True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-11-12
CHATTER III.


instant he was alone. E..-.,....
..s. .,.,., CHAPTER III. .... 5, ....
Five years had fled into the sea Of
eternity, and brought many changes on
their wings, Paul Denning had attained
emlnence in his profession; in all the
city there was no lawyer who made bet
ter plea, whose counsel was more sought
after among hundreds Of legal pracli.ion-
ers. ... -e
And as yet he was unmarried; his pro-
lession was his enly mistress: No wo-
mans eye beamed for him-no lip lured
or song charmed him-lhe Establishment
Of beauty had failed TO captvate--and
those last five years had been one unceas,
ing struggle to forget! ,.. !.
Matte Hunter was a widow. Her
husband had met sudden death in the
third year of their marriage; and il can
not be supposed that he was very deeply
mourued by her who had welded him
for his wealth. Still young and beautiful
and fascinating ss in the early days Of
her bele.hood, after her period Of mourn
ing had expired, the gay widow took her
old station as the acknowledged leader Of
fashion-and, her luxurious home was
the scene of many brilliant gathering,
where youth, beauty, and their train Of
attendant admirers met.
But to no one had those five vanished
years brought greater changes than to
Mary Derwenl b.
The limid, shrinking, unknown girl,
had become metamorphosed into halter.
ed, carressed and lauded authoress.
And she had grown very beautiful,
withal for her blue eyes had caught a
deeper light, her cheek become tinted with
the pink Of the rare sea shell, her broad
brow singularly Intellectual all this had
been wrought by the power of rapidly
developed genius--it was but the out
ward manifestation of that inward gift
which was lowering her whole being
with new glory.
Beautiful thoughts irradated her face
and all the sweet and halowcd influences
which the soul of the gifted can create,
dwelt with her and beaulifed her life.
Paul Denning had read her soul-fraugh'
productions {; had revelled in the glowing
imagery her rainbow draped fancy had
woven into sketch and form; had, after
many a long day devoted to the studies oI
his profession, again gathered up the
memory Of that old love, and bound its
broken pearls around his aching heart.
And yet, since that hour when she had
repulsed him, they had not met. ..
Matte Hunter was free now. He met
her often in society they talked, sang
and danced iogeiher-the fair widow ever
sought his presence, and besitated not tc
manifest great pleasure whenever he was
| by her side; yet vainly did she strive
again 10 weave about his heart the meshe.
wherewith she had first entangled him
lie was coldly poite--nothing more.
One day it was told him that Mary
Derwent was in the city, near him
, Everybody was lavishing praises on her
in society she was sought and carressed
her name was breathed by the literary
+; world, and his own lips repeated it ten
! derly hut sadly. But they were sepera
ted, how widely now 'g'5t
: Once again they met. II was in th'
crowded drawing.room Of Mrs. Hunter
t elegant mansion, for she never failed I,
gather at her brilliant soirees the choices
wits and deepest blues of the Rterat
The fairest ladies and most gallant gen
5 tlemen Of the beau monde. aa 2,
+ They met, and were introduced al
strangers t; and the old time lover wa
y but one among the ,hrong whorlistened
r spell-bound, to the conversation of tn
d gifted young authoress. No longer wa
i she shrinking difhdent girl, but sell
o possessed, refined, cultivated, though un
q assuming woman. fgr si .Fse5,
r. Though, since her first love-dream, nj
: other had lighted her heart, her life ha
{. not been all cheerless; because that hear
i had been desolaied she had not sat idl
d down with folded hands and said, sAll
dark and drear in my future. have n
!. aims--no incentives for exertion.' T
d er,hfe had been real and earnesl--sb
e had wrought long and wellin the mine
y Of thought and imagination, and brougt
y forth polished, shining gems, else neve
thus in her early. years, had the eagt
!, world caught them up, exclaiming, 'iBt
n hold !7they are real and Of ,grea, value :
L never thus had the power of her GENT
been acknowledged, There had been n
!. idle days forliltle Mary Derwent. Il.
And then, SO well had she schooled h,
woman's heart in concealng its emotion
" and so calmly did she meet again her oil
/" lover, that he was deceived.
She loves me no longer. Some OF
will win and wear, before my very eye
70 the pearl threw carelessly away" al
b. with a sharp pang Of regret Paul DENIM
weary, sad, and dispirited. Left the crow
ed apartment and wandered into the co
,e tservatory.F lg.
ar j 1t was silent there. The white moo
)" light flooded the portico upon which h
to low windows Of the conservatory opene
IN and cleaned softly in upon The aowsi