The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-08-18
WESTERLY R. l., THURSDAY, AUGUST 49, 1853

preston that made her forget what he
partner was saying to her. The colo
came into her cheek, too, and tina
seemed to give Henry Ashton courag
to come up and ask her to dance. Sh,
danced with him on the following night
too; and Mr.. Herbert, who remarked
the fact, judged that it would be bu
right to give Henry Ashton hint. Tw
days after, as Alice's father was jus
about to 60 out, the young guardsmal
himself was ushered into his library, anc
the banker prepared to give his hint, ant
gave it plainly, too. He was saved th
trouble, however-for Ashton's frs
speech was, " have come to bid 20,
farewell, Mr. Herbert. We are ordere,
to Canada to put down the evil spiri
there. set out in an hour to tax,
leave of my mother, in Staffordshire, anc
then embark with all speed"
Mr.. Herbert economised his hint, anC
wished his young friend all success. 'By
the way" he added, "Mrs Herbert
may like to write a few lines ty you tc
her brother at Montreal. You know he
is her only brother; he made a saC
business of it, with building and plant
ing, and farming and such things. So
| got him an appointment in Canad;
just that he might retrieve. She woulc
like to write, l know. You will find hel
up stairs. l must 60 out myself. Coco
fortune attend you "
Good fortune did attend him, for h,
found Alice Herbert alone in the frs
room he entered. There was table
before her, and she was leaning over it.
as if very busy, but when Henry Ashton
approached her, he found that she had
been carelessly drawing wild leaves on
a scrap of paper, while her thoughts
were far away. She colored when she
saw him, and was evidently agitated
but was still more so when he repeated
what he had told her father. She turned
red, and she turned pale, and she sat
still, and she said nothing. Henry
Ashton became agitated himself. 1t
is all in vain,'' he said to himself. cts
all in vain. [ know her father too well )"
and he rose, asking where he should find
her mother.
Alice answered in a faint voice, I" in
the little room beyond the back of the
drawing groom"
Henry paused moment longer; the
temptation was too great to be resisted ;
he took the sweet girls hand he pressed
it to his lips, and said, Farewell, Miss
Herbert! farewell L know | shall
never see any one like you again; but
at least it is blessing to have known
you-though it be but to regret that
fortune has not favored me still farther !.
Farewell farewell !"
Henry Ashton sailed for Canada, and
saw some service there. He distin-
guished himself as an officer, and his
name was in several dispatches. A
remnant of the old chivalrous spirit
made him often think he was attacking
a fortified village, or charging a body of
insurgents, &" Alice Herbert will hear of
this :" but often, too, he would ask
himself, " 1 wonder if she be married
yet ?" and his companions used to jest
him upon always looking first at the
woman's part of the newspaper; the
births, deaths, and marriages.
His fears, if we can venture to call
them such, were in vain. Alice did not
marry, although about a year after Hen
ry Ashton had quilted England, her
father descended little from his high
ambition, and limited that if she thought
fit, she might listen to the young Earl
Of -. Alice was not inclined to
listen, and gave the earl plainly to un-
derstand that she was not inclined to
became his countess. The earl, how
ever, persevered, and Mr.. Herbert now
began to add his influence but Alice
was obdurate, and reminded her father
Of a promise he had made, never to press
her marriage with any one. Mr.. Her.
bert seemed more annoyed than Alice
walked up and down the room
in silence, and on hearing it, shut him
self up with Mrs. Herbert for nearly two
hours. What took place, Alice did not
know, but Mrs. Herbert from that mo-