The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-01-27
MISCEL LA NE.O U S i.
The RetrOthaI.

The BetrOthaI.
Frances Seymour had been left an
orphan and an heiress very early in
ilfe. Her mother had died in giving
birth TO second child. which did moi
survive its parent, so that Frances had
neither brother nor sister; and her ia.
ther, an officer of rank and merit, was
killed at Waterloo. When this sad
news reached England, the child was
spending her vacation with Mrs Went
worth, sister of Mrs Seymour, and
henceforth this lady's house became
her home partly, because there was
No, other relative TO claim her, and part.
IL, amongst Col. Seymour's papers. a
letter was found, addressed 10 Mrs.
Wentworth, requesting that, if he fell
in the impending conflict, she would
take charge of his daughter. In making
this request, it is probable that Col,
Seymour was more influenced by ne
cessity than choice; Mrs. Wentworth
being gay woman OF the world, who
was not likely 10 bestow much thought
or care upon her niece, whom she re-
ceived under her roof without unwill-
ingness but without affection. Had
Frances been poor, she would have felt
her burden but as she was rich. there
was some eclat and no inconvenience
in undertaking The Office of her guar
dian and chaperone-the rather as she
had no daughters of her own with
whom Frances's beauty or wealth could
interfere: for as the young heiresS grew
into womanhood the charms of her per-
son we're quite remarkable enough 10
have excited the Jealousy of her cous>
ins, if she had auy; OF to make her
own fortune, if she had moi possessed
one already. She was, moreover. ex-
sremely accomplished, good-iempered,
cheerful, and altogether what is called
q very nice girl but of course she bad
her fault like other people: she was
loo fond of admiration-a fanlt that had
been very much encouraged at the
school where she had been educated: {:
beauty and wealth, especially when
combined, being generally extremely
popplae at such establishments. As
long, however, as her admirers were
only romantic schoolfeIlows and calcu-
latiEg school -mistresses, there was not
much harm done; but the period now
approached In which there would be
more scope for the exercise of this pas
sion, and more danger in its indulgence
Frances had reached the age Of sew
enteen, and was about to make her de-
but in the world of fashion-an event
TO which, certain as she was of making
numerous conquests. she looked for
card with great delight.
Whilst engaged ia preparations for
these anticipated triumphs. Mrs. Went.
worth said to her one day; "Now that
you are coming ont, Frances, think it
Is nay duty to communicate to you a
wish of your fathers, expressed in the
letter which was found after his death
it 10 wish regarding your choice of a
husband.n p a 6. s9t
Dear me, aunt, how very odd ~ ex-
claimed Frances. *
- Il 10 rather odd,n returned Mrs.
Wentworth "aTd, to be candid, don't
think il ia very wise; for schemes of
this sort seldom or never turn ont we'll"
Tsss9 Schemet What scheme is it?"
asked Frances with no little curiosity.
9WhF, you must know answered
her aune, that your father had very
Intimate friend ,Rtu whom he was as
m1ch attached all his life as if he had
been his brother. y 1f.gss
gl9Y You mean Sir Richard Elliott. /
fesiember seeing him and his son at
ONefAy, when was a little girl: and
1 1often heard papa speak of him after
wards.n o
Well, when young Elliott got his
commission, your papa, in compliance
with Sir Richards request, used his in-
feFest to have him appointed TO his own |
regiment, in order that he might keep
him under his eye. BY this means, he
became intimately acquainted with the
yeuug mans character, and. suppose.
. inanoh attached to him as 10 his IA
..iG And the scheme is, thar / should
aaFry him, suppose 90
80 Provided you are both so disposed, I
aos otherwise there is to be no CON-
palsiea in the ease.n a5.
'assIsis scheme that will never be re-
Hired, said Frances !; for, of all things,
should dislike a marriage that had
,een planned in that way. The very
dea of standing 10 such an awkward
esn1iea ID . man would make me hate
lim1 .zseaSEs