The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-10

daughter in astonishment. At length
she spoke -
Oh, l see lovers quarrel. But
you will make it up in a day or two,
and be all the happier fer it. Well,
wcll-bctter disagree before than after
Mothor,' said Beatrice, listen to
me. | shall never marry Louis Mere
dith. Nothing on earth could induce
me to do SO. As l said, we are parted
forever and now let me beg you never
agaif ts mention his name to me let
the subject never again be alluded to
between US, let all be as if We had new
er known him Her voice sortened -
You will not be sorry, mother dear, to
have your Beatrice again all your own =
And she took her parents shriyelled
hand fondly between her own.
Mrs. Lancaster was touched by this
expression Of tenderness for Beatrice,
though most devoted daughter, in fact
the only support of her poor and widow
ed mother, rarely made any dem onstra-
tion Of her attachment, and this caress,
slight as it was, filled the mothers heart
with joy. She drew her child to her
side, and kissed her tenderly, but Bea-
trice escaped from her embrace, and
saying cheerfully, Are we never going
to have supper = led the way to the
tab She talked gaily during the
meal, and, though she ate little, sue
ceeded in Withdrawing her mothers at
tentlon from her want of appetite.
Not the post watchful syo could hav,
detected shade of sadness in her fac,
or manner that evening; indeed, sh'
was gayer than usual. No wonder tha
her mother--good, unobssrvant soul
believed that she was happy in her re
lease from the tie that had bound her.
A few evenings had passed, and Bea.
triec stood in the little sitting room
dressed for a party. Never had she
looked more beautiful than now, in hey
simple white dress, with its crimson rib
bons, and red rose bud in her hair
Mrs. Lancaster locked at her in admira-
ton; nor was she alone in her appreci
alton of her child's loveliness.
She was the belle of tho evening n,
Mrs. MERGERS, and not even the beauti.
full hciress, in honor of whom the party
had been made, and to whom Louis
Meredith was said to be afanccd, could
divide the honors Of bsllship with her.
1t had been well known through thu
village, that Beatrice and Louis hac
been engaged, and tho fact of their sep
aration was equally we'll understood -
; but though she was narrowly watched
no look or gesture betrayed that sh
had been moved by the suudering of tn
, tie.
! She was surrounded by admirers /; sh
: had smile for this one, a command fo
: a second, and merry words for others
and, as if attracted by some irresistibl
charm, Louis Meredith lowered nes
her--even when talking with his affair
lCeu piuo, l. ueIooo DCucuiCb, uo hedi
G every word that fell from Beatrice's lip
and saw her every motion.
:, His eyes flashed angrily as he saw h
q smilipgly receiving the attentions offe
y ed her, and contrasted her manner t
/ wards all, with the careless Good eve
is ing with which she greeted him h
= cheek had not flushed, her hand Ia
= not trsmblsd in his grasp when he m
=, her, and he was piqscd by her ovideI
q indifference he was jealous, too, al
Is almost gnashed bis teeth with rage whe
b he saw her apparently listening with tt
. deepest attention to the half whispere
y words of Ralph Mercer, the only son
their host-the vealthiset man IN tb
{, village
10 Louis looked at Beatrice, and then
h Therese-the one a poor village schoe
is teacher, and the other the wealth
If daughter Of distinguished lawyer-an
he could not bat acknowledge how ia
,c superior, in beauty, grace and talen
y was the humble teacher he bad discard
}. ed. to his affianced bride.
d His eyes were opened. He kne
that be still loved Beatrice, and tb'
10 without her money Tbsrsse would ha,
:. bonn utterly indiHsrent To him