The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-23

LIZ head be~ his seemed atsor ned ia pain
mipd 70 which hts uncle had evaded an answer.
"why did he thus force him 70 wed his oniy ch.d, be-
" whom and himself the ordinary affection Of cousin
hood scarcely could be said 10 exisii''
Something cOncealed-somethngo OF vital importance
~ % help him to The clue he sought Several tines hi.
wandered toward the landing form beside The table
and he noticed he change IN his unees appearance since
be had been generous 10 him; in his way he had shown
Affection for him. then should his be the hand 70 strike
blow which he declared mus; be fatal TO himY Forbid the
tboughtl every noble and generous impulse III his soul
yet link his life 10 that strange viii % The wisp his
cousin him almost az grca, that Of the
Bramin widow who hes down upon the funeral pyrc Of
her husband and gives her ife Offering 10 an ideal
| OF duty.
CHAPTER
AZ Arthur Clayton stood beside The large oriel window
1at lighted the his glance took in the wide panora
ma stretched below which at some future day he might
claim as his own and pardonable thrill OF pride for one
moment swept through his heart Clayton Park was built
on an elevated platform which overlooked valley OF Wild
and romantic beauty the foreground Of which was formed
by Of the Blue Ridge, looming toward the clear sky
OF evening" over which the crimson and purple gories oil
gorgeous were III ng their radient light.
II early autumn but the frost King had already
breahed ON the forest leaves aud scattered unmag
beauty upon them, compensation for their early
fan TO the nsatate mother who claims again all the chl-
drcn 10 whom SHE has given life and neurishnent For
miles around the land belonged 10 the Clayton plantation,
though the greater portion Of it was unn for cultivation
from its sterile character The original grant made to the
very large; but cut of whole only few hundred
ound capable of vaon these lay in lOrg level
"trip on the plateau on which the hose was built and the
remainder useless except as pasture for sheep and
delgh, TO the eye from its picturesque beauty.
The old house had been built hundred and Fifty years
before by that Hugo Clayton 10 whom the General had so
proudly referred in the previous conversation cadet Of
noble English family, he had been the architect OF his
fortunes and his services in the early days Of the
colony had been rewarded by the lands which still
NAMED the inheritance Of his descendants. He had
red an heress and with the money thus obtained the
N "a Eitl a Va IN 400 m
ported from England and the rambling old house
erected that had stood the storms of century and
ball such its external history but could Its internal
be given what strange revelations OF pride passion
and generosity might be made for the Clay peo
pie of marked character and did whatever they under
took with will that brooked neither contradiction nor do
lay.
The family was reduced TO three representatives,
the uncle and nephew, and young girl ia the first dawn
Of wonanhood General Clayton fifty years Of
tall slender in person and naughty In carriage as be-
OF his arisocraiic pretensons. His features
decatey and sharply cut and the quverng nostr
and thin lips showed the rritabiy Of his Temperament,
and The strong determination which accompanied it, There
marked family resemblance between the uncle ard
nephew but while the clear Light blue eyes of the former
indicated pride and the dark gray obs of the
phew expressed that kindly sympathy for everything they
looked which is the trues bond of humanity. Gene
raj Clayton thoroughly knew the nature he had to deal
with and he felt assured that an appeal to the generosity
oi Arthur soul would never be made IN vain.
The level sunbeaE fell in long shining rays across the
whole length Of the lofty showing the somhre pan
cling Of oak upon the walls lighted up here and there by
family portrait, grim and stately. others smiling
and liieke, according 10 the skill of the artist who had
been employed TO paint them in the retired locality in
which they were found. large bookcase, filed with
miscellaneous collection Of literature, stood between two Of
the windows, and the room therefore digni6ed with
the name Of the library.
A door at the upper end opened and figure fitted in
and stood where the gancne unbeams fell full upon her
Her motions were rs light rd quick as those OF bird
and there something in te strange style of dress she
had adopted which rr,sistbly reminded Of the gor
geousy coored tropical ruuerers which make the South
ern forest gay with their plumage. figure scarcely
reaching the medium size, but with certain air of girlsh
grace, was clad IN flowing robe OF bright blue, trimmed
down the front with wide folds Of crimson velvet ana a
double gold buttons with slken loops intended
be used Ia fasten with but they hung loose reveal
ng beneath white dress deliberately embroidered Her
small feet cased in mcccasns worked with beads;
and her arms, bare nearly 20 the shoulder had several
ouriousy fashioned bracelets upon ibe aud the glitter
ing gems TIA bed ia the evening light she nervousy
moved her hands over spra! Of scarlet flowers she
la have just gathered.
