Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-03-25

grleved tone. told you not 10 SIT
down in that slovenly dress. have no
doubt you have lost him forever
"Here 1 made good my retreat, not
wishing to enter the penetralia of family
"The rain still continued unabated,
but my social feelings were very far from
being damped. had the curiosity to
make another experiment. The evening
was not very far advanced, and, as l
turned from Mrs. Vane's fashionable
mansion. l saw modest light gIimmer
ing in the distance, and hailed it as the
shipwrecked mariner halls the star that
guides him Ger oceans foam to the
home he has left behind. Though L was
gay and young. and a passionate admirer
of beauty, 1 had ever exalted ideas of
domestic felicity. l knew that there
was many a rainy day in life, and |
thought that the person who was born
alone for sunbeams anil moonlight,
would not aid me to dissipate their
gloom. l had, moreover, shrewd sus
picion that the daughter who thought il
sufficient excuse for shameful personal
neglect that there was no one present
but her mother, would, as a wife, be
equally regardless of husbands pres
ence. While pursued these reflections,
my feet unvoluntarily drew nearer and
still nearer TO the light. which bad been
the loadstone of my opening manhood.
L had continued to meet Mary in the
gay circles l frequented. but had late
ly become almost stranger to her
home. Shall be a welcome guest 2
said l to myself. as l crossed the thres-
hold. 'Shall l find her en- deskabille
likewise. and discover that feminine
beauty and glace are incompatible with
arainy EVENING" heard sweet voice
reading aloud as opened the door. and
| knew it was the voice which was once
music 10 my ears. Mary rose at my
entrance, laying her book quietly on the
table. and greeting me with a modest
grace and self possession peculiar to her
self. She looked surprised, little en-
barrassed, but very far from being dis
pleased. She made no aliusion to nv
estrangement or neglect, expressed no
sstonishment at my untimely visit. nor
once limited that, being alone with her
mother. and not anticipating visitors,
she thought it unnecessary to wear the
habilments of lady. Never in my life
had l seen her looa SO lovely. Her
dress was perfectly plain, but every fold
was arranged by the hand of the Graces.
Her dark brown hair, which had nat
ural wave in it, now uncurled by the
dampness. was put back in smooth ring
lets from her brow, revealing a face
which did not consider its beauty wasted
because mothers eye alone rested on
its bloom. A beautiful cluster of au-
tumnal roses, placed in glass vase on
the table, perfumed the apartment, and
bright blaze on the hearth diffused a
spirit of cheerfulness around, while it
relieved the atmosphere of its excessive
moisture. Mrs. Carlton was an invalid,
and suffered also from an inflammation of
the eyes. Mary had been reading aloud
to her from her favorite book. What
do you think it was! 1t was a very old
fashioned one, indeed. No oiher than
the Bible. And Mary was not ashamed
to have such fashionable young gen.
tleman as | then was, to see what her
occupation had been. What a contrast
to the scene | had just quiltedl How l
loathed myself for the infatuation which
had led me 10 prefer the artificial graces
of a b lie to this pure child of nature II
drew my chair to the table. and en-
treated that they would not look upon
me as a stranger, but as a friend, anx-
ious 10 be restored to the forfeited privi-
leges of an old acquaintance. was
understood in a moment. and, without a
single reproach. was admitted again TO
confidence and familiarity. The hours
[ had wasted with Theresa seemed a
Kind of mesmeric slumber, blank in my
existence, or, at least, feverish dream.
What do you think of a rainy evening.
Mary?' asked |, before l left her.
al love it of all things, replied she.
with animation. There is something so
nome drawing, SO heart-knitling. in its
influence. The dependencies which bind
is to the world seem Withdrawn, and,
'etiring within ourselves, we learn more
'f the deep mysteries of our own being
"Mary's soul beamed from her eyes,
IS it turned, without transient obliqui-
y, towards heaven. She paused, as if
earful of unsealing the fountains of her
Ieart. said that Mrs. Carlton was an
Invalid. and, consequently. retir ed early
o her chamber. but fingered till late
lOur. Nor did l go ill 1 had made q
ull confession of my folly, repentance,
nd awakened love; and. as Mary did
lot shut the door in my face. you may
imagine she was not sorely displeased."
"Ah! know who Mary was. knew
Il the time ]" exclaimed George, look.
lg archly at Aunt Mary. A bright
.ar. which al that moment fell into her
.p. showed that. though a silent, she
Tas no uninterested auditor. Il