know that, al
most isolated here with General Stuart-Gordon-
for Louise is nobody-that have, without in
tending it, won his good opinion. Pshaw viii
be honest with myself, and not affect mock hon
esty to my own heart, his 0dmir0tion | know
also, without doubt, that | admire General
Stuart G ordon. / DO He may be more than
double my age, but do. He is a good-looking
old mani mean handsome and dignifed elder
ly gentleman, with n magnificent air; and ad-
mire his splendid palace home on the Isle OF Rays
with its gorgeous furniture, its rare and costly
pictures and busts, and it's fine old library; do
not ? And should be well pleased to become the
mistress of that paradise; oh, should | not? Yes,
verify, so much, that | began to disrust the sim
cerity of my admiration for it's msster-for who
shall know their own hearts? But do know,
also, that never thought to win the admiration
of General Stuart G ordon; and know, also, that
though a gentleman, under any circumstances ut
all, very freely forgives a woman for setting her
can for him. and il, upon the whole, rather Hat
tered ty the same, yet General Stuart.Gordon
must not he permitted to suppose that britannia
O'Riley would condescend to manGuvre for the
heart and hand of a monarch. No, indeed by the
Irala md md "a
O'Rileys, neueT!
"No much as admire the princely General, |
adore Britannia O'Riley rs she is now, more
highly as prize the Island Estate, prize Britain
MINIS self.esteem more II should lose this fine,
swan.like curve of the neck and shoulders-this
strong. elastic spring of the instep-this free,
stag-like step-this natural and involuntary feel
ing of yonohv--if / could cherish mean thought
or do mean action Certainly it would There
fore General Stuart Gordon, if you are debating
with yourself upon the relative policy and pro-
priety of sacrificing your inclination or marrying
the Governess, leave the conflict with yourself
be at ease-anor her shall decide for you. Or it.,
General Stuart. Gordon, you have decided TO lay
your fortune at my feet, with many thanks for
honor intended, shall decline it. The price
would be my self-respect, my health, my beauty.
And vet | do admire that regal man should be
proud of him. and there is no other man | know,
of whom | srOuH be proud Certainly of none
of the young men see, who appear to me to be
frivolous-hegh no! What are y0n thinking of,
Louise ~ she asked suddenly turning to Miss
Armstrong, who shared her chamber Louise was
sitting in her white wrapper and little laoe-frilled
night-cap gazing into the wood fire, at which she
was warming her feet, previous to going to bed
practice that her mother had taught her, to pre-
serve the purity and delcacy of her complexion
4 4 IL blooJ from, har hpad and face
'"What are you thinking of, Louise ?"
"Of my mother Brightly. She has for many
weeks past, looked SO roy gloomy, so severely
as if had displeased her. What can be the rea-
son2n
"You hare displeased her. Louise-uurhtmgly
displeascd her You are about to be married."
"But she wishes it, interrupted Louise, with
her eyes wide open.
"My DEAR" said Brightly, turning suddenly to
her, 81 remember hearing story of sect of
Christians, who taking st Pauls permission, or
ST. Paul,s command, .saluted each other with
holy kiss, which was all very well, being part
of their worship But one day, young brother
was expelled from the society for kissing pretty
sister with an app.tae. Mrs. Armstrong wishes
to see Mss Armstrong at the head of splendid
establishment and so Louise is about to exchange
the cold and naughty affection of her mother for
the genial love of her youthful husband; and so
Louise so long depressed, feeble frozen, apathet.
ic almost dead, is beginning to warm into little
life, just as the ower-roots in the frozen ground
do when they feel the first life-gving sun-warmth,
in the early spring and Louise betrays this in her
looks and manner, and her mother is offended by
it. II must be trial to any mother, Louise, TO
give her daughter in marriage, even when she
has half score of them to provide for, or estab-
lish even when she has strongest reasons for
wishing it, and the most disinterested desire for
her child's well-being. Yes, it must be a heart
trial to mother to see her lifelong, unsefsh de-
voton superseded by another, newer, and often
more selfish affection. To marry off her daugh-
ters is necessity, but it is n crui necessity, un-
der the present domestic arrangements Of fami-
lies, that separates parents and children at the