The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-13
WOODSFIELD, OHIO, WE'D

K tf' 2. '.-- III - N"9TTF 8@hH IOft
painful illusion which remembrances oil
days gone by occasioned. s2sf ~
We at length found the company sepa-
rating, and our wager unredeemed. The
last to depart was Mr.. Worthington, es-
corting Annie. Mortimer and little Bessie,
whom he shawled most tenderly, no doubt
because she was apoor forlorn little old
maid and sang so sweetly.
The next morning at breakfast. cousin
Con attacked us, supported by Mr.. Dan
yers, both demanding solution of the
mystery or the scented sevens! Alter a
vast deal Of laughing. talking, and discus
sion, we were obliged to confess ourselves
beaten, for there had been an engaged
couple present on the previous evening,
and we had failed to discover them. No,
it was not Annie Mortimer; she had no
lover. No, it was not Misses Halliday, or
the Masters Barton; they had flirted and
danced, and danced and flirled indscrimi-
nately; but as to serious engagements
pooh! pooh! s,Q s .r,la.
Who would have conjectured the ro-
nance of reality that was now divulged;
and how could we have been so stupid as
not to have read it at glance? These
contradictory exclamations, as is usual in
such cases, ensued when the riddle was
unfolded. 1t is so easy to be wise when
we have learned the wisdom. Yet we
cheerfully lost our wager, and would have
lost hundred such, for the sake Of hear
ing tale so far removed from matter Of
fact; proving also, that enduring faith and
affection are not so fabulous as philoso.
pliers often pronounce them to be.
Bessie Prudholm was nearly related to
David Danvers. and she had been the on
ly child Of talented but improvident faith
er, who, after short, brilliant career as a
public singer suddenly sank into obscuriiy
and neglect, for the total loss Of his vocal
powers, brought on by violent rheumatic
cold and lasting prostration Of strength
At this juncture, Bessie had nearly attain
ed her twentieth year, and was still in
mourning for an excellent mother, by whom
she had been tenderly and carefully brought
up. From luxury and indulgence the de-
scent to poverty and privation was swift
Bessie, indeed, inherited very small in.
come in right Of her deceased parent. suffi.
cient for her own wants and even comforts.
but totally inadequate to meet the thousand
demands of her ailing and exigent father
However, for five years she battled bravely
with adversely, eking out their scanty
means by her exertions-though from hel
fathers helpless condition, and the con.
stant and unremitting attention he requir'
ed, she was In a great measure debarred
from applying her efforts advantageously
The poor dying man, in his days of health,
had contributed to the enjoyment of the
affluent, and in turn been courted by them
but now forgotten and despised, he bitter.
ly reviled the heartless world. whose hol.
low need Of applause it had formerly been
the sole aim of his existence to secure.
Wealth became to his disordered imagi-
nation the desideratum of existence, and
he attached an inordinate value to it, in
proportion as he felt the bitter stings OF
comparative penury. To guard his only
child-whom he certainly loved better than
anybody else in the world, save himself
from this dseadful evil, the misguided man
during his latter days, extracted from heI
an inviolable assurance neverto become
the wife Of any individual who could no
settle upon her, subject to no contingen.
cies or chances. the sum of at least mt
thousand pounds. 4f6
Bessie, who was fancy-free, and live
| ly, spirited girl, by no means relished tht
, Sights which poverty entails. She there
J fore willingly became bound by this sol
emn promise; and when her father breath
ed his last, declaring that she had mad'
, his mind comparatively easy, little Bessi
half smiled, even in the midst Of her dee
and natural sorrow, to think how small an,
easy a concession her poor father had ex
actel, when her own opinions and view
} so perfectly coincided with his. agg
The orphan girl lookup her abode with
the mother of David Danvers; and contn
. ued to reside with that worthy lady unit
the lalter's decease. 1t was beneath tn
. roof Of Mr.. Danvers thar Bessie first be
0 came acquainted with Mr.. Worthington--
, that acquaintance speedily ripening into
3 mutual and sincere attachment. He wa
. poor and patronless then, as he had con
: tinued ever since, with slender likelihoo
+ Of ever possessing fioO ofhis own, muc
: less El00oto settle on wife. II is tru
/ that in the chances and changes Of thi
/; mortal life. Paul Worhington might sue
0 ceed to fine inheritance; but there wa
|; many lives betwixt him and it, and Pau
7 was not the one to desire happiness at ar
!; others expense, norwas sweet little Bessi
Q either. e4Aasists = i8e'e 81 p 2
Yet was Paul Worthington rich in on
g linestimable possession. such as none
d cannot purchase--even in the love Of
J, pure devoted heart, which for him and e
II his dear sake, bravely endured the lh'
I. Hong loneliness and isolation which the