Strange was this figure the head and face
remarkable stu. The former lightly and gracefully
set upon her shoulders, and covered with pofsion OF
short curling HAIR Of soft silky texture, and black as
clear shade az olive, but the eyes formed so
strange contrast with them TO be positively diststeful
10 some persons ropusve Beneath the dark eye
brows and heavily frngcd lids cleaned pair OF light,
clear blue eyss, AT times evish in their expression at
others uuaboaablc but never tender wonauly or pleas
ing.
She paused Instant, and then said in a quick rather
hard manDor--
General Clayton raised his head and looked at her with
expression OF pride and iondness. which showed that
her centred all The hopes his isth2t
flee would be deemed too grea, which afforded her i
uinph "a promised 10 her brilliant future. HIS
features RELAXED into a smile, and he said
''tome h,her, my daughter, and decide your destiny
for the satisfaction of this scrupuious young gentleman
here. s beside c my darling; there, there where the
sun viii stu slime upon you, d ever should had The
before the eye could follow her movements, o.ela
Clayton in the seat her father indicated but in passing
shc had lightly stopped and imprinted Kiss upon his
brow The action the very ideal OF grace, aud she
gla9ced lily toward her cousin III TO ascertain he
naughty and defiant expression came upon her face
aud IN, replied
.Miss CLAYTON Qf CLAYTON Park can AFFORD 10 hold hor
self above mere olnv-uuoualcs. You need not speak
what anlicira," Wy cousin has returned TO claim the
hand YOU have uTg designed for him acrcdc 10 tho
family compact, and give my consent ~ become his wife
Il 8. ven thus. ot Tie ancient blood Of the Cayious vel
only with iiso1 and our pride Of lineage stop " no
unanff race ~ seeking partner for He.D
.ThyI ltened q this proud secch viii surprise and
i.suay. Tie only avenue Of escape from dstast"lul
marriage -s'IBDd closing u;Du him. lie approached tie
young badly and earnestly askedt-
"Ard IS pride the only feeling n consult In union
which j. 10 bind two human beings together for life
orla, do not nqure respo, for your ather. wishes
induce. you 20 accept ny bsndhut have the rieh 10
an there j. la your heart tor spark OF that hove
vhth alone can haliow the marriage bond render u
cufurahlo ~ warm freng and tender afecuCn-S'
Again the cxrrcs 81 " mcckcry cane uIon her ica.
turc.. and she slowly -aid:--
you are an g, Extraordinary wocr onusin Arthur T. II
not your ILtcc " tell me how sdorahe am IN place OF
cst.chiznr me 10 ind o what impression your i-cina
~. vanity ~ your would exact everything from us
ro'r Have not accepted yoar offer and should
lot that suffice 90 satisfy youT'
You viii lhul me- Unreasonable. dare say, hut u
DOS not SATISFY II two human bengs should
speak the truth Uela, It q under circumstance Ike the
JTs.oui II W fall. ~ souls, wo be To-
30 the future. for condition q life can be more
hcl than that OF discurdaui union, where there is
sympathy and little love.
.IIOw ultra romantic You are Arthur Among the com.
non J.oylc-ihe hcwcrs 81 wood and drawers q
t"r therc may be- necessity for such feeling you
YtlsfF Ia ftrfuu lp
perfectly vcbred, where Is the need for such love
you speak of am afraid Il l. only plcban nsnc, at
ter all for under ~ influence both and women have
BEEN known " sscribcc their best interests. The princes
of The earth consult tbcir feelings when making
marriage; why, then should We, who placed some
what ia their pcritionyi
Under ether circumstances Clayton would have smiled
~ IN assertion which Indicated such overvccning pride IN
a republican land but he was too anxious TO under
stand his cousins real sentiments Ia feel at all mrtul
Experience had taught him that all h years OF companion
ship with this strange girl had not enabled him 10 athorn
her true character aud be wa Often st su " understand
her simplest wish
'Orslia." be said. in bis most impressive manner, ~
..It t...fa