True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-10-08


nance was the atmosphere in which she
sought 10 dwell, and failing to find Its
subtle essence pervading the grosser elei
menls of everyday life, she was ever fret
fuI, repiniug, and discontented. But
Lila was, also, a profound and skilful
dissembler. Though guided by the
impulses of a .headslrong will, she yet
managed to appear one of the most rein-
ed and delicate and gentle of women.
Though resoluIe Of purpose, and defying
all hindrances when her passions were ex-
cited, she seemed only one of those lrail,
dependent, limd creatures who attach
themselves 10 The hearts of men by their
very heIplessness, While the dark eyes
of Rosa mond flashed with the fires Of in.
teIlect, those Of Lilias were full of liquid
light, as if tear were ever ready 10 sof
ten their rich luslre. While the chisdled
lips of the (ranker sister were sometimes
wreathed with merry smiles, sometim es
curved in bitlel scorn the rose bud mou tn
Of lhe.genlle Lilias never expresSeda ruder
emotion than quiet pleasure or placid pen f..
siveness. While tbs 1.-the figure of one
was seen in all The uustudicd grace of
attitude, which might be seem a wood
nymph, the dropping form and equally
picturesque but moie artificial postures oil
the other would have afforded a model to
the scul plor who vainly sought to image
the statue Of modestV. At first view, the
observer was ready to excIalm, as lie ga
zed upon both sisters" How marvellous
likeness !" But secoud look would
probably excite wonder still more, by
showing how utterly different an expires.
sion might be worn by features moulded
To lhe most perfect exac.ltudc Of form. %
Scarcely had the beautiful sisters attain
ed the age Of womanho ID when death de
prived them Of their mother, whose weak
indulgence had fostcred the growth OF
those errors in her ,ildrcn oil which she
was keenly sensible ere she was removed
from them forever. They felt the res
pect for the parent who had early submit
ted her better Judgement to their lnfan-
tine cqprices, and, like all spoiled children,
they made most ungralelul return loV
her unlimited affection. She was allow,
ed to minister to their pleasures, bat when
excited by their wiIllulness, she at,elnp
ted 10 act the monolor or to assert her ong
dormant authurily, she WIS met by utter
contempt for her counsels, and disregard
Of her commands. Her last days were
embitteled by their dIsobediences and the
children who had been bestowed MS bles.
sings, were, by hel own excess of antc.
ton, made her most bitter scourges
Their father, weak, silly. proud, old
man, who lancied that every thing which
appertained to HIM was beyond censure d
criticism, and who allowed his daughters
to act precisely as they pleased, SO long
as they did not conlrovert his peculiar
prejudices. was little calculated 10 be their
guide during tho perllous period of life
which they had just entered Thus left
to follow the dictates of their own WILL
they could scarcely fail of laying up a
store Of fuiurc suffering. d, ,i.4 4a. IA.
Among their numerous admirers was
one who mingled 'imidIy with the lhrong
of the noble and the gifted that surroun.
ded the lovely heiiesses Of Folkstone, as
if conscious of his feeble claims upon
their notice or regard, Herbert Belen-
den was younger son, who,, from his
boyhood, had been destined to the church
because valuable living was in the gill
Of his family. His rectory was but a
short distance from FoIkstone, and the
large estates of bis elder brother lay con
tignous to those which were the future
inhertence of the lovely sisters. Shy
and retiring in his manner, student in
the fullest sense nf tile word. he avoided
society with an almost morbid feeling Of
self distrusl and false pride while his
keen sense of the beautiful, and his ar.
dent admiration of feminine loveliness,
left him 10 find hls chief delight in the
continuance ofhs boyish intimacy with
the ladies Of Folkslone. He had master,
ed much of the lore Of books, and had
not altogether neglected the study of hu
man nature, though his reserved manners
gave him little facility in this pursht-but
Of that strangesl of all strange volumes
the heart of woman--he was profoundly
and hopelessly ignorant ,, ...,, q.
Considering The sex as vastly inferior
to men in intellectual strength, he look
ed upon them as fair and gentle beings,
sent 10 soften mans rugged nature, and
embelish lile's dreary scenes; but til,
idea that they had characters which might
be studied, and faculties which might be
developed, never once occurred 10 him.
To a man Of secluded habits and trnid
nature, the bold frank, fearless bearing
of Rosamond was far more attractive than
the sensitive and relying temper Of Liltas
He had not the decision Of character and
firmness purpose which is sufficient
for itself. and can, therefore, afford TO Of.
fer its support to to the feebler nature ol
woman, Rosamond's self reliance, tho
generally the least attractive Of all The
feminihs traits, seemed peculiarly cslcu
lated to please one who was conscious oI
his own weakness; aud Herbert Bellen.
den was moi long in discovering that hi,
affections were no longer in his own