The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23

That such q man should n}efer claim to
the hand and heart of heS precious charge,
with any hope of success, filled Mrs. Colburn
with dismay. 1 said despair; but Mrs. Col
burn did not despair. She knew well the ma
ture of young heart, sd was quite willing to
place reliance on the many changes time in
variably brings. But time was necessary. She
was aware that to dislodge the enemy, the ap-
proaches must be slow and subtle. Any sud
den opposition would only strengthen the foe
As Mr.. Flintburn said pithily to her, with the
air of profound diplomat, one morning, while
conversing upon the subject-"My dear Mad
anne, affections of the heart are like affections
of the spine, and both are cured by weights
upon the head" Mrs. Colburn fondly hoped
to open the eyes of her ward-to clear her
brain of the perilous stuff evidently gathering
there but she had to DO so by gentle and al
most imperceptible means. With great care
she watched for opportunities.
In the mixed crowd at Newport was set
composed of professional gamblers-men of
gentlemanly exterior and polished address, whose
history, if known, would not have exhibited evil
dences of either kind feeling or correct princ-
Piles. One of these claimed to have known AL
bert Pinckney under other circumtancess, and,
from some cause, was by no means compliment
airy when abiding to him. These speeches
had, as usual in such cases, never come to the
ear of the abused, or perhaps they would have
been terminated somewhat sharply The au-
thor of these insinuations was on the verge
only of respected society, and appeared this
evening at the reunion / describe. One would
not recognise in his appearance anything OBJ
jectionable. Habited in plain black, with a
white neckcloth, long hair, parted and falling
evenly on both sides, he had rather the appear
ance of clergyman than a sporting charac-
ter. The initiated saw the difference in the
hard and worldly look of his cold, calm eyes
Mrs. Colburn selected this man as means by
which to obtain her ends.
Juliet and Albert were much together. He
told in very graphic way of wild adventures
in almost unknown lands. He commented
upon society, as it foated by, with so much orig.
inal humor, that Juliet was charmed. There
was something fresh, and yet without effort, in
his conversation, something on which to rely,
in full faith and confidence in the heightened
character one felt assured he possessed.
Juliet was standing within the recess of a
window, almost hid by the heavy drapery of
the curtain which fell about her, and convers-
ing with Mr.. Pinckney.
1t is," he said, "among the simple back
woodsmen, or hunters, Of the far West, that
one learns to realize the strength and recognise
| the dignity of man. Their honesty simp licity,
selfreliance, and real power, command q re-
spect before which all the fctions of society
| fade into nothing"
al have never been taught TO think so,r re-
spoAded Juliet, and can only see in an I'M
educated man q very uncouth animal. OF
| backwoodsmen, | never encountered but one !;
and he seemed filled with violent prejudices
against exceedingly innocent things"
Where did you meet him ?"
"On the Mississippi, when / was quite
| fron he of I,artt pr-utO oil
ing, and l thought had met with the original
but he called me little gall and made me cry
| by criticizing my dress"
I" he was out of his element, and felt so. In
his rude cabin, you woald have found him
kind, considerable, and hospitab4e. lie feels
| at home; and it is astonishing how ones re-
| spect for another augments, when ones safety
depends on his exert;ons. l have found -
Albert stopped abruptly, and then continued
| In lower tone. An expression coming from.
another group had caught his ear, so very
pointed, that it seemed as if intended. This
group consisted of Hrs. Colburn. Mr.. Augustus
PouDce, and the Mr.. Deuceaoe have Just de-
scribed. Mrs. Cclburn had seen Juliet and
her admirer within the recess, conversing ear
| nestly. She also observed that they were so
| placed as not TO be seen by her proposed ally,
| and the moment and the man were at band.
She astonished the old gambler by her familiar
| old-acquaintance way of speaking. Nothing,
she thought, so affects the feelings and con-
| duct of young person as the opinions of the
world, snd she proposed giving Juliet speci-
men. 1t was quite easy. Miss Pinckney was
dancing, in her exquisiteiy graceful manner,
near them. Having exhausted Augustus
Pounce and the weather, she said;
"How very beautifully Miss Pinckney dances!
1t is seldom we see others than professional
| peoDle so accomn1is shed ~
"Are we sure" responded the gambler, "that
this is an exception"
80, that cannot be possible. But, Mr.. Deuce
ace, you are, / believe, the only one of rs who
has had the advantage of q former acquaint
| ance.'
"Not much-but quite sufficient to satisfy
reasonable man. She was educated by the
brother-that is, if she has had brother; some
hard ones like us men of the world will have
our doubts-and the fact of such an education
| is enough"
Every word of this had caught the quick
| hearing of Albert, without REACHING the ears of
the intended victim. Looking in his face, no
one could have perceived that any other than
| pleasant ordinary thoughts were passing within
| No change OF muscle showed that the poisoned
missive had taken effect. His subsequent con-
duct proved how deeply he had been wounded.
| Conducting Juliet TO a chair, and leaving her
with Mrs. Eolbprn, he quietly watched the vile
| slanderer of himself ana sissef. Some half hour
after, he saw him with group of gentlemen
only, and joining them, he quietly entered into
conversation upon ordinary topics. He was
of course spoken to by the Mr.. Deuceace, and in
| response said, ina calm, yet earnest manner
Let ne say to you, sir, that permit none
but gentlemen to address pe as an acquaint-
ance."
The mans eyes flashed, and, nearly choking
with rage, he exclaimed
| W hat do you mean?"
Precisely what say" was the reply; and
and if your intellectual perceptions ara as dull
as your moral, l will explain. You are not
gentleman. Is it necessary that should say
or do more?
"No-no-I understands understand 4"
end, with this, they parted.
| 10 the few who heard, this seemed very
wanton insult, and they looked upon the perpe-
traitor in mute astonishment Albert did not
| choose to mix his sisters name in the affair,
and turning to them, he said
81 trust, gentlemen, you will do me the kind
ness to believe that have sufficient cause for
my conduct, and that may rely upon your
just appreciation of the affair, to leave ali fur
ther discussion to the parties Immediately con-
cerned."
He returned to the assembly, and remained
until it dispersed the same in manner as be-
fore this unhappy occurrence. The effect was,
TO discountenance if not to arrest a rumor then
in circulation, that difficulty had happened.
And SO the gay assembly broke up, each one
vending their way homeward, (if the little room
or narrow bed could so he cslled,) filed with
cares, that only for the moment have been par
TALLY lightened or forgotten. But not one of
the hundreds, save the parties Immediately in