Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-01-24
e. erimson deepened en Rllen,s chseks

could no longer be reflected from the mir
ror. Was the work Of an instant In q few
moments she said Let young and foolish
girls get their heads turned if they will but
/ trust am in no danger.
81 am NOS so sure Of that Those who
think themselves most secure, are generally
III the greatest danger Who is the youth
with whom you danced last EVENING" I
don't remember to have seen him here be-
FORE
His name is Evelyn There was. q
slight tremor in Ellen's voice.
How came you to know him 2n
Imet him here last season, and I danced
with him last night. vs. there any harm
in that2'' The maiden's voice had regained
its frmness.
eIdidn't say there was r returned Mrs
Rayensworth, who again relapsed into ST.
lence Not long after, she said / think
We shall return to London on Thursday
$50 coon n Ellen spoke in disappointed
voice
:" Do you find it so very pleasant here ~
said the aunt, little ironically
4 j have not complained Of its being dull.
aunt, replied Ellen: "but if you wish to re-
turn on Thursday, will be ready to accom-
pany you
Soon after this, Ellen Hamilton left her
aunt's room, and went to one of the drawing
rooms, of the hotel at which they were stay
ing where she sat near bsw-window that
overlooked beautiful promenade She had
been. here only few minutes, when she was
Joined BY handsome youth, to whom Ellen
said -" How could you venture to the door
of my aunt's parlor Pm half afraid she
deteeted your presence for she said imme-
diatelY afterwards, that we would return to
London on the day after Tomorrow
!" So soon? Well, I'll be there next week.
and it will be strange if, with your consent,
we don't meet often
Edward Hamden IS expected in a few
days replied Ellen, her voice slightly fall
tering
Her companion looked at her searchingly
for few moments, and then said, g You
1aTs peycr met him ?"
Never "
But when you do meet him, the repug-
nance you now feel may instantly vanish
a shadow passed over Ellens face, and
she answered in voice that showed the re-
mark-the tone Of which conveyed more than
the words themselves-to, have been felt as
question of her constancy
Can one whose heart is all unknown to
me, one who must think of me with a feeling
of dislike because Of bonds and pledges,
prove nearer Or dearer friend than -2".
Bllen did not finish tile sentence But
that was not needed The glance ofsrebu-
king tenderness cast upon her companioE,
expressed all that her lips had failed to MT
ter. et4s----44lsz
Dot you do not know me, Ellen,H said
the young man
]" Ny heart says; differently" was Ellen's
lowlyspoken reply.
Evelyn pressed the maiden's hand, and
looked into her face with an earnest, loving
expression
Mrs Ravensworth, to whose care Ellen
had been consigned, on the death of her
father; had never been pleased with the IN
wise contract made by. the parents of her
niece and Edward Hamden The latter
had been for ten years in Paris and Italy,
travelling and pursuing bis studies. These
being completed, in obedience to the will of
a deceased parent, he was about .returningto
London to meet his future wife, No cor
respondence had taken place between the
parties tothis unnatural contract and from
the time Of Edwards letter, when he an
nonnced to Mrs RavensRorth bis proposed
visit, it was plain that his feelings were as
little interested in his future partner as were
hers in him
During the two or three days that Mrs
Ravensworth and her niece remained at the
watering place, Ellen and young Evelynmet
frequently but, as far is possible at times
when they supposed the particular attention
of the aunt would not be drawn towards
them in such manner as to penetrate their
loye-secret When, at length, they parted,
it was with an understanding that theyvcre
to meet in London
On arriving there the thoughts Of Ellen
reverted more directly to the fact of Edward
Hamden's approaching visit, and, in spite Of
all her efforts to remain undisturbcd in her
feelings, the near approach of this event ag
itated her Mrs Ravensworth frequently
alluded to the subject, and earnestly pressed
upon Ellen the consideration of her duty to
her parent, as weHsas the Consequences that
must follow her disregard of the contract
which had been made. But the more she
talked on this subject, the more firm was
Ellen in expressing her determinationInot to
do violence to her feelings in matter SO Vi
tai to her happiness
The day at length came upon which Ed
ward Hamden was to arrive. Ellen appear
ed, in the morning, with disturbed air 1t
was plain to the closely observing eyes Of
her aunt, that she had not passed night Of
refreshing sleep.
i trust, my dear NIECE she said, after
they had retired from the breakfast table,
where but little food had been taken, " that
you viii not exhibit towards Edward, on
meeting him, any Of the pre-conceiTed and
unjust antipathy you entertain. Let your
feelings, at least, remain uncommitted for or
/ against him
Aunt Hannah, lis useless to talk to me
| in this way Ellen replied, with more than
her usual warmth The simple fact Of an
obligation to love puts gulph between us.
Ny heart turns from him as from an enemy.
will meet him with politeness; but il must
be cold and formal To ask of me more, is
to ask what cannot give / only wish that
he possessed the manliness I should have
, had, if similarly situated Were this so !
should now be free by his act, not my own
Seeing that all she urged but made the
I feelings Of Ellen oppose themselves more
strongly to the young man, Mrs. Ravens
worth ceased to speak upon the subject, and
the former was left to brood with deeply