The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-02-02
CHAPTER XVI.
suowI,a A PREFERENCE.

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- CHAPTER XVI.
SHOWING A PREFERENCE.
When Genevra went her Ioom on the night
of Mr.. Wilkins's second visit. she was surprised
to fad Gertrude str sitting up. with countsnance
indicating great pertur5etion Of mind.
4 thought you were in bed aud asleep loag ago,
she said.
Did you, indeed . responded Gertrude, with a
sneer.
To this Genevra did not reply and her sister
broke out passionately:-
sYou'er mean, sneaking snake nthe grass, SO
Really, L doa't know what you mean, Ger
trude p she replied. pinned exceedingly at this
unexpected outbreak, and no little rritated in her
feelings tthe sud9en and unaccountabie charge.
s. o no, of course mott responded Gertrude.-
Hypocrites are always very innocentl But
can see through all your tricts. clear as day
light. Didn't tell yop. night before last, | want
TO know, that alr. Wilkins came here 10 see me !:
and YET you tried 10 draw him off all you could =
Do y,,u suppose / couldn't see through you ia T.
and Gertrude walked about she sms'l bed chamber.
envel'ped in perfect atmosphere of angry excite
mnet.s= ss i-zst -A@
Hero was new difficulty for Geneyra, whose
good resolutions were of very recent date, and
who trenbled every day, under temptation from
tie evil within her. excited by some outward cir
cumstanee, on the brink Of "a departure fom them.
She was conscious Of feeling gratfied with the at
ienfions p,id her by Mr.. Wilkins, and of being
pleased with his conversation; and this rendered
her present position still more embarrassing. Fer
some moments owing TO powerful, struggle of
evil against The good principles Of her mind. she
remained silent. Al sie4.sth zsfte said, slowly.
VIII le slight shade OF sadness was in the tone If
her voice - 4--....
Indeed, Gertrude you-sring a wrong charge
against me. made not The slightest effo1t to l
vert Mr.. Wilkius's attention from you..' -.
LIS lie,' responded Gertrude, in positive.
angry tone; while sls1 face bureed. and her
eyes flashed with the evil affections that were ru-
ling her.
Geneyra f-lt, for moment, the wild activities
of evil principles all aroused upon the instant; but.
aln ost irvoluntariy, she turned her thoughts up
wards. and. in the silence of troubled heart ut
tered this prayer DeliTcr me from evil'
Instantly she felt consciousness that in silence
lay her only hope for seIf-conrol; and sealing the
words within her iirs, that were fast rising upon
her tongue, she qdckly disrobed herself, got into
bed and turned her flee to the wall.
Gertruaes aDger had reached ifs eliminating
poiat, up to which it ha d suddenly ascended, and
now it begin slowly TO decline. She, too, IRE
pared f,r rest; aud il few minutes put out the
igh', and g. into the same bed with her sister.
Sill. she was SO much excited, and kept indnsing
her angry feeass ag inst her sister so constantly.
that she felt no inclination to sleep Nor could
Genevra, although she lay perfectly quiet, find
oblivion for her troubled toughts and wounded af-
iec,ions in refreshing siuElber. 1t was probably
an hour after Gertrude had lain down, and while
ehe was still kept awake by The agitation of her
etl;ngs, that her sister whom ste hnG supposed
fast asleep. suddenly so5bed out. though vainy co.
deayorng TO control herself Genev,a's thoughts
had been busy with many painful r-mniscences
and these. with the disturbance of mind p, oucej
by her SISTERS unkind remarks, had Kept her awake
Gradually. she fell intoa state Of nervous, half
dreainy wretchednrss. In vain did she try t,
force from her thoughts The ileas and images that
distressed her. They constantly recurred. urou
every effort to banish Them, in f,rns and with
added pain. In the end she lost the control of her
feelings and sobbed aloud For more than min
uie this continued before size could restrain the
passionate outbreak. Gertrude as startled. for a
moment, nnl something like shade of regret f,r
whit she had said, passed through her mind
But evil thoughts quickly displaced the m,lnenta-
ry good impression, nnd she hardened her heart
against her sister and experienced an emotion of
pleasure at having given her pain. Bat Gsnnvra
SOM regained her selC-cnntr.I The sudden ebul-
lition sub-ied, aud peaceful calm fell upon her
spirit. In few minutes more. her senses were
locked in quiet md refreshing sleep The enme
sweet sumber did notvistiha eyelids Of Gertrude.
Many frightful dreams startled her from her pill
low; aud more than once. whan thus suddenly
awakened, dill she shrink, trembling with n strnnge
supernatural fear, close to the side of her sister.
When The morning dawned she blessed the light
that revealed her from rlla ierrcrs Of an mngin
ion that gave form to evil thoughts and feelings
which she delighted to cherish.
A few days afterwards, Geriurde wns invited
spend the evening our. and, it so happened tllnt
Mr.. Wilkins dropped in nfier night. and found Ge-
neyra nlone. He wns lleased Mt Ibis than
he WINS willing to acknowledge tn himself. And
notwithstanding the sad rating which Gertrude
had giving her, G-ncv"a felt a secret delight,
which she in vain endeavared to blnish.
The conversation that passed between them
during il,e evening, was. mainly, of general
character; but almost involuntarily did each ex-
anime tho words aud tone of the other. as II in