The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-01-02
8MIEslNgg IA z Aa
ALICE WESTON.


head resting on her hand, and an ivory
comb glstencd amidst the loosened trcsses.
A fifty dollar bill lay on the table, with
bonnet and pelissc. Il had been bestowed
tina, morning by her father, and she would
have noticed the reluctance with " which il
was granted, but she was absorbed by the
attempt 10 decide whether 4 certain Edgar
Morris would prefer a pink or a white
hat. She WAS sill busted with the impor-
tant question; bat in vain she ransacked
her memory for some remark which might
furnish Z hint to his taste. He never
conversed on such topics, ard carefully
avoided commencing any style of dress.
The longer she dwelt upon the subject
the more perplexed she became.
"Ah - she said 10 herself, .'ll is of little
use to sit here. l must be guided by any
complexion. | think | viii get a white
one, with 3 very rich, white feather, and
the smallest Of delicate flowers for the IN
side. such as saw at Ha.ieu's.
So saying, she finished dressing, glanced
contemptuOuslv at her last years bonnet,
IS she put il on, thrust the bill into her
purse, and took the way TO the principal
shops. She was still balancing the Derll5
ot silks and saiins, pink and white, when
che was stopped by 4 crowd Of people,
who were prevented from crossing the
street by two entangled carriages. Her
iather was standing near, but he did not
observe her, for he was engaged in con
versation with his next door neighbOr,
Mr.. Burton.
ALLOW me-" said the latter gentleman,
las an old friend, TO enquire the cause of
your anxious and harrasscd look. We
were boys together on the banks of The
Merrimack, yet while / remain compare
iIvelyryoung. your eyes grow DIM, your
hair whitens, and on your brow are wrln-
kles made by the unrest Of perpetual
struggles"
"Ay, my good friend, but my family IS
large and our expenses great"
''My income is scarcely the halt OF
yours. yet my hours of leisure are double
you allow yourself. / have somewhat 20
spare, TOO, if your capital and he hesl-
ialed lest he might give offence.
"l understand you," replied Mr. Wes-
ton, 'the offer you wish 10 make is gene
Eous, but such aid do not need. Step
hiiher,' and he pointed to the arched en-
trance OF the church behind, "where we
shall not be overheard"
Thus far Alice had listened with breath
less eagerness. She must hear all. Her
father might refuse her the communication
he was about TO make. She thought she
had right to know why he was growing
old before his time. She followed the
gentleman, and stood unobserVed beside
Them.
The death of my wife" said Mr..
Nasfop ip,noriaI Iarrpe Of Gu
credness to the subject of which we are
speaking, that has made me shrink from
conversng upon IL; but your kindness to
me and mine has given you claim upon
my confidence. | married, as you know,
the daughter of wealthy man, . frail and
beautiful girl, surrounded by every luxury
that money could procure. ! was in
prosperous business. 4 few years Of
economy would have made me rich; but |
was unwilling to propose different style
o! living from that which she had been
accustomed TO. I struggled with every
power, bent every energy 10 the task of
supplying the means of a lavish and os-
tentatious expenditure. Day and night
were alike consumed in the toll. Even
upon the Sabbath my spirit was in my
countng-room. Had my wife been aware
OF this, she would have insisted upon re-
trenchment, but she had seen her father
thus engrossed, thus care worn, and she
regarded my labOrious life as necessity,
without suspecting whence the necessity
arose. After her death / determined to
reduce our expenses, bu. my children had
been brought up in luxury. They repine
at slight MISUNDERSTANDING WAITS,
and feared lest they might think me cold
and stern
"fou have misjudged," said Mr.. Bur
ton: "Fho' they murmur at trifes. they
w'ii De actlVe' vigorous, happy, in great
ehange. II will give them work for the
heart, for The hands,
NAY, my friend; my lot is fixed. Be
the toll for me, the leisure for nv family.
cannot risk the loss OF my only pleasure.
MAT of seeing smiling faces al my tireside.''
The gentlemen parted, leaving Alice
oVerwhelned by the discovery She had
made-slowly she retraced her footsteps.
!orgeIlui of her errand. She re-entered
hef dressing room and gazed regretfully
upon us luxurious appointments. They
seemed to reProach her with the hours
'aken from life's highest duties and bar