The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-08-03


ed and delighted, she was very near falling into
hysteric fits. When she was composed enough
to speak, she repeated in a kind of triunpl;
i said she looked like you. Eflie-I said she
made me think of our Effia.'
Clara's blooming cheek turned to the whiteness
of marble. The chill of envy penetrated to her
very heart. The fascinating being, whom she
dreaded rival, was then her sister:
long the object of her contempt and dersion.-
| The transformation too great. 1t was incred-
ibe! Efie met her cold fixed gaze, and an invol-
untary shiver ran through her veins. The image
Of Dudley Aston passed before her, and she fear
| ed to think of the future
Mrs. Dushane was SO proud OF her new daugh-
ter, SO pleased and excited by the eciat and ro-
nance Of the circumstances that attended her ar
rival and her house was so thronged with visitors,
she had hardly any time to think of Clara. But
Clara not forgetfu of herself To win Dud-
ley Aston, whom she loved Us far her vain
heart was capable of loving, was the end and aim
of all her hopes and resolves. To win him from
Effie a double triumph, for which she was
willing TO sacrifice truth, honor, and that maiden
modesty which shrinks from showing unsolict-
ed attachment. She believed that if she could
s'ou she would be too proud ever to look upon him
as lover, and that if Aaton supposed Delamere
q successful and favored aGmirer of Effie's that
the pride would make him stand aoof and
forbid him to seek explanation. Effe was too
ingenious and high souled to suspect Clara of act
ing this doubly treacherous part She felt as on
" nature Ike hers feel, that Dudley Aston
was and estranged from her, but she
believed that Clara supplanting her in his af-
feclions, and disdained either by look or word to
draw him back to his allegiance.
| What do you think of Dudley Aston, Effie ?
asked Clara, abruptly, when they Glanced to
be alone.
Efie's quick blood rushed burningly to her
| cheeks.
'As the associate of my youthful pleasures, as
! my fellow student and fellow traveller, he must
, naturally seem very to me- she answered,
with assumed composure.
sHe is very handsome,ve pleasing, said Clara
with affeated confusion, 'and cannot help liking
J him better than any L ever knew; you who
have known him SO long, tell me whether
can trust hi MI will say it, Efie-wheher may
| dare to love him!'
f Effie turned deadly pale-she looked in her sis
tes's face and asked the simple question
Has he told you TINT he loved you, Clara?
'Good Heavens what question: exclaimed
t Clara, with look of offended modesty; do you
think would have made such confession, had |
not been in the first place aware of his love?'
No, surely you would not,' answered she, in a
voice strange and unnatural, that Clara trem-
bIed at the bold step she had taken. She began
10 fear the consequences.
j Whats the matter, Efie?' said she, are you
? faint!'
t i don't know she replied, passing her hand
hurriedly her brow; but the air is very close
here. I will go into the balcony.
t She rose as she spoke, and Clara rose stimuli
/ taneousy.
4 would rather be Alone, said Efie; and Clara
dare not follow.
D 'The hour of trial is Gomez thought Effie; let
4 me meet it without blenchiug.
o She wandered into the garden, and sat down
r under the shade of the sycamore, wnere her un-
Gle had iound her years before, longing in the bit
q terness of her young heart, to die. How long she
3 sat- she knew not-she reused by the ap-
e proach of Dudley Aston, who, seeing her sitting
t like pale statue there, forgot, for the moment,
the whitening doubts which Clara had been brea-
:. thing in TO his
i 'Effe. why you here, sitting pale and
e stiIll' cried he in tone of deepest tenderness.
Effe rose and leaned against the tree for sup
j.. port.
Lean on me, dearest Ef1ie continued he, pass
ing his arm round her waist, and drawing her to-
d wards him; you are i'll you are faint.
: Indignation gave her strength as she released
!, herself from lis claspng arms.
4 can forgive Inconsistency, Dudley, but not in
sult,' said she, and the lightning darted from her
e eyes;-syou remember that l told you, if the hour
should come, when your heart was not wholly
: mine, would not wed my fate to yours, though
IL life should be the sacrifice. Had you nobly and
ngenuousIy told me that you no longer loved me,
8 that my more beautiful sister had the af'ec-
j. tion you thought mine Il would have forgiven
: would still have loved you brother. But to
9 mock me still with looks and words Of seeming
II Iove-I cannot, will not bear it,
by the Heaven above exclaimed the Young
% man, ehemently i swear this charge is false
: who dares to accuse me? If it be Delamere, his
. :, lily face shall soon wear another livery
No, Dudley--wrong not one who is incapable
! of anything mean and calumn;ating. Clara her
"A self has di sciosed to your love and hers and
J., declare you as free from all allegiance to mo, a:
n the cloud that is passing over the sun. But she
may as well build her home ON that thin, grey
# cloud, as trust for happiness to heart as light
! and vain yours
'Efiie!' cried he, foreibIy seizing her hand ant
,s holding her back she turned to depart; 'yol
n shall not go from me thus. Come with me int
J. your sisters presence, and let her explain thi
ID shameful mystery. l have never breathed ont
ID syllable to her but the oommon-p plnce language
admiration. My heart has never wandered from
id you toward her. or one of woman-kind Com,
with me. demand it act of Justice
claim it u sacred right
.Yas, eyclaincl hnnror hnl.;.,l i