Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-03

OF anguish, proved relief to her now, for tn
mention of Lucien Milburn's name had produced
strage emotion in her SOUL and she gladly e1nbrac
ed the opportunity thus afforded her of hiding
from her proud relations. ~, . ~ ri szs .sys
FeaThis Miburn was young man, whose fathe
tlhadlyears before, beena business partner with Mr.
Perkins; but he had some time before, moved tt
New Orleans, where he had amassed considerable
wealth. Between the two parents there had beer
a sort of agreeable understanding that Arabella
when she ewas old enough, should be Luciens wife
and during the time that MIR. Milburn lived in New
lsOrleans, the subject was often mentioned between
the two friends. When the latter died, which was
about year pervious to the opening of our story
and left the whole of his vast wealth to his son. Mr.
Perkins corresponded occasionally with Lucien
and the. subjectaof the marriage still remained a
theme of the correspondence; that, at the pres
ent time, though the young people had not seen
each other for years. yet the parents of Arabela
looked upon her just about the same betroth-
led to the wealthy heir.si 10 ~ sa.ss ss . s,re
ssss Father says Lucien will send us word when he
intends to cal, said Arabella,s as soon as Maria
ahad left the room and she had recovered from the
shock her sensibiht had received by her mothers
hasty speechsoa iE1tG5e 10 a7eG es.F -.sgs. f:s5
5E9sCertainly hewil, ,''returned mama; ssbut, per-
thaps, ihesmay be at the party to night. If Mrs.
Longworth knows he is in town, she will certainly
s invite him. You must fix up for it, at all events
2 Now, my daughter. You must keep in mind the
value of the prize you have tofwin. Lucien Mil
burnis a husband not to be met with often, and
i q
Ifyoumanage properly, you have nothing to fear"
iis "Let me alone for that said Arabella, with
toss of her curl-ladened head. --rE =at
2 And thus, for anhour, did the mother and daugh-
ter plan together for the contamination of their
ob5ects-thei trapping of thezrich young husband;
aud when they adjourned they looked upon the
matter as securely fixed. sArrabella studied Ian
gushing positions, and with large mirror before
her, she studied any number of smiles that she
had learned to call at will to her countenance.-
She went througha new course of steps and shuf-
hes, and practced assiduously the latest fashiona-
BILE sentences she had learned from the French.
The most difficult task, however, was to decide
upon the exact tatleaa she should introduce when
Lucienshould sspop the question. y But even this
allimportant point was at length settled, and the
contest was sure hfas.sass .5s. r fa 7qtssf h
- That evening", Mr. and Mrs. Lot Perkins and
their daughter went to Mrs Lengworth's party,
and Maria was left at work upon new satin dress
for Arabella with directions to remain in the large
parlor. and answer the call of the door-bell. She
remained undisturbed at her work until after nine
o,clock; but, at length, the door-bell was rung.
I'M "a uathprinr tho rich fah
to lay aside when she heard the steps of one of
the kitchen girls in the hail. and ere she could gain
the parlor goor, it was thrown open, and young
gentleman entered.ss assy,g e III 4 es.,-.s- -
& Miss Perkins, believe said the stranger, in
a voice fill Of richness and affable ease.5@s s-
a.si Yes.sir." almost unconsciously fell from Ma
ria'siPs.e u tf3e .sss[sst fss- ga loh.7e ! e Is
e My name is Milburn,' z eontinuedthe new COM
er, with smile, e.and if I am not mistaken, cir
cuinstances have rendered us far from strangers
to each other.''s, ss H..s f,-lr.=f. e. s4.s.-
q Ashe thus spoke, he took seat; but in a mo-
ment more, as Maria's sweet face was turned full
upon him. he started up and gazed earnestly into
the fair girls features. .tg.z.s - ...ss5s-s.
s'What!'' he exclaimed. 81 cannot be mistak-
StHt AAps We AoI WIClA ClAluICn.
sygssYesy sir 2 smurmured Maria. i,za,,- >. ..,s
p g You once came with your mother and spent
long time at our house in the city, years ago, when
we were:both laughings sporting ,beings!'qas s
-xif'Yes, sr,''s answered Maria, striving hard to
keep back the strange emotions that ragged in her
a.sssStanse ,thatI should have forgotten circum-
stances that now yeomes7s viTidly back to me-
uttered Lueen Milburn, once more sinking into
his seat. ssbuti the business of active manhood
make sad havoc among the memories of childhood.
Yet, Miss Perkns, when We can sometimes call
up to mind those scenes of innocence und guile
lessness, they come with acalm, soothing infiu-
ence over the soul: Do you not sometimes live
in the past!'
Yes, sir,' returned Maria, while bright tear
glistened on her dark lashes. "Sometmes feel
that all joy is in the past; but, STILL the present
is kind, for it leads to the future and the future
holds out to US the bright torch of hope.'' Al
s'.ssYou are right uttered the young man, with
his'eyes fastened in beaming admiration upon the
blushing girl before him. ssYou are right. Hopes
are ever rising, and though some of them may be
false lights, yet our present happiness elings to
them for support. God grant that some of our
sweetesthopes may end in 'fuition ''fi' 10 .*t
50 Maria was almost astonished at the presence of
the power'that sustained her, and ere long she be-
came, SO absorbedaby the mystic charm of circum-
stances, by the words Of her companions, and by
the answering sentiment that they found in her
own soul, that she fell into conversation as easy
and untranme1lcd as though she had been talking
with an acquaintance of years. 'a' a;a''''s
iAs the clock struck eleven, Mr.. Milburn took
his hat, and arose to depart. 20 3 a. tss5 taz
z ssa Il y, / = s.;d ;,,fs IL,