The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-11-19


= ward that night, and Paul dared dast
, ardly to speak lightly of Camelia Wood
2 court. The two parted in anger, io
nothing could have convinced Herbort
! thatCanelia was not pure, as she looked
and he had noted the aversion and hor-
, ror with which she had shruak from the
man who now dared to defame her.
] Herbert went to his pillow that night,
with determination strong within him
that Camelia should be his wife, if that
he could win her lie thought only OF
her loyeliness, of the exquisite purity
which shone from her calm, clear eyes,
and the grace and refinement of every
movement Of her beautiful form. And
with that fair vision dancing before his
+ eyes he sank into a slumber.
That most sad dsenchanter daylight
brought other thoughts He remem-
bered the pride Of his father, and he
would more than once have urged him
to seek a wealthy bride And he lay a
long time wondering if it could be pos
sibe that his mother and sisters could
be brought to receive the factory girl as
bis wife should be received in his fathers
home.
Herbert did try Every evening of
his stay found him at the little brown
cottage at the river side And Came
LA learned to love him, to listen to bi>
footstep, to blush at the distant sound
Of his voice, to trcmble when her little
hand lay for an instant in his.
At length he asked her to b,comcI
his wife, aud she with deep trusting joy
consented. But the mother was more
worldly wise. Mrs Woodcourt with
something Of her ancient pride, said that
ner daughter should not 90 an unwecome
bri lie to any family. Il Hcrbcrt's faith
er and mother consented to receive her
aS Il dausaf r. she would not refuse. .-
Otherwise she wished Mr. Elliot to with
draw his suit and leave them to their
peaceful poverty.
Meanwhile, Paul Allen had not been
idle. lie had logged Camelia's foot
steps aud poured along with the word,
Of bis inpotent passion, the widest and
fcrcest threats into her ear. He had
also threatened Mrs. Woodcourt with
nameless injuries if she did not Withdraw
Camcla from the society of Herbert El-
lot.
At length the threats began to be fuh
filed. Vague rumors against Camelia's
purity spread along the village streets
and among the operatives at the mill
The poor girl was stunned, or looked
with scorn or contempt that stimulated
pity.
Matters grew worse after Herbert's
departure. Rumors assumed a more
tangible form, aud its voice was louder.
Aud thus it was, when Mr.. Elliot, won
from his stern pride by his sons entrea-
ties, would have given his consent to the
marriage and waited only to learn wheth-
er Camelia's poverty unsustained by one
lnmailculy act, q cowardly letter came
rom Paul Allen filed with all these
vague SANDERS cunningly classified and t
irranged until they assumed fearful
weight.
Then there came scornful letter |
rom the Old man, and sad iucoherent
me from the younger, and Camelia learn
ID that she was deemed unworthy to be {
Herbert's bride not because other pov- {
orty, hut because of the imputation of a
wrong of which she was wholly guilt
ess.
Herbert came once to see her Sian !
Ter wagged its tongue so loudly that he
vas forced to listen, but he would not !
oelievc. Loyal and true, he felt it was
1ut question of time, and as they could
rot marry then, it was better that they
should part and by their intercourse !
1--WE no room for still more injurious
.urmiscs.
And so they separated, Camelia,
'trong in the consciousness OF a blame
css life, and in her trust and faith in
Herbert; and he to watch over from '
listancc with the tcnderest devotion. {
Camclia had long since lost her situa- {
ion in the factory. But they were
Door, aud work was necessity. So the
little brown cottage was deserted, aud