True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-05-30
geleet Gule,
From Graham's Magazine.
EDITH MORTON.
CHAPTER III.
pr Mtss 8. a, STUART.
TCoNCLUDED.1

[ooNoLuDED.
Events mark time more than years, and
this truth, SO much known, serves me to
tell the change wrought in Edith. A child
In years, the beautiful fable Of Psyche was
realized; and the next morning found her
soul awakened, and from her quiet, subdu-
cd manner, no longer the child but the
woman--ay, aud with wonan's loving
and devoted heart. Mrs. Morton had been
informed-much to her surprise, Of his
proposal to her daughter--by Charles, and
though prepossessed in his favor, yet she
dsmurred giving her consent to their en-
gagemeIt on account of Edith's extreme
youth. Charles told her Of his isolated
Oondition-his fortune; and she at last,
won by his earnest entreaties, and the bash
ful, asking look from Edith-whom she
chanced to SEQ whilst hesitating--consent-
cd to their correspondence and conditional
engagement. And, now we must hurry
over the subsequent time which interycned
before Lennards departure, nor do de-
sign to inaict the pangs of parting on any
save the lovers themselves.
January found Edith at her new school,
and her days glided on TRANQUILITY and hope
fully She was assduous at her studies,
music, etc.; determined, in the depths Of
her loving yet ambitious little heart, to
render herself worthy Of her future hus-
band. g......
Charles, carrying letters Of introduction
70 persons of some consideration, and hav-
ing good credit at his bankers, soon found
himself admitted into. circles of the elite
10 England, France and Italy. But every
where did he carry about with him his
vivid remembrance Of Edith the young
and the loving. Unlike most heroes, he
met with no stirring adventurcs-no "ac-
eidents by food or ield"--no titled danes
sued for his love. He trayersed England
knew Londcn and its lions-admited its
gems; dwelt long enough in Paris to speak
intelligently; sailed down the Rhine !;
crossed the Simplon, and spent some time
at Florence, Naples, Venice, and at last
settled down at Rome, to drag through the
second winter Of his probation in Europe
And most constant had he been all this
time, thinking on Edith by day-dream-
Ing Of her by night, and repeatedly send
Ing his missives Of love O er the broad At
lantic, laden with sighs sufficient to watt
tho bark of itself had not steam deigned
70 assist him.
Il was in tho month of March, when
Lennard fell i'll at Rome. Alone-recluse
and dreamy still in his habits-he had
made but few acquaintances, and would, l
think, have Jared but badly had it not
been for the attention of an American
family, like himself, sojourning in the
''imperial city" o
Mr.. Ashton, wife and daughter, were
unrcmitting in their kindness to the inta-
lid, the former watching him whit pa
rents care, aud the daughter cheering and
amusing him during the listless and Ian
guild weeks Of his convalcscence Isabel,
or rather Bel Ashton, was not beautiful !;
but there was that namelcss charm around
her which often attaches more powerfully
than mere beauty. Partly educated in
Europe, she passed much Of her time in
Paris and other cities of the continent,
and possessed by des habitades, and by ma
sure, that ri a..
"Gyace OF motion, and Of look--the smooth
And swimming majesty Of step and tread
The symmetry Of form. which set '''
The soul sHoat, ever like delicious airs w
oi flute and harp"
Above all, her wit, sparkling and effer-
vescing like champagne, and almost as in
toxicating. How swiftly and asreeably
spceded on his days, Every morning
found Charles in the parlor of the suite Of
rooms occupied by tho Ashtons, and as he
gained strength, their escort in rides and
Sightseeing promcnades. Yet, though he
admired Bel Ashton much, his betrothed
Edith was not forgotten. He now, how
ever often caught himself contrasting
them together--wouderin had she chang
cd from her spirituelle, radiant, girlish
beauty, into any thing Of more earthly,
coarser mould. With something unpleas-
ant pulling II his heart-strings, came the
recollection that Edith's mother had a
groAt resemblance to her daughter, but
was too much en.boapoiat. to suit his ideas
Of matron comeliness, and then hannt-
ing vision would chOss bis fastidious mind
Of his worshiped Edith becoming like her
mother, . Turkish beauty as to her size
BEL with ber tact, her undulating grace.
ful motion, her mannerism, would comein
comparison to this bug. .bear-v-we may all
most call it--of his. imagination; and,
though when he remembered her sweet,
joyous temper; her appearance, as when
standing by the inooplit spring, with her
graceful, girlish embarrassment--her rare
and dazaiipg beauty, her pure young love