Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-12-23

Clayton was, intelligcnco and moral worth
IS far above Mrs MarYgold, as that person
age Imagined herself to Be above her. He
daughters, who came in while she sat con
ycrsing with their mother, showed them
selves to possess al these graees Of min.
and manner that win uR6n our admiration
so irrcsistibly An hour ESsso1 quickly ans
pleasantly. and then Mrs Lemmington with
drew
The difference between Hrs. bennington
and Mrs MarygoId was simply this. Thl
former had been familiar With what is calleg
the best society from her earliest recollec
ton, and being, therefore, constantly IN as
ISOLATION with thoss loOksni upon as the up
per class, knew nothing os.khe upstart self
estimation which is felt By certain Il ak, *
norant persons, who, BIZ some accidental
circumstances, are elevated Aai nb0re the cen.
dition inte which they moved originally =
She could estimate true worth in humble
garb as well as in velvet and rich satins -
She was one Of those individuals who never
pass an old and worthy domestic in tie
street without recognition, or stopping to
make some kind inqnir5-one who never
forgot afamiliar face, or neglected to pass a
kind word to even the Lumblest who possess
ed the merit Of good principles. AS 10 Mrs.
Marygold outstanding hor boast in re-
gard to pedigree, there were not S few who
could remember when her grandfather car
ried q pedlar's paek on his back -and au
honest and worthy pedlar lie vas, saving MS
pence until they became pouuds, and then
rellnduishihg bis peregrinating propensties,
for the qaietcr life Of a small shop Keeper
Lis son. the father of Mrs Marygold, while
boy, had pretty familiar acquaintance
with low life. But, as soon as his father
gained the means to do 50, he was put to
school and furnished with good education
Long before he was Of age, the old man had
become pretty large shipper; and when
his son arrived at mature years, he took Lin
INTO business as partncr. In marrying,
Mrs. Marygold's faith 4 chose young Ii "
whose father, like his own. had grown rich
by individual exertions This young lady
had not few false notions in regard to the
true genteel, and these fell legitimately to
the share Of her eldest daughter, who, when
SAC IN turn came upon the stage of action.
married iato an old and respectable family,
a circumstance tia. PAID Ter up to tic full
extent of her capacity to bear imitation. -
There were few in the circle eff her ae4uain-
tanees who did not fully appreciate her, and
smile at her weakness and pride Mrs.
Florence, to whom she had alluded in her
eonyorsaton with Mrs Huntington, and
who lived In Sycamore Row, was not only
iaultless IN regard to family connections, but
was esteemed in tie most Intelligent circles
for her rich mental cndowments aud hi9h
neral principles Mrs. Harwood, also aliu.
ded to, was tie daughter of an English bar
5 dia5Asfsd felsS if morally and
Although MIS-. Marygold was very foBd Of
visiting them for tie mere ecat Of the, tlEfng,
yet their company was scarcely more4agree-
able to her, than hers was to them, for there
Was little in common between them. Still
they had to tolerate her, and SO with good
grace.
1t was, perhaps, thEee months after Mrs
Clayton moved into the neighborhood, that
cards of invitation were sent TO Mr.. and
Mrs Mary gold and daughter to pass.a social
evening at Mrs Harwood's Mrs nj was
Of course delighted and felt doubly proud
Of her own Importance. Her daughter Me.
linda, az whom she was excessively vain, was
an fndo,ent sunintercs ing girl, too Gull
10 III bibe even small portion Of her moth
ers self estimation. La company, she at
tracted but little attention, except what her
fathers money and standing in society claim
cd for her
en- the evening appointed, the Marygolds
repaired TO the elegant residence Of Mrs,
Ilarwood, and were usAered into d large and
brilliant company, more than half Of whom
were strangers even to them Mrs Lem
smingten was there and Mrs Florence, and
many Others with whom Mrs, sMarygold was
On terms of intimacy, besides several dis
tinguished Stranger Among those with
whom Mrs. Marygold was unacquainted,
were two young ladies who seemed TO attract
general attention. They were not shogy,
chattering girls, such as ia all companies at.
tract swarm of shallow minded young fel
lows about them. On the contrary, there
was something retiring. almost shrinking in
their manner, that Stunned rather than
coartcd observation And yet, no one, who
attracted by their sweet, modest faces, found
himself by their side that did net feel in
clined to linger there
Who,are those girls, Mrs Lemmington2
asked Mrs Marygold, meeting the lady she
addressed in crossing the room.
The two girls in the corner who are at
tracing SO much attention7
Yes
Don't you know them p
certainly 10 not.
They are no common persons, can as
sure you, Mrs Marygold'
Of course, or they would not be found
here ABut whs are thcyl'
Mrs. Lemmingtonl how are you
said a1ady, comipg up at this moment, ans
laterrupting tho conyersatlon. have beei
lookingsfor yoa this half hour. Then, pas
sing her arm within that Of the indiyidua
she had addressed, she drew her aside be
fore she had chance to answer Mrs. Mary
Colds question
10 few minutes after, gentleman hand
ed Melinda to the piano, and there was
briefvpause as she struck the instrument
and commenced going through the unintel
lgible intricacies Of . fashionable piece o
music. She could strike all the notes wit
scientific correctness aud mechanical preci
sion. But there was 10 moro expression il
her performance than there IS ii that of
musical box After she had flushed lie
task, she left the instrument with 1 fel
words Of commentator extsrted by d fee
ing Of politeness.
w Ill you net favor Us with Z song q ask
/ 81 Mr. HarEg0d. going mp to one of III
young ladies' % Hhyia allusi0n has just bee
made.
M ~.SFs~ sssss.s