The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-11-19

l0uS -Coutlolico CuilOh'o Va ms
soul began to tremble, and move, and
surge against barriers he had erected to
curb them He no longer found solace {
in Voltaire and D'Alembert; and the
choicest hours for study were spent by
the side of the harpschord at which sat
Miss Hairston singing. To the pleasure
which he took in gazing upon the rare
beauty of her countenance, and listening
to the exquisite warblings of her sympa-
thetic voice, was, ere long, added the de-
lightful and hitherto unknown emotion OF
gratifed vanity. AS his cold nature grad
ually thawed beneath her smiles, all those
treasures of thought which he had spent
long years in amassing began to reveal
themselves, and, to his astonishment and
delight, he found that she followed his
abstrusest views, and appreciated him.
To man of his character, more exquis- |
ite incense could not have been offered
and otter one of these conversations he
found himself plying the fatuity of his for
mer views of women. He never shocked
the young girl with his 1nidel opinions,
however--nafural instinct, and, soen, a
lovers fear of injuring himself, prevented
that. -
l need not further enlarge up the. pro-
cesses by which the stern and sombre mis-
anthrope become the anxious and devoted
gallant In one week the change was
csmplete--a phenomenon notunusual with
men of powerful but restrained feelings
and ten days after the departure of the
Hairstons, the young man had rejoined
them at their own home.
Here he prosecuted his courtship of
Miss Hairston, without concealment. He
surrounded her with those tasteful and
beautiful gifts which refined nature and
Unlimited wealth alone can supply to the
obieet of the affections. Itdoes not seem
that Eleanor was affected i'll any consid-
cradle degree by these presents. Arthur
, Hetherington had made a strong impress
, sion upon her from their first meeting,
and she knew perfectly well how to APP
, preciate the treasures of his vigorously
cultivated intellect, and determined char
acter. There is something in the rugged
traits of the masculine character which at
5 tracts women more powerfully even than
E the graces and elegance and few female
minds can resist daring and determined
I lover. These traits captivate them, as
gentleness and sweetness enchain the re-
/. gard of men, when fonnd- in the opposite
sex. Arthur Hertherington possessed
J, this vigorous and powerful nature, and, il
|, addition, face and form of great attrac
i. ton. Hefwas tall, erect, with a loft,
;. brow, clear brilliant eyes, and lips carvet
! like statues 1t may thus easily b.
! understood that Miss Hairston might low
him for himself; though, doubtless, hi
= wealth, his proud position, as the sol
~ head of an ancient house, and his world
b advantages generally, had the infuenc
which they never fail to exert upon tn
J. minds Of young ladies beginning to reaec
St upon the holy estate of matrimony.
mi Let ME now pass over the space OF
IN year, during which time Arthur Herthel
10 ington continued to pay assiduous cou1
IN to the proud young girl, who demanded,
as accordance with the views of the perio'
of thorough siege before she would surrel
Dy der. Atlast she gave signs of yielding.
1t was on an evening of May, as | fin
81 from an old letter, written to my fa,he
y, of that young Hetherington, having spel
~ u hours in the great sail-boat on the boso
- - of the ocean, with the young lady, at la
-, advanced to the attack, and found Il
- fortress unable to resist him. His a
~ ~ dress was passionate, but collected, to
- 80 He told Eleanor that she must necessari
~ ~. have seen the state of his feelings--th
w. there was no possible obstacle to preve
~ their marriage--that he needed mistrt
,u ~: for Ocean View--that, if she would n
l consent to ELL that position, no 9th
:! lady ever would: and then with his pro
;n, 4I under lip betweenshis teeth, his dark ey
~ ,tn fixed unwaveringly upon her flashing ia
s .A he calmly awaited her reply. The rel
'n was cold and tremulous hand placed
a his own outstretched palm-and they w
-, betrothed.
mo Mrs. Hairston readily assented to W
an. she he'd long wished; for she was an 9
the bilious woman, and probably would h
, IN compelled her daughter TO the very cou
in. which her own feelings induced her to ia
A Tins everything was well SO far, and
-. thur Hertherington, with grave and de
~ rous salute" upon thelips ofhis mother
.no law to be, and his intended bride,
''..re Halrston house, to return to Ocean Vi
- where it was necessary to make great ch
ges and many arrangements, in contem
ton of the alteration in his mode OF Ii
from There was one person of Ocean Y
eed. who held more opposing place in the
= of of that domain than even old Calvert,
steward This was an old negro wo
a. named Dilsy, who had been the ,yo
'n mans nurse, and who now lived, at
n"e M age Of nearly four score, in ler priyilt
% IN ~ cabin across the wide lawn, in front ol
,aan edifice.
her To aunt Dilsy the young man at
tho communicated the intelligence of her
tten. tended marriage. What was his as
49, ~ ol1 nomroe, - =, - =