Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-03-01
WHIoEsE; j ! ( so. silsI.

d and SLOWLY surveyed the comp vi
course he did not fail 70 notice Martha
Green. in q little while Others made their
appearance. aud he soon found himself
by the side of one of his most intimate
EfriendsS ql s assn22 lo 80
Did you ever sec Martha Green look
Eso beautiful s'' he said to this young man.
s.fNWhere is she I? oh, yes4.I See. Really
she is a SsupCrb looking woman
! it'IsnFt she But there is one whom
expect here tonight. that il am Hottnis-,
taken, will eclipse her. s'.,
boz" Wlln iscshe 9'' 77e0 sSFR
j. " Ellen Willard - -ea 3hS sfs
J" There she is now Look at her, and
then yield the palm at once to Miss Green.
Really 1 Inever saw Ellen look SO indiHer.
ent in all my life.' 8 e As1
Alton turned his eyes towards the door,
and sure enough and there was Ellen,
plainly dressed though neat, and face
wearing the expression of wearthess, It
was moment ortwo before he spoke, nnd
then he said in a tone Of disapp
AS you say. never. saw her lo8R so
Indifferent in all my life. Sill, she is a
sweet girl, oven though eclipssd to night
inseyery way of Martha Green. iss9
They willcertaiply bear aconparisoh,"
Responded the friend. aaa' auH sN''oFs
Martha Green who was sitting beside
the friend aud confident nentionedZas la.
wing called on her the day BEFORE had
been glRncing uneasily towards che d6or,
every time it opened TO admit soTno new
conner, and was among the first perceive
Ellen. ef Rsi i5e so
{" Oh, dear Ii if that is all, no one hero
need fear being thrown into the shade TO-
eight twas her exultingremark. ''Why.
| thought you told me that she was at
work on dress even more beautiful than
mine |" b saw sds.rlasf Ap.s 30 #7fs5H
So she .was," replied her friend.-
And l cannot for my life tell why she
has not worn it." sldsta =
" She could, not got It done, I sup.
pose."lF7 .aIHVid giom 7E' #eti
"Perhaps not. There wasa good deal
to do on it whan saw her. Indeed, she
had Just commenced working on it, o.
(" Do you know that am right glad Of
lit p said Martha. III .aa154 - 'lHit
"No: why 2" a.Ie5ai 1oila5Ta fea
II i" Because, il she come out in her very
best style this evening, I am very much
afraid that Mr.. Alton would have beeh
too much pleased with her." '
/" Indeed i thought he was paying
almost exclusive attention to you 2n tsa7
-" So, have hattered myself unit With
in the last week or two, whom he han
seemed TO grow little more attoatiyHf6
Ellen than Is agreeableBl6 mb.hegaN esBl
4" You have nothing to fear tosniglItgl2
Martha, just see She has that old. dfat9
worn by her Bt the last halfdozen parties.
And instead Of her usual bTillia6t COM
plexion, her skin looks sallow,, andd her
cheeks pale and her whole face has n
dull, lifeIess expression. What on earth
can be the matler2 Something has hap
pened, no doubt, to prevent her getting
that done, which has worried her so much
as TO spoil her very face. And see with
what q look Mr.. Alton is now regarding
her" 5tf .eFjg h JFs
Z" Yes, l see and what is moro, 1 see,
that am safe" a7,fst-so. t,6J no
In few minutes alter. Alton took a scat
beside Martha. cured, as he thought, Of the
evident preference which had alTeady.exr
listed in his mind for Ellen Willard over
her anxions rival, This preference had
not been founded upon any serious COM
,, parison made in bis mind between the ins
trinsic claims TO estimation, which tho two,
young ladies presented. Ii was rather
leaning towards Ellen, without reflection
upon the reason why she seemed more
interesting 70 him than Martha. Ofcourse
it required but a trife to change the state.
of his mind. He now renewed his attep-
tions to Martha Green, with even more
than his former assiduity, to tho entire
neglect of Ellen Willard, who retired at
very early hour. ss..s. -
Towards the close of the evening, be
; sat near Mrs. Hinton, who was present,
and two or three ladies who wfTe copver-
sing. The name of Ellen. mentioned by
one Of the party, attracted his attention.
Ellen did not look like herselE to-
night" was remarked by one. ri 81
No." said another, g / never saw her
make more indifferent appearance. And
she was besides, very dull, while she re-.
, NAMED, and has left the room at an upu-
sualIy early hour. What can be the mat,
ter with her ?" -..ssats. -.
= "she IS not very WELL said Mrs. Hin.
ton. se
"But even that does no account for tbe,
want of taste and effect in her dress, two.
things that are always regarded By her"
think that can explain it all, " re-
piled Mrs. Hinton, smiling. @ Il.
Alton listened attentively 70 what fol-
lowed, although it was not Intended for
his ears. He sat near enough 10 hear all
that was said. without making any effort
to do so-and was too much interested
10 get up. and move to another part Of the
room. .-.tes >
; Well, what is the reason 81 asked two.
or tbree Of fthe ladies.
at is q very plain case, " resumed Mrs.
Hinton. Most Of you know old Mrs.
Bender. On calling into see her q few
days ago. ! found her very u, and in need