True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-01

1i--------el -
the beautiful sister Of ny husband that
is-to-be--and the heriss Of no fnconsIdera-sf
BILE fortune. What say yOu--wl you
cease your pursuit of Elizabeth Kenyon,
whom you knew so well that wonder,
continually, how you can love her, and
let her marriage be The stepping stone by
which you can climb into position be-
side the heiress, Claudia Moreland p
Write at once, and iell me if you join in.I
the compact-for you have something,
even now, 10 aid my plot, and which |
will disclose to you amor"
Much more she wrote, franticaly hur-
riedly-as if in has,e TO put her delermi-
nation beyond her power Of re!raction-
then, without reading what she had pen
ned, she sealed up the sheets, and direct
ed The envelop to Harry Harlsnd, New
York." She laid The letter beneath her
pillow, and extingushing the lights, lay
down not to sleep, but to toss in burning
resllessness through the long hours that
yet remained of til g summer night. Sleep
only visited her eyelids iGulIy after the
dawn had stolen in nevertheless, when
she appeared at the breakfast table
skilful toilet had repaired all damages to
her complexion, produced by her vigil,
andnot even Claudia herself seemed fresh
er than she, as she smilingly and grace
fully returned The salutalions of the as.
sembled guests.
Claudia was less at ease. With the
instructive repugnance which pure and
childlike natures feel for those who are
evil, she shrank from Elizabeth Kenyon.
The feeling which repelled her from the
side Of her visitor was underlined, even
vague, but too real 10 admit of even a
doubt Of lis existauce. She could not
join in Mrs. Walters praises of Miss Ken
yon, nor respond to her brothers few
words of grave commentator. A dim
presenliment of evil hung over hel, and
oppressed her usually healthy spirit with
a morbid gloom, She wished to force
herself from Miss Kenyon's presence.
but saw no opportunity Of escape.
| We would not dwell upon the evil arts
of vile and unprincipled woman, 1t is
enough that she triumphcd, as the unscru-
pulous so often do. The sbject was ac-
complished, and the next Christmas saw
her installed mistress of Moreland Farm.
i Claudia had suffered much since the
announcement Of her brothers. contem-
plated marriage, yet she had not dared to
confde TO him her vague fears, He was
so much older than herself SO much wi
ser, and, above all, he was so much in
love with the first woman that had ever
awakened in him that passion, that Clau-
dii, felt ins.inciively that her remoEstran-
ces would be in vain. And so without a
word Of warning, this man Of noble,
transparently pure nature, was welded
10 woman whose whole life had been a
+ succession Of lies and vile plots; who
even at che alter, purjured herself in Civ
ing her hand 10 him while her heart was
avowedly in anothers keeping.
Moreland Farm was Claudia's home
she had no legal claim 10 it, for il was
solely her brothers. property, but neither
his parents nor himself had contemplated
her leaving II except for the shelter Of a
husbands roof. But when new mis-
tress was installed there, her comforts
we're materially decreased, while She was
daily made to feel that she was consider
etlan intruder by acts and words too
closly yelled by courtesy to admit Of re-
J sentiment. She became very unhappy
and for the first time a cloud rested upon
her fair brow unnoGced by her brother.
He was too much devoted to his fascina-
ting wife to have eyes for another, sJ,
At this period Harry, Harland was in
'roduced at Moreland Farm, The plot
work ed we'll. It's hidden wires we're
held by a skilfnl hand, She. knew the
value OF sympathy ioa saddened heart,
aud she took care that. Claudia should
need sympathy whenever Harlaan1dl arflaan1dlawGVas was
at hand ,'.,;g "A. i, sabo sss, ss
He, too, knew how delicaiely. and
with an halffectation Of chiyalric respect
and devotion, 10 manifest his interest in
Claudia's annoyances. He knew well
when ihe hour, came lhasl be might hint,
that If her. home he'd become ,jinGIoleFable,
another, prepare, by ,loEing hands. was
, ready for her acceptance, He knew-bow
Young and untried heart may mistake
lis own emotions, ard believe gratitude
, to be jbe love it Stimulates -.
Here, too, the wicked triumpbed, and
!, Claudio BECAME the wife Of Harry Har-
. Hand. Her brother deceigeaby lis wife's
Frepresentations both of Harland's worth
aud of Claudia's attachment 10 him, viii
Iingly consented 70 the marriage, and
gave lis sisiesfs sisiesfs t0 'Ae vile acccompliicsS pi
J his wife. .I assi ~ II.
lIe Claudia. who hadliSed ,alf her life un-
Ftl her brother's marriage surrounded by
, the tenderest love, spon found herself the
& victim Of coldness d that at times became
even abuse. Harlahd was spendtbrft,
] and a gambler. He, textored IRON her
} hesrt money, her jewels, everything which
!. be could convert into money for his pur.
poses and waited impatisntly fof Tie, fine
sINheIi he should come Ii possession of llel
y properly on attaining her hsicfiIys And
tfwheh that day came, he Scarcely Eel sxed
his abuse, because, he found That som,