Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-03-02

The priest regarded him with a cold
smile Of triumph, The time has come.
he said ;-'Clari is past fifteen. Is ii not
well that there should he one member OF
your family pure aud virtuoss !! And
sneer curled his thin lip.
Thornton sank into chair-his hands
fell beside him with the action of despair.
At length he gasped for,h--'Fa,her J
submit-n must be SOP
Mrs Thornton was quite i'll, so much
so, indeed, that she was confined to her
bed from which the miserable woman
herself never expected to rise again.
Clari attended her with all the kindness
and tenderness of an own child but her
husband never darkened the door Of her
chamber
One morning, it was the day following
Thornion's interview with Father John,
Clari was summoned to her fathers pres
ence. and reluctantly leaving her mother
who had passed sleepless night, the
young girl followed the slave into Thorn
toms apartment. He was pacing the
floor i'll his usual way, when disturbed
in mind, and did not appear to observe
the entrance of his daughter, who waited
timidly until he should speak. When
his eyes rested upon her, he gave
slight start and said, in cold restrained
voice How is your mother g
No better. father =; indeed l fear she
will not survive this week And tears
gathered in her dropping eyes,
Thornton heard her uHmoved. He
pacing the floor in .ience
with his face turned from his child, who
stood leaning against chair in anxious
Of his next words. At las,
he turned towards her and said, 'Clari,
| ain told that you love St Glare, is that
true 2
She grew deadly pale at 6rst-and
then the blood rose in her cheek and
mantled her brow with crimson as she
laltered, Father, will not deny it,
Her eyes were cast down, her beautiful
head dropped forward, and her hands
clasped before her, as she awaited her
doom, as i, were.
My child and the tones Of his voice
lost much of their sternness, you must
forget that man-for you never can wed
him, never y
Oh, the pain of that fond young heart.
The slckenlng saddening pain Pale
again grew that youthful face as the
white wall of the lofty room. The lips
moved. but no sound came forth.
The stern heart of tina, crnel and
naughty mar, was deeply touched, but
he would not listen to its ,hrobb,ngs, no
fatal row.
'Clari. have not said why you could
not wed St Clare. Listen child, and be
resigned to your fate, for tits inevitable.
Years ago, when you were child, |
made, in a fatal moment, VOW which
am forced, ay, forced to keep it is this
In her sixteenth year my daughter
shall enter convent
The stricken child could not grow
paler, as this unexpected blow fell upon
her, but her hands were clasped tighter
upon her breast, and low moan Of the
hearts agony came from her white lips;
but she did not faint Rousing herself,
she stood before her father with a calm
dignity, and said, My father l submit.
Ii is WELL
Strong was the desire in that bad man S
heart to clasp her in his arms, TO fold
her to his heart; but determinedly
repressing every natural feeling Of affec-
ton he merely said, in cold tone, You
do right Go, child, to your mother
When Clari had glided from the room
like pale spirit, Thornton giving way
to the strong emotion he had so resolute-
Iy mastered in her presence, threw him
self on the sofa. and, burying his face in
his hands groancd aloud with agony, and
wept, yes, wept tears of remorse and
pain.
On her way to Mrs Thornton's apart.
ment, Clari was met by one of the slaves
who told her that St Clare was awaiting
her in the parlor. Without moments
reflection, she flew down the stairs ard
into his presence, as if it were a haven
Of rest. But, as he took her little hands
into his own, with the natural agitation
Of lover, and looked into her face, he
exclaimed. My God! CLAIR, what il
the matter 2
She made no reply, but, as he led heI
to the sofa, she laid her head upon his
bosom, and the first tears she had shed
since she had heard her doom. flowed un
restrainedly.
Clari, my ow beloved-you torture
me Tell me entreat you, the cause
OF your sorrow. Aud raising her head
he pressed hi. lips upon her pure brow,
Twas the first kiss he had ever given
her. and it was sweet even in hel
grief.
oh, Henri " she sobbed. I'VE mus
part forever. My father has doomed MT
to a convent She could say no more.
Henris fine features were convulset
with surprise and emotion. Doomed to
convent he repeated. bitterly, curses
OH such a religion as this =
Oh. Henri remember that am {
Catholic And she raised the golden