The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-07

only and affectionate son could grieve,
over the loss of mother. Mrs. Willard
had made many friends, bu, no warmer
ones than the family of Mr.. Fosworth, the
minister of the little village near which
they resided, and whose family consisted
OF wife and her young boy, and Louisa,
q daughter by a former wife.
NO pains had been spared by any of
the family TO the invalid but in no one
was the disinterestedness of friendship
more apparent than in the gentle and hith-
erto shrinking Louisa, then scarce sixteen
years of age. If watchers failed, it mat
tered not if her last night had been spent
| by the sick couch, she would again take
her sleepless stations, and this, too, at an
age when nature calls so loudly for her
accustomed rest. If Frank Willard had
before admired the graceful vivaclty Of the
beautiful girl, was it any wonder that that
| admiration should have ripened into a
warm passion, as he thus suddenly dis
! covered the priceless wealth of her loving
! heart? And yet there was something so
! pure and childlike in her entire character,
| that, fondly as he loved her, he felt that it
would be seeming sacrilege to breathe
| in her ears the words Of passion, until
| more mature age should call forth the
glowing emotions Of her woman's heart.
year passed away, and he was graft
| fed by receiving a letter from an old
classmate, containing the intelligence of a
proposed visit, and if he liked the location,
of establishing himself in the practice of
| :he law in his immediate vicinity. 1t was
pleasing prospect for Frank, for Turner
| w WIlliams had oeen the favorite friend of
his boy hood, and a boon companion in
his latter years. That he had some defects
of character he was well aware, but who
has not 2-and he looked forward with
joyous anticipation to his arrival. He
came at the specified time, was pleased
with everything he saw, and the citizens
were soon enlightened as to his intentions
by snowy sign, with the words, '.Tur-
ner Williams, Attorney and Counsellor at
Law" gilded upon it. From an Eastern
city, and college educated" was an I'M
mediate passport into the best society the
| little village afforded, and he soon found
himself d favored guest in every family
where he chose TO visit.
| Frank Willard observed with pleasure
! the success of his friend in gaining the
seeming good will of the people among
whom he intended to reside. until he came
! into the family of Mr.. Fosworth, or I'm
! Gle Jasper as he was usually designated
among his friends; but here even friend
| ship faltered, as he sa " the warm welcome
of the parents, and with a lovers Jealous
eye watched the flirting bushes of the
now more than ever beautiful daughter.
at is my destiny he muttered one
evening, after he had returned 10 his
J L., fro,
at the parsonage, land has ever been thus;
the cup OF happiness will be held out to
me, and as | reach forth my hand to grasp
it, it will be suddenly dashed aside Fool
that | was, to suppose love like mine
could be requted.
And must look calmly on, and see
her given 10 another, and that other one
whom | myself introduced to her." These
and similar thoughts were constantly in
truding themselves upon the mind of
Frank, up to the time of the conversation
which commences my story, and in which
he discovered the heartlessness of his
"world-warped' friend.
A short time only was allowed to elapse,
ere he visited the home of Louisa as in
former days, aud an early period was
chosen to declare 20 lis object the passion
he had so secretly cherished, and with
strangely throbbing heart he listened for
ar answer. 1t came, and the reader need
only know that it was favorable, and that
the ingenious and blushing girl acknowl-
edged that she had shed many bitter tears
over his recent seeming coldness. The
consent of the father was not withheld,
"but," he added, 'do you, who know my
meagre resources, expect to take my
daughter portionless !!
.'As far as mere wealth is concerned,
yes; but instead of regarding it as mistor
tune, look upon it in this case as bles
sing"
"How so!'' asked the other with sur
prise. "Do you wish to be understood
that Louisa would be less acceptable to
you with certain portion of this worlds
goods?''
"Perhaps not, under certain circumstan
ces, but-but-"
"Well, but what?''
81 fear / do wrong in repeating 1t, but
if Louisa Fosworth had possessed wealth
equal to her virtues, and beauty, should
have found powerful rival in one whom
l have long found it vain o contend "a
gainst, at least where elegance alone is
concerned
"Indeed! All, you need not speak the
name, circumstances lead me to guess it.