New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-03
AMBITION AND REVENGE.


asked Mrs. Gayland of her husband, one fine
evening in May.
60 Our girls!" repeated that gentleman in
apparent astonishment why, what's the
matter with them -
&c How provoking You are, Mr.. Gayland
you know very well what l mean,' replied his
wife,
'' How should l, my dear : our girls were all
well enough at dinner time, | hope that nothing
has happened to them SINCE
Mrs Gayland bit her lips with vexation as
she rose to leave the room. but before she had
reached the door, her maternal solicitude pre-
vailed against her anger, she seated herself by
her husbands side, and said in her most winning
accents
But don't you think, my dear, it is time
some of our girls were married 20
Ha. ha, ha p burst from the lips of the old
gentleman; SIS that all how relieved feel"
But, Mr.. Gayland, Kate and Irene, they
are twins and are now twenty-five years of
age, and after they are disposed of, there is
Lucia and Florette, who are even now old enough
to marry
90 Yes, and you forget my sweet Lillie,' said
Mr.. Gayland, STOPPING to pale, sober looking
girl that sat by his side.
A look Of contempt was cast on the offensive
child by her mother, as she answered:
"Pshaw will keep Lille to tend the kit
This was the most unfortunate remark Mrs.
Gayland could have made for Lille was her
fathers pet. He loved her better than either
of his grown up daughters, and for this reason
she best deserved his love.
Mr.. Gayland was very good tempered man,
but one word against his darling child was
enough to excite his anger for long time. On
this occasion he jumped up and walked the floor
q few minutes, then sitting down and taking
Lille on his knee, he said to his wife in voice
of stern calmness,
" Maria, how can you be 80 unnatural a.
mother as to hate your youngest born, because
she is weakly and not handsome tell YOU
her heart and mind are priceless gems in COM
parison with the vain beauty of Kate, Irene and
Lucia. And Florette, were it not for the strong
love she bears towards Harvey Lesion, would
| be as heartless as your ambition has made her
sisters'
Mrs. Gayland smiled disdainfully at the con-
clusion of his speech, but only answered:
''Florette has more sense than you imagine -
Again she turned to leave the room and again
did the thoughts of her daughters bring her to
her husbands side.
" Morton. my errand was to procure money
to take our beautiful daughters to Saratoga
6 Yes, to dispose of them, presume
Certainly, if l can find suitable matches for
them
Success attend you,' said her husband, lite
rally as he rose and took from his desk notes to
the amount of thousand dollars; &c but Flo
rette is not to 60 with you.''
! "No-her superior beauty would attract all
attention from the other sisters shall leave
her for your pr0tege, young Harvey Leston''
MIR. Gayland muttered a few angry words as
his ambitious wife left the room, then taking his
darling, he caressed her long and lovingly, while
the poor despised child uttered words so wise so
deep, that even the fond father himself was
astonished to hear her.
"Well, mammal exclaimed the three oldest
girls in a breath, s' did you succeed''
Yes, after preaching me a long sermon about
that stupid Lille, he gave me one thousand dol
lars
'Oh, WELL" said Irene, ss that is better than |
expected You know he always vowed we should
never go"
eyes, and l suspect the reason why he con-
sents is that he wishes to be rid of us while -
| cam to go, mamma - asked Florette
"No. my child, you must wait till next sum.
mer, but you must amuse yourself with Harvey
Lesion while we are ABSENT
The girls all burst into merry laugh.
'' les, it is so amusing to listen to him some
times; what a simpleton he is, to think tha
florette, with all her beauty, will ever MARI,
him.
oh well,'' said the beauty, tossing he1
head, shall let him think so, till Hervey Ber
wick gets home then, to finish the sport, shall
refer him to papa, and end it all by saying
was only in Jest"
Poor Florette! She was indeed as heartlcs:
as her sisters. Harvey Lesion, poor fellow
never suspected the plot laid against him so
while mamma and the Misses Gayland coquettct
at the Springs, papa and Lille studied in tht
library; he became the constant companion o
the beautiful Florette-anticipate her slightes
wishes, and breathed into her ear the soul-stir
ring efusions of youthful genius.
Harvey Lesion. despite his boyshness ant
awkwardness, was destined for a high place
among earth's mobiles; destined to shine th
brightest star in the galaxy of genius. Mr.
Gayland loved Harvey as a son He appreciates
the noble qualities of his heart, and it was hi
Q earnest wish to see him united to Florette Bu
b such was not the intention of Mrs Gayland
Florette was her most beautiful child and sll
was taught to believe herself at least destine
for the wife of Il 'sLoRD'-so while her mothe
d and sisters were enjoying themselves at Sarato
= ga, she was amusing herself by testing with
, most true and faithful heart
Harvey was not thought rch but he kne-
what no one else did-that he was heir to tn
immense possessions of bachelor uncle
r wished to be loved for himself alone and nc
e his money, and so Florette and her family wei
5 kept ignorant of his wealth. Had he told thel
n all, he might have gained Florette, even thoue
), he could never be an English lord-but "
Z think he acted wisely in keeping the secret.
;, Autumn returned, and with it came Mr.
Al Gayland and her daughters, rejoicing in the
good fortune Kate had married a Frenc
= Count, who had accompanied them home. Iren
was engaged to a rich Southerner, while Luci
: had made rapid progress in the affections of
J, New York exquisite.
s'Well, Floretta," said Mrs Gayland abou
a week after their arrival, show speeds tn
J.. gallant Mr. Lesion in his wooing,''
u "He is to ask papas consent tonight m
N swered Floretta, somewhat sadly s'he will b
d very much disappointed, / fear, but l canno
think of marrying him after seeing Kate's hus
= band.'
eyes, said Irene, 50 and Mr.. Northfeld
much handsomer than the Count
&C And Frederick Augustus Dash is handsome
than either,'' drawled Miss Lucia.
''But," said Lille, in pleading voice, liftin
her large dark eyes to the face of Florette
Harvey is good"
A torrent of abuse drove the unhappy chill
to her fathers study, and with him she foun
K. Harvey Lesion.
''Lillie, my love-" said her father, "go ca
Florette."