The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06

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spell save that of gentleness-the influence of
the quiet moon-as man by Love
90, the world has much that's great and but one sea ~
And sometimes, as l watch it in its sublime
undergraduates, these wild warnings bios.
som into great thoughts, that bring with them
| convictions of power and strength-power to
perform, and strength to endure. ! feel that
the Spirit of God still moves, as of old, on the
face of the waters, and within the human heart ;
and that, ere die,
| Some work of noble note may yet be doneD
But far oftener the mood is a sad one, and /
| feel that
My soul is like the before the moon was made
That no wise, loving hand has guided its tides
OF feeling and wild passion that no one ever
will that no one will ever truly know me as |
am, or might be- for there is so little that is Low.
able or attractive about me. of this | am get
ting daily more conscious. Perhaps the love
| that flows out so spontaneously toward Miss
Summerfeld, wherever she goes, makes me feel
1t more keenly. l never see her surrounded by
group of children, or young girls, but think
of Tennyson's description Of Telemachus-
Most blameess he centered in the sphere
OfcommOn duties. decent not to fail
In Offices OF tendernessn
Should l exchange identity with her2 All
there have been times, within the lasttwo months,
when | would, or / thought would but /
grow Drawer, if not wiser, and 1 feel it is better
| that she work her work, mine"
Th1Tsddy.-Last night they had dancing
here, and, at the urgent request of Mrs. Judge
B, who is with US, accompanied her to
the saloon, to look after pretty Mary Seymour,
younger sister of William Summerfeld's wife.
| l was standing alone, for Mrs. B had
crossed the room to speak with friend, when
some one uttered my name. Turning round, ]
met Mr.. Allingham, accompanied by gentle
man, whom he INTRODUCED as Mr.. Barclay. He
could not but have felt the cold reserve of nv
manner, but he would not heed it and, in his
usual felicitous style, commented upon the dan
| GERS, the company, &C.; but as his remarks
were addressed to Mr. Barclay quite as much
as to myself, could not treat him as felt he
deserved. Finally, he referred to the evening
| so well remembered, spoke of his disappoint.
ment in being deprived of my company; he
had been obliged to leave the city on business
the next day, and had but recently returned ;
hoped he might be more fortunate another
time, though" he added, with gay smile,
notwithstanding the assurances of the Misses
Summerfeld that | had been called away by
business, he half suspected my handsome guard
ian of plot against his happiness"
1t was indeed business, SIR" l said, stern
ly, as fixed my eyes on his face, "and much
| regret that you were not present as witness.
You will see the propriety, when tell you it
was to stand by the death-bed of my old school
mate, Julia Westcott."
For one second his eye quailed beneath mine /;
the cool assurance of the practiced man of the
world was shaken, but only for q second-then,
with some gracefully uttered words about Miss
Southmayd's "wellknown benevolence," &c,
he turn To nc
"See, they are about to commence Waiting
and Miss H will never forgive me for Ia
king you off. You do not dance, Miss South
mayd. You are right at least, with the Their
mometer at so. All! we leave you in good
handsi" and with smile and bow that
bated not one jot of its usual graceful ease, he
turned from me to speak with the Judge and
Mrs. B, who had returned for me, and, ia
king the arm of his companion, sauntered down
| the saloon.
$50 this man has seen ifel" l muttered,
Indignantly.
"And become ossi6ed in the process" said
Mrs. B., laughing, I" if it is Miles Allingham
of whom you speak. But most of our young
ladies find his blase air charming-piqtant, ]
think, is the word and, to be candid, | thought
you little inclined that way, not many moons
since"
"Me despise himl"
"Not so loud, child. There is no need of
telling it to toute lc monde if You do" she re-
piled, much amused at my Jrusq,te manner
IL doubt whether they would believe it, espe-
cially Miss y, yonder, whose head reclines
so gracefully on his shoulder, as they go through
the mazes of the waltz. What a pity it is that
women, young girls, are not endowed with
sixth sense-that of perceiving the moral quail
tiles of those who approach them"
any guardian would say that they were, if
they would but heed it" replied thinking of
what he had once said to me, with reference TO
the identical person.
40, Mr.. Summerfeldl Doubtless they would
heed it, were all men like him. But, come !;
yonder are the Judge and Mary"
Somehow, the knowledge that any man could
be so utterly remorseless and hard.hearted
troubled me. / could not remain quiet; my
dreams last night, and my thoughts to-day,
have been all of Julia Westcott; so, after din
ner, while all the world were taking their Siestd
| took solitary walk along the beach, striving
to understand how person, gifted like Miles
Allingham, could become the thing he is-when,
as l turned the projecting corner of rock, he
stood before me. We looked each other fully
in the face moment; then, as / was about to
pass on, he said, with forced smile
"You fear me, then, Miss Southmayd2"
g never fear what despise,' l said, as /
turned and faced him again.
"That is good. like that; it is so rare to
hear the truth from woman, especially a wo-
man at a fashionable watering place." and he
laughed a strange, knocking laugh.
perhaps, if they all knew you as well as /
do, you might have reason to think differently"
l said, sternly.
"Aye, if they were all like you," he added,
with graceful bow. could have struck him,
but he went on
"Just think over the people we met last
night, Miss Southmayd. Which Of my sins
and their name is legion, grant-would blind
one of those affectionate mammas to my fortune,
or be sufficient to discourage their fair daugh-
tiers in the disinterested attempt to convert a
fashionable roue into quiet husband?"
"Whatever may be the opinion of the world,
it makes no difference with mine, sir"
For the National Era.
SONNET.
BY MARY FRANCES TYLER.