The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-05-25

0Ous HuUsc uIOuoy 10 opPItou 10 THO ECduc-
iion of his own liabilities expressed his willings
ness to forgive past injuries. and finally offered him
partnership.
At this time Mr.. Herbert's acquaintance with
the elder merchant was renewed and certain
promising speculations jointly entered into. The
young man. though lacking ia diligence, possessed
remarkable shrewdness and business fact and
when the elder Balfour suddenly died, Mr.. Her
bert felt no hesitation in continuing his transac-
,ions with him. Artfuly did the willy william lay
his schemes TO deceive and deIude the planter un-
til at last the latter had entrusted to him interests
invoking large pnrt of his fortune. 1t was for
the ostensibIe purpose of consulting upou aairs in
which they were mutually interested, that he had
made this his first visit at the planters home.
Il wish you, Constance said the father to his
daughter when they met alone. to extend TO Mr..
Bsfour, every hospitable attention. He is gen.
tIeman of wealth and consideration, and as you
perceive. accustomed to the best society,"
Yes, father;' answered Constance, secretly
hoping that Tracy Hammond would assist her to
entertain the gentleman of consideration Mr..
Balfaur, however, found himself very easily inter
ested in the beautiful girl and devoted his energies
to winning her affections with an earnestness.
which ere lorg, he smiled 10 perceive, was produ-
cling an effect, Constance though not quite eigh-
teen, had by no means lacked admirers, but none
before had made so much as a passing impression.
Father, Jamie and AngeEque,' she would
sometimes say. with proyoeingly mirthful glance
at Mrs. Grace and Tracy Hammond; fill all my
heart-talk not to me of lovers
But now, when Balfour was g,ne, she felt a
q loneliness. want of some pleAurable excite
ment never experienced before. She missed his
thoughtful attentions, his gay Infectious laugh the
sparkle of his ready repartee. All! Constance
had tasted the wine of hntery. and like the alco-
holic cup it induced continued thirst. She was
not fond of admiration above others. but there was
peculiar fascination about the homage of this man
which might be asoribed perhaps, to the singular
acthe possessed, of drawing ont her thoughts and
ideas; uagnifying and ornamehting them with his
own exuberant fancy; placing them before her
in light 80 glowing, so poetical go full of ideal
beauty. that she was temptedfo believe no one had
ever fully appreciated her before.
This, it must be confessed israffer mortify-
ing confession to make of our heroine, implying a
want of moral perception, and conflicting with the
theory that pure and orderly mird will feel in
stnctiyey repeiled blythe presence its opposite.
But it must be urged in Constance's defence
that she was very young that her lover had spent
years in perfectipg the dangerous arts which he
now brought to bear upon her unsuspecting nature;
and we know who it.is.that can transform himse 4
into angel of Light, .to deceive the childreno
men, risE .s< F4.s3d1f 3 u 5jis sss=srss = Is esz
Il should be recolleeted shat no whisper of the
doubtful nature his fornercourses
ed her; that during their acquaintance. no act or
word of his had been such excite in her mind
| a suspicion ofunworthipesss that Mrs. Grace was
constantly praisng the distingue of her adorer
and that her father often spoke of being under OBJ
legations to Mr.. Bafour, for various little favors
in business way. In view Of all this, perhaps
it is little marvel that Constances perceptions usu-
ally so true, were bewidered, and her fancy daz-
zled and taken captive. 81
| But, Tracy Hammond twas bitter and pain
full task 10 stand by in silence, and witness the i'll
dissembled marks ofinteress betrayed by the gir
he loved for the man he believed villain ; and
more than once he half determined to confde this
belief to Mr.. Herbert certain as he WIS that such
course would only meet with scoru and con-
tempt. Then he reflected that he had but the
shadow proof for his mistrust, and tried to par
suade himself after all, Victor Balfour might moi
be the suspicious parsonage of the st. Charles.
! Thus amid the conflict of doubts and fears, time
wore very heavily to poor Tracy. Though Con
| stance was kind as ever, and strove with maider
tmidity, to conceal undera careless demeanor, the
p;n Of o;pb haarf fha
was gone that had made her society perfect sat
isfaction to him; and as he no longer gave his pu
pill regular lessons, his thoughts turned naturally
homeward but jamie eBtreated him to remain
with tears and importantly that he could not re-
fuse. ,...-..e7..,,.s.-.. 81, fsF
| Again and again Balfour came. aud now openly
as suitor for The fair hand of the planters daugh
ter. But Constance was more reserved than TOR
merly. Perhaps she copjectured something o
Tracy's estimate of her admirer, for though then
intercourse was respectful, and free from hauteur
there was in it not the slightest approach to faml
iarity. tFz= s.ss- aea5 " 7e95
But now the praeticed wooer bethought ,himsel
of a new method to secure, at least the esteem o
the young girl. Ascertaining her views on slave
ry, emancipation, DC, he professed the most in
tense deyotedness to the cause Of Freedom ant
dilated the jealous part he had taken in the re
cent French struggle for liberty, with fsryor o
spirit that might have emaninated from Mazzini
! From thence the transit was easy to American
Slavery, which he pronounced the the ultitnatun
q of evils.
4 1 liberated two hundred negroes in Cuba salt
he; and the four now have are only slaves be
cause they will listen TO no terms of emancipation
mere personal attendants who are more attaches
to me than to liberty. Only be mine, Constance
that from your strong, hopeful heart. may vii
strength openly to battle with this monster SIM
II Was it strange that Constance began to cherisl
for him feeling of kindly regard, or that sh
should mistake it for deeper passion! He press
ed his suit and obtained the fathers consent :
\ Alas! the father knew not that there were toll
around him; (which if he had dared TO refuse. wou
have closed up2n him in an iuextricable net Q
!, shame and ebIufusion.; The fathers consent wa