The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-04-28

, the delicate health of her mother, and
, the almost continual absence of her
father from his home, making it COM
paratively easy for her to do So Only
when Edgar Stanwood was at the Hall,
did that daily instruction cease; ; and
then would Walter find books with pen
cilled passages, lying about in very un-
usual places.
The duties Of young Lewis in the
family were very light; it was surpris-
ing, Notwithstanding every leisure mo-
ment was given to study, and that the
late hours of the night found him poring
over his books, what progress he made
in the acquisition of knowledge. His
strong mind and indcfatigable energy
conquered difficulties which would have
been insurmountable to n. common in
tellect, but the young lady did all in her
power to aid him The best books
which could be found were added to her
fathers library, and several studies were
undertaken by her for the sole purpose
of qualifying herself to be his instructor.
However, when two years had passed
away, he was the teacher rather than the
pupil Of Clara.
The nineteenth year of Lewis was
passed in a state of feverish excitement.
His situation in the family was one of
servitude, for though in consideration of
the wishes of her husband, who was de-
sirous of keeping the young American a
member Of his household, though he was
never regarded exactly in the. light of a
common servant-lady D did not
often require him to wear livery, he was
expected, on certain occasions to do so );
and the badge Of slavery, so he consid-
cred it, was, to that proud heart, like a
fetter of iron; but-the question was in
his mind though in worldless form -
how could he voluntarily exile himself
from the place where he could daily see
the sweet smile, and listen to the kind
voice of lady Clara, especially when
those eyes asked the thought was in
his heart, though he would not have
dared acknowledge it to himself-when
they asked" Can you not, for my
sake, endure the caprice of my mother :"
1t was the seventeenth birthnight of
the beautiful Clara D. For weeks
had preparations been in progress for a
grand festival, and now the lordly man
sion was thronged with honored guests
The young lady was sitting in her apart
ment, her toilet completed, but waiting
the arrival at the mansion of her cousin
Edgar-the heir of the house of D.,
and--so it was this night to be under
stood-her afhanced husband, the young
man having sought and obtained the con-
sent of her parents that the marriage
engagements might be made public this
evening
Lady Clara was sitting by her win
dow Her .ound cheek, which seemed
rath r paler than usual, was resting on
her little white hand, and the long dark
lashes were dropping low over those
bright eyes; in the pale moonbeams,
one would have thought to hide a tear
which would only be half concealed
but this was only fancy, for what could
cause that gay, happy being tear
Only fancy, for, at the moment, sweet
smile was playing about the mouth, and
dimpling the pretty chin. And the low
sigh which escaped those pouting lips,
only an excess Of joy had given birth
to; the heart which was throbbing be-
meath those queenly robes, was oppressed
only with an excess of happiness.
And happy the lady Clara should have
been, for she was good as beautiful, and
beautiful as good, and earthly beauty
md goodness could not have been nearer
perfection. At least so thought being,
who, as she sat there, had stepped
noiselessly into the apartment, and from
1 position where he could not be seen,
stood gazing on the figure which he
lare not approach nearer. How long
he might have remained there is uncer-
tain, for he seemed more and more a
ieeply entranced the longer he gazed on y
ler form, had not the sound Of voice 4
u the court which the windows of the v
apartment overlooked, and q half {
'mcthsred exclamation from Clara, n