Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-02

must see her myself, and will be at your house
tomorrow about eleven o'clock Don't be alar-
med" | continued, anticipating the words he
was about to utter, 81 will make my visit appear
accidental"
He then rose to depart, and as ] conducted
him to the door, endeavored to cheer him by
expressing the conviction I really felt, that he
had, through over solicitude, magnfed the evil;
| then turned to my freside to mediate on what
had passed.
AS write this principally for ihe guidance Of
my young succsssors in rhrs-ts,s at, shnnld,
they ever encounter similar case, must des-
cribe Clara Delaware. She was tho only child
of young Spanish lady of high rank, who was
found near the field of Albuhera by ColOnel, then
Captain Mortimer, entirely unprotected, having
lost her father and two brothers in the engage
ment; she was only ten years of age, aud her
Preserver sent her over to England, where she
remained for six years, under the care Of his
aunt. At the expiration of that time, Mortimer
married her. After they had been united about
one year, she died in giving birth to Clara. For
eighteen years the sorrowing husband devoted
himself to the care of the legacy his wife had
left him he then esteemed himself fortunate in
being able to bestow her hand on Col. Delaware,
to whom her heart was already given. His task
being thus accomplished, two months after his
daughters marriage, his spirit fled to rejoin her
whom he had loved so well. This was the first
sorrow Clara had ever known, and so deeply did
it affect her, that for months despaired Of saw
ing her, and only the joy of becoming parent
herself effectually reused her from the deep de-
lection her fathers loss had plunged her into
She inherited almost her mothers Eastern style
of beauty and acutely nervous temperament her
grace and softness, combined with share other
fathers English principles, and strong, faithful
heart. Altogether, however, she was more like
daughter of the South than nativeborn Eng
lishwoman am one of those who believe that
proportion of the maladies that affect humani-
ty may be traced to mental causes and to watch
for the signs of these, and remove them if possi-
BILE, is part of my system: and as have been
rather more than usually fortunate, still think
my views are correct. In this case, could not
divest myself Of the impression that the fair Ia
dy's disease owed little to fancy and, promis-
ing myself to invest it very carefully on the NOR
row, retired to rest.
Eleven o'clock on the following day found me
at Colonel Delawares door; and, taking the priv
llege of an old friend and doctor, ( procesded d
unannounced to her houdoih TIE drat glanc G
showed me there was real cause far aTaiety in
deed, could scarcely believe the attenuated
form before me was that of one who, but few
short weeks before, had been so blooming a
young woman. She was lying on a sofa; her
magnificent Spanish eyes were slightly sunken,
and surrounded by dark circle, sure indication
of extreme languor; she had lost that rich, deep
color, so beautiful when it nantes on the
cheek of adark eyed beauty; her cheek was now
perfectly pale, of wan ivory paleness hel
hands, through the fine skin of which the blue
veins were fearfuily apparent, hung listlessly
and seemed almost transparent; the roundness
and embonpoint that had made her figure one o
the most perfect that can be imagined, had quite
disappeared; yet she was, as usual, elegantly
almost artistically dressed, and every possible
effort had been made to conceal the avages i'll.
ness had made upon her beauty. Even hel
beautiful long curls were 50 arranged as to hide
as much as possible the extreme emacation o
her throat and neck. recognized in all this {
moral determination to resist increasing illness
which | had often found to be bad sign; indeed
altogether, was painfully surprised at her ap
pearance.
AS l now arrived at that age which (too mat
ter-of-fact to appreciate graceful and flower
style) thinks the easiest and simplest manner tn
best, will relate our conversation as they d.
the dialogues in childrens' school books, thereb
avoiding the insufferabe monotony observ
= ed" she replied" ,""I rejoned etc etc. As
: suming a cheerfulness was far from feeling,
seated myselfin chair by the sofa, and silentl
taking possession of her wrist, Appeared to con
suit the beatngs of her pulse. Raising her eye
: lids, the lashes of which were so long and silk
they were marvel, in composed voice she dc
7 liberatey broke the silence that had reigned un
3 til then.
Mrs. Delaware" What brings you here
doctor? Do you come ut MY h.sband's re
D quest ?"
: Doctor" That is very unkind question:
| have not seen you for two months. do nc
think l have been SO long without seeing 20
Y since you came into this world now you ask m
g why come. Do not be alarmed, | do not inten
!, to score this visit against you, though realI
I think you greatly need my care"
Mrs. Delaware" Why so? you see al
quite we'll"
t Doctor" Yes, see that you have got on
3 very beautiful dress. Nothing can be more &C
t quettsh than that little Frenchiied cap. A
4 that is very false, and you are very false, to
\ and are trying now to deceive me-"
, Mrs. Deaware-" Indeed, am suffering
g pain anywhere"
o Doctor" Would you really wish to persuad
e me that you are in good health? Why, if
n could be mistaken in the expression OF yo'
, countenance, the sound of your voice, your pai
e ful respiration, uneven pulse, the Palor OF yo'
e face, and your emaciation, speak to me in lal
+ guage not to be refuted. Now, will ventu
o to assert, that for month you have scarcely a
!, or slept"
y Mrs. Delaware" Oh, no, doctor, three weel
,r at the outside"
10 Doctor" There, now, you have fairly avo'
'r ed and confessed yourself to be i'll"
1t Mrs. Delaware" But it is possible to 10
le both sleep and appetite without being Ill o.
can suffer, too, without having any decided col
:" plaint.n