The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-04
BY EDWARD SPENCER,

HoU Jasper CGf0ed the Anchor.
Mrs. Fleming, in her room, after she had left
alone amid those soft Injuries with which she
had surrounded herself. A woman that shed
tears, hot, scalding tears, if we may judge from
the impetuous way in which she dashed her
hand across her face to remove them. A
woman that swayed her body to and fro in tie
desperate unrest of bitter anguish. A woman
who, in direct antag onism to the poets asser-
ton, was unhappy because her evil was
strong" What debate went on in her mind,
and to what result came the passion of argu-
ment that therein whirled itself, might have
perhaps been with accuracy conjectured by an
unseen observer Of her face. Unseen it was
needful for him 10 be, else that face would have
been inscrutable. Women can be ever masquers,
for their power of perfect conce ament is in d.
rect proportion to the poignancy of their suf-
ferings. The gift of endurance with propriety,
balances in them the curse of most acute agony.
But, by herself, it did not need that Mrs. Flem-
ing should undergo the additional torture of an
enforced hiding away the tokens of that wild
struggle going on at her heart. 1t was very
evident that she knew Gilbert Congreve, and
felt what gifts Of beauty, of love, and of pre-
eminent attractiveness, it was to be expected
his daughter would be endowed with. Know
ing likewise, by intuition, as we'll as throughthe
experience just 80 bitterly acquired, with what
intense devotion her son must love one so worthy
of him, she had most painful conviction o.
how completely his happiness was here involved
OF how entirely his future we'll being depended
upon her yielding to his wish, his will, in thi,
matter. Loving him as she did, how could she
oppose him2 All these thoughts peopled hel
face with their expression, and wildly hintet
how forcibly they weighed upon her mind. Blu
behind these thoughts, and momently shadowet
by them, yet ever supreme over them all, wa
another element, her pride. That pride 30 in
grained with her characterize color regius o
the whole fabric-the transmitting principle o
her whole life, affecting all it came in contac
with-the crucible, in whose stern, uncon.pro
missing bath all that dared to tempt he
scrutiny was purged of its dross, and purified
up to her hig b. carat standard-this was it tha
now asserted its claims to be considered, it
supremacy over any other consideration posi-
BILE in the premises. AS she was pride's rela
tive in all the closest ties Of blood utilization, 81
was she prides subject by right of conquest
and in every emergency he was wont to de
mand his ordained tribute. Was she to seen
humbled before this Gilbert Congrsve. whom
bitterly, bitterly she hated, with q hate blostet
by more than twenty years of the pamperet
nourishment OF this wounded pride, the hate o
one sighted, scorned, Inundated? Was it Il
this mans daughter she must give her son, he
pride, her darling, her Jasper The though
was answered aloud, between set teeth
"God I'd rather he should bring me hom'
for my daughter the merest weEch, from
servants hall or some vile garret--whom ON
might show reason for hating scorning, reject
ing-than the daughter of this man, who's
pride equals mine, but nereY shall conquer mine
never, never, neverI"
This defiant resolution, fruit of that suprem
, and wicked, because supreme pride, tramplinl
, over everything that stood In the way, with nm
relenting, Implying will, making clear the path
way to its goal over whatever obstacles, settles
down now in hard, unmistakabie lines upon he
face. 1t was done. The law had passed, an
, the tribunal to which was intrusted its enforce
ment was as sternly Interchangeable as any Mede
Persian justiciary.
She seated herself at little desk, and, wit
the smile Of a triumphant thought-yet q snil
that would have shocked any observer, 80 ruth
less was fighting up her face, she penned j
deliberate manner q note. As she was foidin
, it, she heard the rapid gsllop of horse owe
the paved circle In front of the house. Lookin
out, she saw Jasper, with hat pressed dow