True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-04

knew anybody TO marry but the truth
is, that | have known all the girls about
here so long, that that am rather tired
of them" This was said hesitatingly and
depreciatingly, as though the speaker
were conscious that his remark was not
exactly what his fair companions and as
sociates would have thought compliment
ary. But it was the simple truth there
was not one Of the young ladies of the
neighborhood, whom Henry had not
played, and talked, and laughed, and dan
ced with, and seen at tschool and at church,
and at festive gatherings, since he wore
frocks himself.
And in such cases, unless the love
commencesin in early childhood, and grows
with the growth, one might as we'll ex-
pect 10 rekindle fire by cold embers as
to excite such passion in heart in
which daily and familiar intercourse had
long ceased to cause throb Of pleasure.
His sons last remark threw Mr.. Por-
ter into brown study, broken at length
by Henry Who said
"Father, what do you think Of my go.
ing 10 Philadelphia to study medicine %
Well, that may be Of use to you on
your plantation" replied he; but
hardly think your mother would like to
have you go so far away"
However, Mrs. Porter's consent was
at length won, and before many weeks
Henry Clay Porter was standing on tht
steps of one of the most fash ionable
boarding houses in Chestnut street, gazing
with round.eyed wonder on all the life
and bustle, and continual movement tina
passed before him. How so many peo
pie found So much 10 do was mystery
to him.
As he stood there>he was himself, a!
though he knew it not, an object OF smi
ling scrutiny TO the passers by. Fresl
from place where, whether his Goa
was of homemade lnSey-woolsey or O
superfne broadcloth, whether it was mad
in this years style, or dated back 10 som,
unremembered time, he was still Henri,
Clay Porter, the son of the richest plante
in the neighborhood. He was as ignor
ant as a child of the significance of dres
of the social importance that is tn
gift of fashionable tailor.
If his opinion on the subject had beel
asked, he would have said, in his oracula
way, that dress was of no account,
and so dismissed the question. There
fore he stood unconcernedly, while hi
short-waisted coat, every seam of whic
betrayed the country artist who fashione
it, his thick boots, his hat pitched on tn
back of his head, and his indescribabl
waistcoat, told their own story to tn
practised eyes OF the citizens.
But this state Of things did moi last long
Before many weeks, just about the tim
that Henry Clay Porter famed out in
scarlet vest, the only article of finery h
had been moved to buy since his arrive
in the city, it was discovered that III
simple looking country youth was a mi
lionaire; rumor in travelling from Mort
Carolina to Philadelphia, having lingere
long enough by the way to increase hi
, fortune fve-fold.
1t is singular coincidence that abo,
the same time people began TO remar
that Mr.. Porter was quite handsome, an
that, if he was decenty dressed, he woul
not only be elegant, but dis,inguishe
p looking. Just at this juncture, too, Mr.
e Denman began 10 take a great interest
# the stranger.
e She was fashionable widow, not ver
! young, butvery pretty, and even brillian
n with remarkably easy and ingtatiatir
t, manners. She belonged to that class
e women who are called fascinating, al
: few whom she chose 10 please could r
r main Indifferent to her attractions. Ce
y tainly Mr.. Porter was not one of tho
v few /; he had never seen any one half
n interesting or bewitching. She had a d
lightful way of saying little aatterir
n things, that kept him in constant sta
e of good kumor and dissatisfaction; al
,r the result was, that before three mont
W had passed he became an open and dcv
,t ted admirer of Mrs. Denman.
m The intercourse was not without
ID advantages in a certain way. With
or delicate tact that achieved its object wit
out in the least irritating the selflove
ID the, young stranger, Mrs. Depman cont
n. we'd to open his eyes to the necessity
g. an entire reform in his 'outer man. S
a cured him of his habit Of saying owl
+; Miss" "Yes Miss" "No Miss" Ii
MS well trained servant, and having do
~ that, she introduced him into some of I
lis best society in The city.
We Meanwhile it is not TO be supposed d
he such state of matters could be allow
w to 90 on without provoking, throught
nd the house, much discussion, and gen
NO al disproval; and at last an old batchel
Mr. Fosgate, was SO moved by his sci
lis of the great misfortune a marriage W
on Mrs. Denman would prove to the uns
&c peciing Mr., Porter, that he could no i
ia ger resist his desire 10 demonstrate W
him. He dwelt upon the unsuitabillity
he their ages
IN. "That'snot so great as you suppos
as said Mr.. Porter: as | am nearly twen