New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-20
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MARY LIVINGSTON;
OR, A SCENE FROM REAL LIFE


E.
| BY f. T. WILSON.
| CHAPTER l.
| In IA certain town in England there resided a
young lady, who, besides being gifted with those
indispensable requisites to female loyeliness.
beauty, grace and intelligence, had come in pcs
| session Of large fortune Indeed, il would not
be too much to say that Mary Livingston was
the acknowledged belle ofthe place, which. with
the wealth she possessed, constituted her per-
feet eynosure, attracting, as she could not fail
to do, a host of admirers But, though adorned
with so many personal charms, and having every
worldly comfort at her command, she was not
devoid of tender feelings. Though beautiful
she was not vain: and her good heart would
never allow her to hesitate in performing sincere
acts of kindnes towards those who might be con-
sidered her interiors. Charity and benevolence
were priceless gems in her estimation; and the
tdcllty with which she nurtered them in her
own bosom could not fail to elicit from the we'll
disposed approval and admiration. Love was.
indeed, part Of her nature; and in the yery
sparkle of her eyes it could easily be discerned
Incapable of restraining it to her own breast, Fit
would always flow out into every grade of life,
producing a beautiful effect, and exercising a
benign influence. But there was one whom She
regarded with particular anxiety
Richard Langdon, young man of prepossess-
ing appearance, had succeeded, notwithstanding
the rivalry he had to contend with, in gaining
her affection. He was stranger in the place,
having come from neigh boring town on a visit,
which he intended to extend to couple of
months; but, being very sociable in his DISPOSE
ton, he soon made pretty general acquant-
ance, and fixed his eye on Miss Livingston.
Having gained information concerning her cir.
cumstances-that she was the only child of de-
ceased parents-that her income was consider
able, and that she was left in the care of
childish old uncle, and feeling strong desire
to obtain wealth, without caring how he COM
memced prosecuting his plans for the possession
of her fortune, her affection being but q second
airy ideration-though he knew that to ac-
qui1e one he must gain the other. But, us we
have stated, the lovely and innocent creature
whose happiness he would sacrifice for her af-
tiuence, had learned to love him; he, by his
assumption of honesty, and ardor of deelama-
ton, having blinded her to all the defects of his
character, which were nicely hidd.n beneath n
polished exterior.
At the time of which we speak, Spring-mild,
gentle spring, had mounted the throne of the
year, identifying the earth with an exquisite
protusion of herbage and flowers, mantled the
trees with blossoms, clothed the fields with ver-
dure. and sutfused the whole with the moisten-
ing influence OF natures tear-drop---the bril-
liant sparkling dew. which the glowing sun ever
and anon exhales to himself, but only to dispense
again at his departure. The evenings were Sc
rene and beautiful, and offered temptations for
joyous ramblings, which the meditative admirers
of bright and silent night could not easily re-
sst At any rate, so it was with our lovers,
Often they stroled out to gether, to breathe out
their hearts in warm expressions of love---to
gaze on the full orbed moon, and drink in the
beauties that nature presented the one with a
sincere trusting heart, the other with falsehood
upon his tongue. But to one of those beautiful
evenings we would have reference in particular.
At a short distance from the village, and con-
tlguous to the uncle's estate, was situated n
small, but well proportioned lake, ON which it
was the custom of those whose means allowed
them to keep boat to sail On the evening in
question, Miss Livingston and Langdon both
captivated by the bewitching aspect of the seen
cry around, and the sweet tranquility of the
water, whose surface was merely rippled by the
soft breeze that swept across it, directed their
steps toward the little sailing vessel that lay
moored in a curve of the shore. In accordance
with their intention, the jib and mainsail were
hoisted, and with slow, gentle notion they
sped far away down the stream. Nothing could
be more enchanting enrapturing. Here
and there numerous sails could be seen moving
gracefully from one point to another; and the
glad hearts and exuberant spirits of each little
company gave forth such hearty, yociferous
strains Of mirth and joyfulness, as made the
very air to vibrate with the pleasing din. Each
little wave that broke from the sharp PROV, as
it basked in the moons rich rays, seemed topped
with polished silver; and the gems that studded
the sky, in their clear reflection produced
another canopy, far, far below the waters sur
face. In the rear, far below the head of the
lake, rose in stately majesty some of the most
beautiful hills England could boast of; while in
the distant perspective, long array of fields
and meadows, in which cattle of various des-
criptions We're browsing, lent peculiar fascin-
alton to the scene.
The two persons with whom we have more par
ticularly to do, had spent the time in pleasant
conversation, apparently lost, absorbed in the
reflections each adduced The gentleman had
indulged in protestatons of fidelity and attach
ment, refuting every reported aspersion against
his characteristic lady in ayowals Of implicit
reliance on his integrity, discarding every ap-
prehension that SANDER and calumny, as she
believed it, had given rise to. In the blisstul
excitement Of the moment both were happy
She, in consciousness Of the purity of her love-
and the prospects of a happy union; he, from
the favorable issue his nefarious scheme prom
ised, and the voluptuous beauty Of his confding
victim
But that evening was not to pass so pleasant
ly as it had begun. Suddenly, and unnoticed
by them, n flaw passed over the lake, upsetting
iher boat, as they had not guarded against the
accident, but leaving all the res unscathed. In
Il moment all the hemsmen were directing their
course to the scene of the accident. All was
confusion-the ladies screaming from terror and
fright, and the males despairing, from the ex-
citement, of being able to render any effective
assistance. But luckily. a boat happened to be
passing near ut the time, and Il young man, who
was sailing alone, rescued both from their peril
Gus condition before they received any material
injury, and conveyed them safely to the shore
The rescued and the rescuer all recognized each
other, for their acquaintance had been previous,
and Henry Stuart received showers Of heartfelt
thanks for his gallant and timely intercession
CHAPTER H.
Henry Stuart was young man of good ap-
pearance, but more than this, truthful and hon
cst in every respect, and, it is almost needless
70 state, indulged serious desires for Miss Liy
ingston's affections. (And here it must be ad
nirted that she entertained deep regard for
MIN, though her preference was given to an
other,) But, finding that he had more favored
rival, he relinquished his suit, and submitted to
the ordeal with commendable resignation. Ap
parently not minding the disappointment hehad
IN