The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-28
NO. 343.

by the entrance OF another figure. IL was In.
dia. And prepared, as he had been to meet
great change in the Pearl of Pearl River,
he scarcely recognised her The superficial Is
ever the first 10 strike us. He noticed that the
gorgeous and flowing drapery which had once
graced her form, was now replaced by plain
black dress. The rich, warm, olive bloom OF
her complexion had given place to the pale
ness Of ivory. Naught remained Of her gle
rious beauty but the luxuriant amber-hued
ringlets and the large, dark, mournful soul
thrilling eyes. More of zeal self-pOssesson she
exhibited now than she had ever shown in for
mer times She advanced towards Mark, hold
ing out her hand, and welcomed him with these
words:
81 am happy to see you again at Cashmere
after so many years-my dear cOusin-why
could we not be friends %
Her voice faltered slightly and when she
paused, MIR. Sutherland cordially grasped her
outstretched hands and said, while he pressed
them
1--WE are friends my deareet India; at least,
| can speak for myself and for one who loves
you not less than do-my wife Rosale."
With spasmodic catch India snatched
away her hands; and, quivering through every
nerve, sat down, and yelled her face with her
hands, and-"lt il a trying world l"-burst
from her quivering lips.
Raising his eyebrows in painful surprise,
| Mark Sutherland gazed earnestly at her for
an instant and then turned away his eyes
waiting reyerently for her self-recovery Soon
she looked up, and, family smiling, said
81 have had much, oh very much indeed,
to try me of late, my cousin. Everything is
| going to ruin with us-eyerything, everything
| 81 trust not Your father is embarrassed,
| but with the advice and assistance of his friends
all, hope, will be brought to a happy issue"
| "Ah, no but it is not of our desperate al
fairs wished to speak. Tell me of your own.
You have been successful in life 9"
| eyes, I have been successful, thanks, under
| Divine Providence, to the constant sympathy
and cooperation of my faithful Rosalie."
Again India hastily raised her hands, to
screen the spasm Of pain that trayersed her
countenance; and" Why will he stab me
with that name2" she thought but she an
srered calmly" RosalieiS an amiabie woman,
NOW is she 2"
"Wcll, and very busy
"And your family Z"
ave have no family we are all the world
to each other"
"Tell me how you have got on since | saw
you last"
Mr.. Sutherland began, and told her the
principal circumstances of his life since their
| last parting-dwelling frequently upon his Ro-
sale's hope and faith and persevering energy.
| "And so Rosalie has been the angel of his
| life" she muttered inaudibly between her white
lips.
A pause ensued, which was broken at last
by India.
"All is sadly changed here; my father has
been very unfortunate, and Mr.. Ashley
cannot comprehend it ] see ruin gathering
darkly around us all, without the power-yes,
and without the will-to avert it. any more
than could avert an earthquake, whose pre-
montory jars were shaking us J" she said, in
a despairing tone.
Mark Sutherland made no comment. What
could he have said to console her. that would
not have been false He thought that not so
would Rosalie have met misfortune-with inert
despair. And then he remembered that much
of this impending ruin the beautiful India had
drawn upan her own head, and tho heads of
those who loved her, but whom alas she loved
not. He felt relieved when, at this point, a
summons to the breakfast room terminated
the interview
At the breakfast table appeared India, Marx
Sutherland, st, Gerald Ashley, and MIR Billy
Q Boiling. OriOle served tea and coffee from a
! side-table Clement Sutherland had not come
home. Mr.. Ashleys face was bloated, and his
eyes bloodshot-the effects of the preceding
= evenings excess, were but too plain. He sat
silent and morosc, and ate but little. India
= maintained cold, severe aspect, never speak
/ ing to OF looking at him. Mark Sutherland
felt himself de trop and uncomfortable, but for
i Uncle Billy who kept up an incessant mono
u logue--asking a score Of questions about the
a Northwest aud volunteering many comments
q Mr. Sutherland was rejoiced when the gloomy
h meal was over, and earnestly wished that tho
L master of the house might soon return, and
q his business and his visit be concluded at once
o He expressed this wish to Mr. Boiling, who
. FASTENED to reply
! "And 80 do |, nephew and so do | For
q this is the case every day. Each night that
= fellow goes to bed tipsy, and each morning ap
pears at the breakfast table in state of bloat-
cd torporl les, Lord ka0~s do | wish that
Glenn Sutherland would come and We could
finish our business and leare-for you know
I'm going home with soa Mark intend to
stick 70 yos ! admire your prinSsp.ss-ai-
ways did-Fm your man"
The day advanced and still Cteunns S9shsS
land did not make his appearance. The hate
dinner was served, and passed as glsonsay IS
the breakfast, and sail Ne sanas eoa The
house was growing into,erahle to Mark. wis
summoned one OF the servants aast inquired
where he should be likely to snsl ais Hiiseer
and was informed that he uighs DO ibiDd W
the Plxnters' Rest, where be usually stopped
when business took him 10 sh,s vljhga NIi
Sutherland then ordered his herse, aad wjiils
waiting for him to be sadalsd and brougah b.
the door, went and took leave OF Dir Selbng
leaving his compliments and saleus to Mrs.
| Ashley, who had retired to her room, to take
her afternoon rest Then he mounted his
horse, and took the road to the village, intend
| ing, If possible, TO have an interview and a
settlement with his uncle, and to make his
headquarters ut the village inn, as long as he
should be obliged to remain.
| CHAP. xxIv
"0h cursed lust Of gold how for Thy sake
| The fool throws up his interests In both worlds
First lost In this-then damned In that TO come
Blair.
In the mean while the object OF his solici-
tudc, Clement Sutherland, sat in private par
lor Of the Planters Hotel, in the village Of
| C, afraid 10 return koms, with wild
thoughts Of flight darling through his oppress-
ed, distracted head A slave to the lust of
| gold, he had served the devil too well 10 be de-
serted Of him at the last hour. And now he
sat with his prematurely whiteued head bowed
upon his crampcd and shrivelled hands, bitter
ly trying ~ recall the wiles and review the
crooked paths by which tho iiend had led him.
10 youth, his besetting sin had been rea-
sonabIe wish Of independence, and he called it
thrift; and it seemed TO justify every kind Of
parsimony and sei6shness. In maturity II be-
came craving desire for wealth, and he named
it prudent foresight, wise provision for the fu-
ture, and it appeared to excuse every sort OF
emotion from health, life, and limb, OF bis
laborers, or uttermost farthing" from his
debtors. In mid-lfe il grew On absorbing pas
sion, and be termed il parental devotion, and
il seemed to palliate every species Of injustice,
cruelty, and dishonesty. In his age 1t reached