Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-31

She had failed once in her long career of war
rlng against hearts. 1t was a signal defeat
w as IL her FAULT Was she growing old !
The thought paled her cheek. She flew to the
glass. = --.
NO this face is fresh as ever; these ewes
are as bright; this neck as white; this breast as
full and rounded; that waist rs taper and this
form has lost none of its fullness,
She-whO is she this Phoenix, this divinity.
some city Miss with enough gold to make dash
and dazzle hls eyes, crooked, perhaps-yet well
padded; tall and lean. lame and deceitfIfi
'Tis strange, It's strange" said she. as she
stood and surveyed herself before the faithful
mirror. ".t 49, -
Fall came, and with it Harry and the city
cousin. They arrived late on Saturday even
Ing. and stopped at the village hotel 1t was
too late to see their friends that night, added to
which the Inhabitants still adhered to that good
old custom of keeping Saturday night Next
day arm in arm they went to church and sat
In pew where Clara could see them She was
pretty Clara confessed it to herself. Indeed
she might be called beautiful, but that she was
too pale. How tall-how majestic she is How
confidently she bears upon his arm, Would
that be right for cousins? She forgothow often
she had leaned just So They sing out of the
same book; their breath mingles. How tender
ly he folds the shawl around her neck The
jade she smiles on him. No wonder he should
be so fond of her when she can smile so sweet
ly Poor Clara she sought her bed that night
with an aching head, and dreamed Of daggers
the whole night long.
If she had been engaged with her outward
cIOthlng how much more was she with her in
ward qualities. Though she looked upon Julia
as rival, IL was impossible to approach her
and not feel interested. Her sweet disposition.
ana her engaging manners secured the atten-
onand respect, but not the love of Clara She
was successful rival; Clara could not brook
that. Where rivalry exists there is no love
One evening Harry was alone with her. Ju-
liza mad just been with him. Clara sat pensive
and thoughtful
:. think Clara thoughts, like her heart, is
with some favored lover, whom adverse fortune
has parted from his lady love, and cast into
other lands. Or, perhaps, the little plaintive
songs Julia has just sung, awakens sad feelings
How is it, Clara ?"
" think, if you remember anything till you
die, 1t viii be the name Of Julia. You are for
ever talking about her and her singing-such
divine music. Pshaw, And why not? Who
could listen to such an angelic being. and not
60 into raptures with her heavenly music 30
Sure, have heard BETTER" said she, pet
tishly.
" And then to think Of her sweetness of dis
position, her kindness, her benevolence, her
beauty
Clara sat uneasy
joined IN one person, in Julia, she whom all
she hltehed away her chair, and looked hard
at the well post through the window. What
could there be so very attractive in that old
rlckety piece Of wood
She whom we Adore
lie stopped. He heard n sob.
"Clara, cousin Clara" said he. going to her
and seating himself by her.
stand on, sir. exclaimed she, suddenly
rising, and stepping into the middle of the
room Her eyes, though, wet with tears, fash
ed with excitement. Her bosom heayed and
swelled with offended pride
- ou are cold, heartless man You ask
others to sing, but me never YOU walk. and
laugh, and ride with Julia, but never ask me:
you dance all night with that Julia, while sit
alone IN the corner; you sing with her, 90 to
church with her, and am left alone at home
You may go back to New York with YOUR bean
titul cOusin-Ill never speak to YOU again
lou are no cousin of mine. You are a sense
less, rude, good for nothing brute. You are the
worst, the ugliest, the most hated-ugh the
beast -
She hurried out Of the room, leaving Harry
transixed with astonishment He went away
with a serious face
That afternoon, Clara sat in a rustic bower in
her father garden. She was pale and unhap-
Py She did not observe two persons walking
""J uH1i tlcy entered Wnere she was
Harry advanced, leading the smiling Julia by
the hand. 9 You know this lady only as your
cousin. | come how to acquaint you with the
relation she bears to me. In Julia Hosmer YOU
see your cousin and my sister,
- -FOUR sistcr!' cried she, eagerly springing
forward.
= Your cousin, and my sister; sweet coz
. You won go back tomorrow. will You %
asked she, slipping an arm around Julia
Clara paused n moment. Then with a GRIM
son cheek and saltering step, she approached
Harry, and passing her arm around his neck.
looked up in his eyes that flashed so full OF vic
tory.
Cousin" said she, "you will not go 80
sOOn?''
We are informed by his sister that Harry
hung long over her, looking into her deep eyes
as though he would fill her soul with beaming
glances of love and confidence, and did not offer
to disturb the arm that rested on his neck. for
fear those glowing lips beneath his own should
be removed.
"Clara, you have conquered. | should in
deed be senseless piece of mortality TO go,
when such eyes as yours coax me to stay and
such tempting fruit as this
lie did stop. and long. When next he left
the village Julia was not the only one that went
with him, nor Harry all that called her sister.