The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-23
WASHINGTON, D, G, THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, 1858

an aspirant for her hand-he was too shrewd
to commit himself in any such matters-but
why had she not? Oh, twas bitter Thought
because-lt was evident to him, as conclusion
he could not escape, however.he might desire
to do so-because she had never perhaps con-
templated the possibility even Of his daring
to presume so much, to aspire so high! Howso
ever much she may have deemed him asdar
omnid Lpe'peti," he felt that this was q hyper
bole OF audacity that she had never dreamed Of
From the day that this conviction forced itself
upon fis mind, he hated her, and resolved, if by
any means he could, to humble her to the dust
His hatred of Mrs. Morninglory was only Sec
ond to his hatred of Mrs. Fleming-for the
former had guessed his secret, and was not
renlss in haunting him about it-but it acas
second, and he determined to employ her as
his instrument. Together, in quiet but pro-
found alliance, they laid their plans for the
undermining of the fair citadel that stood so
calm, so apparently impregnable, in the broad
sunshine, o'erlOoking and oertopping all as
bright Alhambra oerlooked and o'ertopped the
Moorish Vega TIT
Such We're the elements Fof the opposition.
when Mrs. Fleming resumed her place as leader
IN society. Such they were, strengthened some
what, but still perd,s and altogether undemon-
strative, when, at the end of year. Jasper fled
from home, and left no index as to where he
was to be sought. The reader perhaps, NAV
think that this circumstance would have had a
tendencyItO Danish her from the world; but far
otherwise. After that event, she rather seemed
to enjoy society, began to acquire real fond
ness for company; for while in company,
thought was, if not driven of, at least deadened
and robbed of its intensity. What that tender
proud mother suffered, no one may say. What
ever agonies racked her in private, and however
much she gave way to grief and despair in the sol
itude OF her own chamber, she preserved an un-
broken front for society. Hereye may have insen-
sibly acquired an anxiety of look not previously
there; her cheek may have grown slightly paler,
and less perfectly full in its ontline; her step
may have become little less springy and elias
tic; her hair may have concealed here and
there newly-intruding silver strand, but her
smile, her gesture, her words, her gaiety, were
still the same, still Mrs. Jennings, still incom-
parable. Her son, she said, like most young
men, had gone ON his travels-it was the nature
OF youth to grow impatient Of one place; the
very birds, you know, irk of their nests, and.
even halfhedged, seek to fly away. She believed
he had gone to California, fine field for ad-
venture and the study of character She was
not certain exactly when to look for his return.
Eli bien She knew he was doing well, and
was used to his being away from her SO it did
not matter much. She did not believe in bring
ing up children with an apron-string tether.
They can best take care of themselves who
learn to do so unassisted. And all this she
would say in the quietest smiling manner, inter-
luding it with gay remark and pleasant inquiry.
But this mode of disposing the question did not
satisfy the astute Cinquant. He suspected
some mystery, and gradually he found out that
hlS war "a
Fleming vince when Jasper was his theme, and
he failed not to do so frequently. By assiduous
study, he and Mrs Morninglory partially solved
the mystery, and gradually laid their tolls.
Meantime, the Queen reigned on in her own
regal fashion. With company in the cities,
having company at the Hail. she lived over
again the days of her early triumphs Suitors
numerous enough kneeled at her feet, stout
Congressman, who wanted female influence to
help their political schemes; dry old million
aires, who wanted to enjoy life and keep an
establishment" now that, the palsy of age was
already shaking them; earnest men, who found
kindred soul in her; and mad infatuated
youths, kneeling, full of Byronic frenzy; and
sshe put them all away, disdainfully, kindly, or
laughingly, as it pleased her fancy. She chap
eroned young girls ito successful matches. as
of old crushed snobbery, as of old patronized
worth, as of old and society was prouder of
nobody than of Mrs. Fleming.
And so, a year passed on. Jasper had been
away year, and no news of him, save that let
ter to the gardener; and that enclosed pawn.
ticket, being redeemed, had given her his little
watch, to be kept locked up in casket, and
cherished as only mothers know how to cherish
such things. No other news of him. Good
God could she contemplate the thought Upon
what wide waste of waters, on what desert
shore, in what vile company, was now that cher.
ished son? Or, perhaps he now languishes,
poverty -stricken and diseased, in some hospital |:
or is lying, bleeding out his dear life, in some
forlorn forest; or those bones, bleaching upon
yon reef-whose are they? not kis-ah, death.
sooner than such thought yet it will come.
Or, that wicked-eyed shark, darkly flashing
under the green waters, what dear life has per-
ished into his NAV? And thou art dancing.
and feasting, and being called merry, the while |!
And for what? Why will he languish, or bleed,
or beaeh-or, at best, why does he wander
hopeless, forlorn, penniess ?. Why, indeed, but
to satisfy the urgngs of thy pride-thy pride,
which even he himself styled accursed, and fled
from, as men flee from the Church's anathema.
or the sorceress's Madison Away the thought !
It's madness! On with the dance Let us
think not, but live!
All, but there are griefs the stoutest soul
dares not even try to live down"
And so, Jasper had been away a year, and
Mr.. Classic had become fixture at the Hall.
and there was to be grand ball in the city in
two weeks time-the last of the season--to pre-
pare for which, Mrs. Fleming had resumed the
usual apartments at her hotel in the city.