Smyrna times., 1855-03-07

appellation was a collateral tribute to a lament
ed consort. -.,i....
The eyes of Francis Lex, jr-, sparkled with
qualification as he looked over the town and
beheld a hundred chmneys, two glass manu-
factories, a church Steeple, and an academy
cupola, while his heart contemplated his own
lumber yard, sloop, bazaar, and rapidly filling
Golfers, with uncontrolled delight. He, at the
present period, talked confidently of a railroad
to connect Port augusta with Bristol, and sign
ed his name, in flaming characters, to petition
asking bank to be located in his d" grand
fathers town." with capital of e2j,0OO-
: lie was not himself commitment in the
church-his wife and sister were But, alas !
4 like too many others in the church militant
they were regular in their attendance uponthe
means of grace and possessed the form of god
: lIncss, to deny its power. The whole family,
parents and children, strobe up the middle aisle
to pew number one, with an air OF upper-ten,
dom that plainly said, "Who but We occupy
The highest seat in the synagogue = ..,f
! Laura's parents resided in distant State :;
! with them she had remained until Mrs Comp
ton, sister who had married thriving farmer
in the vicinity OF Port Augusta, died when.
her services being required at SIlver Lake
farm, she proposed to Mr.. Compton to stav, Til
he could obtain a competent houschecper-
! Laura was twenty-onc years of agc-a va M
mInmuvring creature. decidedly the opposite of
beauty, and her sisters contrast in everything.
/ 1t soon occurred TO her providcnt mind that if
matters were conducted satisfactorily, rood
permanent home for herself might cN entually be
mlde at the farm She did not think of mar
/ ryIng George Compton SO soon after beloved
sisters death, INTO her sad, sorrOwing heart, of
course, snch an absurd idea never intr1ded =
Nevertheless, she thought the undulated rrpiou
IN which Port Augusta was situated, vastly
more beautiful than her own leve! MARYLAND
home, and she determined to tarrv tberc-sl,n
dId not care particularly how lorg-iu.t as long
/ as AIR. Compton desired! Laura continued TO
labor untiringly for the benefit of Il e wdowrr,
/ uhth one day mlddlc-aged lady .lIcd at The
fdrm-houSc, ID informed BY neighLo- that we'll
recommended hOusekeeper might find employ
| ment there. Laura had not heard Mr. Compton
say mitch about it, "f he was anxious, She
should certainly have heard him say so. -
BHekie Green, not little chagrined at the in
c'vIlty with which she was Dismissed t! ON the
lady's presence, circulated an exaggerated
story concerning this interview-a story which
tor some reason, met almost universal crcdcnce.
The incident was most unfortunate for the D. os-
poets Of poor Laura Mr.. Lex advised, nav,
INSISTED upon her immediately rclmGn!shlnp
the charge she had so perseveringlv anl faith
'nIiy guarded "Lf she was resolved to Esurp
AIR ComptOn's entire estate. "said Ler brother
half playfuily, "she was welcome to reside with
him TIL she accomplished her design, but she
must not take possession Of the field before the
battle was fought"
Laura yielded reluctantly. vet secretly be-
/ lievmg the inferior management of her success
scr would, after all, most speedily tcrunate
her suspense, by inducing Mr.. Compton to offer
her his heart aud hand at an early day!
Weeks glIded away. Laura's mind contin
ned to turn toward the beautiful farm. its COM
modious mansion and extensive out.bouses. with
confident anticipation of a speedy return to
ENJOY them as undisputed mistress of all she
surveyed. Seven months elapsed and the
wldower had not made the reIuotest oIerturcs
toward an intimacy; still no misgivings sprung
up In Laura's patient heart; she could scarcely
ekPecta proposal in less than a year after Mr..
compton had deposited wife and babe, all that
was dear to him, in the cold sepuchre of earth.
At this pacific. period Of Laura's lorc affairs.
Mr. Lex, who was one Of the leading men OF
the congregation, informed his family that the
pidteieHs heads" had called an eloquent cler-
gynan from Phdadelp4i4-T Mr. Gilbert
nag heard their voice, responded fayorably, and
would be IN Port Augusta in less than fort
night. Mr.. Lex had selected ground and s,l-
perlntended the erection of sma II but" conve.
hient and, Symmetrical cottage personage-a
suitable lot for which, he had been careful Il
find IN the vicinity Of his own residence. thai
he might be ''at hand in any emer ergehcy,o OF
rather, TO disclose the truth, which he scarcely
! confessed to hinself. 10 have an eye over hi,
minister's doingsde Ii was about the middle o
Sune when the GIlberts arrived at theI parson
tlge! "The wholecountry was glowing swilh ths
verdure and 1uxuriaEeei of sumrher-the.bir,l
i were, ,@arbiing as though singing a welcome t,
a the strangers, and the air was redelent of
!. thousand mingled Odors. ia .g,es,, ,,a4
E ia bird box with, 81 steeple," cried littl
d Will, as be alighted from the carriage, sent t
E, meet the cars forty miles distant; IA bird 90.
j. with steeple--thatIs mine, sis"
: "a beautiful lattice arbor. with arustie chai
Ie in nft--that's ,mine," exclaimed Martha, wit
ID her silvery voice; then, looking more seriour
ID she added, /. the, chairs fathers, the arbor
mine" ''tN Afs' HrsfAf ~
4 80, % 5ine 1a& has 9tois r. .htt.1 lrg
TO "lsuppose Fmalegabheir to that small add
to tion at the west end, with the round.tobpe
a Ichin =.