The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-10-08


, Icruel, so unmanly an act?''
81 will never love you again, if you dc
not!" was the reply. .<t-.....
4 An expression almost of disgust swep
over the young mans face, and his lip
.ltrembled as he spoke.
i ".Tell ne, have you been to Miss Smiths
today" he enquircd. .-
Eyes; was there just at sunset. But
why do you ask?"
''No matter. Have you thought this all
over? Are you resolved to deceive thi:
poor girl?'' a -.. ..a...-
"Resolute'' ......... ........
! "And are you willing that 1 devote my
self to win her affections?"
"Thcy are already given, without the
trouble of asking" ..
| Gilbert's brow contracted in the moon
light, and the word "Unwomanlyl' was
smothered between his suppressed lips.
"And you will assist me will tell her
that you resign all claims on my hand--on
the homestead and property?" he added,
with slight and bitter emphasis on the last
words.
She did not observe it, but answered ca
gerly, ...@ ~ .1..
"Yes, yes, will do my part to perfection.
How mortifyng the truth will be when she
thinks herself Mrs. Gilbert, and finds it all
ia joke"
But think of the shock ii will give her
pride and delicacy -
"Addrefnement-pray, add refinement"
said the young girl, scornfully; pride, deli
cacy, and refinement, are such common at
tributes to the daughters of our vasherwo-
men!' .
"You are only doing this to annoy me"
said the young man; $50 good night; you
will throw off your cruel wish before morn
ing"
hall I?" replied the girl, with slow
bend of the head.
Gilbert turned away, and taking up his
hat, was about to leave the house, but she
laid her hand on his arm, and Hooked smiling
ly in his face.
'Thcy tell me the house is finished
Will you take me to look at it in the morn
ing?" --... .......
"If you desire it," was the cold and ab-
stracted reply.
"Well, | shall be ready at ten Good
night! And gayly kissing her hand, the
young creature glidcd into the house.
"lt aoaS her voice then, and she was plan
ming her designs with that infamous millin-
er. | would not believe my own senses till
she confirmed them But she will not per-
sist in anything so cruel it is absurd to
suppose SO. If she does-if she does--I
will obey her." .. ....
AS he muttered these words, the young
man walked slowly into the house.
How melancholy poor LYDIA had been all
the previous day; how many strange con-
lectures had passed through her brain re-
garding the remarkable absence of Mr..
Gilbert. They haunted her all night, and
in the morning, when she came along the
footpath, through the fields, tears stood in
her eyes more than half the way. She had
cast many sad earnest gaze through the
shop window, before she saw Gilbert and
Miss Warner coming through the opposite
portico. The sight made the heart struggle
with throb of pain in Lida's bosom, and
a mist came over her eyes till they could
scarcely discern the needle with which she
seemed occupied. They were coming to-
ward the shop, and the sound of footsteps
in the entry made the young girl tremblc
ON her seat.
Come" said Miss Warner, addressing
the mlliner, "put on your bonnet We are
going to the house, and want your opinion"
Miss Smith ran for her bonnet, and for
the first time in her life, the young lady
addressed the apprentice:
Get your sun-bonnet," she said, "you
can go with us +f3 -.-
The blood rushed over Lida's face and she
would have refused, bnt Miss Warner whis |
pered a word to her lover, and he pressed
Ida to go with such respectful earnestness,
that she arose, tied on her little straw bon
net, and was ready to attend them long be-
fore Miss Smith made her appearance.
The homestead was large and superior
old mansion for a conntry village. Its ma
terlal was heavy, and touched with the brown
tinge of age; the trees around it were ma
jestic, and the shrubery luxuriant; its fur
fashioned and massive, but Gilbert had in
it with chairs and tables of
a lighter and moro recent model; and the
gloom which low ceilings give to an apart
ment, was relieved by tall mirrors and
modern windows, which were cut from cell.
ing to floor, 1a
Altogether, it was the dwelling which a
domestic and studious person would have
preferred above all others.
Ida had never seen anything half So
splendid before, but there was heavy feel
ing at her heart which mere novelty could
not dispel. She followed her conductor up
the broad stairs, heard them admire the
ballusters of dark mahogany, and walked
through Che chambers like one in a dream
She was pale, bewildered, and sick at heart,
almost for the first time in her life.
There was one room on the first floor
which Gilbert had fitted up expressly for his
bride. 1t had but one bay window, which
opened upon the most verdant nook of the
old fas. Iioned garden; and this window res
quired no drapery, for an immense white
rose tree was trained. along the easement,
till profusion Of thick green leaves and
snowy blossoms dropped like a curtain over
the upper part, and when the sash was up
a storm of fragrant leaves fell like snow,
fakes all over the rich old1easy chairs, and
moss like carpet which decorated the room.
On a. curious little table, with legs carved
and twisted together like knot of serpentsy
lay agttitar with an azure ribbon just att
tached, and, yet unused; ia superb old book
case, crowded with newly bound volumes,
stood opposite the bay window, and al little
French, workable, perfectly new, occupied
acofnefo close BY. Cd nf9 3oi3w ,siaym9tsle