Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-05

aGrace Conway an orphan and an helress
three wears older than witty and Wise De-
vond her wears She often speaks OF her guar
dian and always with suppressed enthusiasm
that tells how large place In her heart he
occupies--her only living counsellor. nc mas
been to me father, mother, brother, ana SIS
teri she excaims, with her deep eyes shaded
by the lido, lest they should toll more than hcr
/ lips chose to utter.
al hear Mary warning me not to lean upon
this strong, buoyant spirit Indeed, that IL my
| only danger. But did You know her. you could
not help loving her as well as do!
81 date from--don't be too much surprised
the home of Augusta Lemoyne naed not
assure YOU brother, that the visit was not OF
my seeking. came to D. directly after the
examina nation resisting the ontreaties OF Grace
to accompany her to Newport; for had de-
termined to economze and then--p0or. moth
er Alas she never recognises me 1t she
would once--only once--look into my face and
know me! My heart il almost breaking Tor
that mothers withered love
Augusta and Mr.. Lemoyne, hearing that
was at the Asylum, went for me. | could not
resist their urgent invitation, and came to this
house Of luxury and-shall add--of misery
II should not have recognised Cousin Augusta
in q crowd--she is 80 changed Ten years
could not have written more lines ON her cheek
and forehead | used to think her face the
most beautiful thing on earth, remember !;
but - now! faded, fashionable, dyspeptc,
and discontended, poor Augusta - the shadow
of her former self
aMr Iemoyne, who il by many years her
senior, il man Of strong passions and preju-
dices | cannot help admiring the fire that
sometimes flashes from his eye, at the commit
tai Of n meannesa or at the earnest utterance
Of some simple truth. Augusta fears and--en-
dures him
AZ felt far from at home in those spacious
| narlors. md upon those luxurious carpets in
the midst Of gorgeousneas seldom surpassed,
thew saw. on this side the great water Mr.
| Lsmoyne has spared neither wealth nor pains
To make his home an Eden; but where is it's
Eve I sunk upon the pilloWy sofa, dazzled
and bewildered. The green glass door OF the
conservatory caught my eye and recalled me
to my senses and to my feet. cannot de-
scribe on paper that blessed little nook, trans
planted from the tropical zone! ! wove
wreath Of the rarest buds, such an one as
Mary used to Irvine in Augusta's HAIR and,
carrying it into the parlor, slipped it upon her
head. She started--it fell TO the floor. She
glanced at it, changed COLOR and bit her bps
forcibly.
atTake it away! wear il yourself Enlalie !!
II was kind of you but and she laughed
strangely--sI lost my taste for flowers long
| ago They don't set well on u married wo-
man.
81 Thought Of Mary, with prairier rose in her
soft hair, singing ut her mornings work but
did not name her.
.sCome into my boudoir, said Augusta Ian
guidly. Tell me some Of the wild scenes in
your Western lfe--I am dying of ennui to-
day
aShe lay on n crimson lounge, and played
with her enamelled fan, while | told her Of
our Journey to the West, our life in the log
cabin at the opening of the prairie, and our
happier life in tho village home with Mary.
As mentioned this the fan slipped nearer
Augusta's eyes saw--or perhaps it was but
fancy-the hand that held II tremble, with all
its weight of jewclry; and ! am certain that
her cheeks were wet when the fan dropped mt
last.
a.Heigho! lfe's lottery, after all! she
sighed Old times--old times was hand
some then--don't you think 30 she suddenly
exclaimed, christening bracelet, whose clasp
was a miniature of herself at the time Of her
marriage IL was oil bal life, as my memory
has kept it, forgot long years IN gazing
upon it.
al Keep il, Lulia,' she said. when ! would
have returned it, Let me clasp it on your
wrist--mine were plumper once. There! you
have Cousin Augusta at her best When you
next 90 home she added, in hurried tone,
turning away her eye, ask them If they re-
member that FACET they think it a fair like
ness p
"Ah, brother had my thoughts when
child and tolerably wise ones they were, too,
for a nine-yea old, but ! have grown wiser
since | kept--for could not reject--the
costly present of Augusta. But, brilliant and
beautiful as it is, it is not the face whose image
is nearest my hearts care There is one light
ed by loving hazel eyes, and hallowed by a
smile q seraph might have lcnt; one, never
Swallowed by any cloud but that borne on the
breath of sympathy one that looks peace into
the souls deep waters, however disturbed and
swollen their surging tide Mary my price
less sister when will your dear lips touch my
forehead again ~