The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-08

lertaI lly, III sry Ur4noy looked very stylish
ia &c eIia r; silk pelisse aud gag hat which Mrs
" a.aerh'll had recommended her to wesr OF
the occasion; aud Lacy Austin never was pref
Ter tasnl The simple white dress and straw
.-.u-t h her o"n perception Of the fitness
2" tii % had taught her TO adopt. And Mrs
" -sth taiI thought, as she looked on them
nat ~ T were two damsels more captivating
= more sure % conquest the OILY fear that
s''afoved Der pleasure being, lest, by any dire
m'scharca, either CT the beaux should fail 10
X .-p ihei- opp oin' IN >nt; les. Arthur BcnDing-
o. ssolld have been seized with f. of shy
c 20 i0g spIrIts-Do uncommon occurrence
Or yoGeg s. borough called away to attend to
sDme brtksu limb, or case of sudden illness.
Bat her a2prshsnsions proved groundless; Tor
when the party from Alderfeld arrived at liston,
the two young men we're already there; and 1t
seemed good omen to Mrs. Weatherhlll, that
they Rad been punctual to their appointment.
Mrs Weatherhll was now in her glory. Be
fore the l3iterers of the Company arrived, she
had managed to establish Arthur bennington
"a The temporary guardian of Lacy Austin, aud
to fssten Mary CRANKY on young Scarborough
arm; AID the group had socn dispersed among
the ruins, or were tracing the little winding
paths of the neghboring woods, with that quick
" increasing friendliness which grows nowhere
so ra0idly as on O rural excursion, such as this
whereof write.
I.would take too much space to detail ali that
vas said or done on that momentous day. Suf
fee it, that it was unmarked by serious &C IL
dent or uufavorable change.of THE weather,
which circumstances will occasionally mar the
delights Of party Of pleasure; that Mrs. Wesih
e-hill's schemes seemed TO thrive beyond her
utmost hopes; and that, before bidding them
good night enc had engaged both Arthur Bon
Ling.on aud young Scarborough to dine at her
house early ia the following week. The readi
ness with which her invitation was accepted
she took as an excellent omen Of the impres
sion already made on the minds Of the gentle
uaen i question by the charms of her fair visit.
ants.
From that evening to the day Of her dinner
party. Mrs. WeaheIhill, when alone with Lucy
and Mary, talked of little EXCEPT The two young
men, who, she N antained had paid them such
MAKE attention; and whist Lucy, with native
deh,acy, ahraDk from her raliying on the cub
jsct OF Arthur b Bennington, Mary, whilst depre
eating far more loudly the jest respecting Mr.
Scarborough and hersels, evidently enjoyed it,
Sle laughed and l0tened, and she did not listen
heedless:y. She was by no means SO much at
tached 70 a country home-in whose neighbor
hood eligible bachelors were anything but plen
tiful, where she was under the guidance FRAZIER
homeiy parents, and expected 10 take an active
part IL ,be management Of six younger brl Tiers
aud sisters-as to object TO leaie il, if toler.
ably good opportunity fer doing so offered. Be
sides, having arrived at the age usually called
that Of discretion, che was exceedingly anxious
TO get possession of her "own Thousand pounds"
which, - we have said, were at present in her
fathers hands. Her marriage would be an
event, she thought, after which he could have
10 possible pretext for retaining it; and, melted
by these considerations, and Mrs. Weatherhilfs
representations of the advantages of the match
she boldly resolved that, if Harry :arborough
did propose for her, she would accept him. If
re did net, ske was 10. yet desperately in love
Silh him, and there was no harm done.
Full of these though 8, she dressed herself in
Che most becoming styls she could devise, re-
solved thai Mr. Sc thorough should not fad her
leFs charming in drawingroom than in the
ruins Of Ison Abbey; and so tffectually did
she carry cut her intentions on the occasion Of
their secord meeting, that Scarborough during
his leng, li;ary ride from AldeIfield to Y,
owned 20 himself that she had impressed him
as Il woman lad ever done before. He had
been ior some time locking on; for wife and
hearing from Mrs. Wcafhtrhill an account 81
the high responsibility of Mrs Granby's con
nectioEs, accompanied by a judicious hint of
her forthcoming Thousand pounds few more
visits 10 the enchantress decided his courge He
proposal, and was duly accepted and Mrs.
Weatherhill banked Heaven, while she applaud.
ed her own foresight, for the favorable termina.
ton Of one Of hsr plans.
That her Other project, respecting Arthur
Bennington aud Lucy Austin, was likely to erd
mach to her mind, she was still doubtful:
for though there we're many symptoms which
she deeued auspicious, there was little appear
anee OF progress in the affair. To any close
observer, Indeed, if would have been eviden,
that Lucy was sny.hiBg but slightly interested
IN this event. Her heart, with its pure, young,
untrled affections, was already the prize-alasl
the unsolicited pr.z9-ot the quiet and some
what melancholy student He evidently pre-
Tered her s,ciety 10 hat Of any other meube-
of Mrs. WealherhilPs circle and listened to her
music, and pointed out the beauties of his ia.
voriie authors, and talked to her BIZ the hoar
together IN q low, earnest voice, as he did to
none beside. But 1t was not of loye-not OF
marriage De was pleased to find one 80 gen
tie and intellectual, who would listen unweari.
edly 10 the resealings OF his romantic imagina
tons snc somewhat morbid sensibilities: and
this, which was IL fact but refined egotism, poor
Lucy received with love and gratitude, as proofs
CT hls adecuCnate confidence. 1t might have
been so; she might soon have grown necessary
TO hls happiness in this very character of pa.
uent and sympstbizing cORfdaH'e, and, with
have been married and happy.
Bat Mrs. Weaiherkill unfortunately took II
luto her head tEss sac could expedite matters
by enhs -,1Cing Mr.. BoDniu g;ons mind az to
her own vie~ OF the case. She was convinced
his modes. Off !euce alone stood in bis way
al any rate. II wss her duty not to permit Miss
Ausilns affections to be trihed with. Accord.
ingly, having coatrived tefeafete with the
isrdy lover, sLe Introduced the subject hy
namics the approaching marriage of Mics
CRANKY to IL. Scarborough. From that it was
easy TO s!luds 10 The party 10 Ilston, ana thence
TO glide 70 tie topic of his own supposed at
tachmelt TO Lucy. Mr.. bennington heard her.
first w,'h suririsa, then with evident vexaticr.
Zoo r ally Distress me, Mrs. Weatherhill
you are la5ofing under some strange delusiou.
L consider Miss Lucy austin as a most excel
lent end estmabe Y ang lady, but have never
Tor a moment thought Of her IN the light you
allGde t."
I" Len why, in The name Of wonder, Mr.. Bon.
niDgtoI, heve yam acted IN such manner to.
wards herr Way hare you paid her such
mal8so attention ever since your first intrcduc-
ton u her? | sm sure Henry Scarborough
has scafcely shown q greater preference Tor
harJ than you fox Mics Austin, and now you
tell ne hat 1t ell meant nothing"
told you no such thing, Mrs. Weatherhill
l sad, and still say, that Irespect and esteem
Miss Austin; consider her in the lgh: Of
one OF my most valued friends; but i hare
never given her cause 70 suppose that wished
10 engage her regard in any more serious char.
actef. You lorget, also, that a great portion
Ct what y5u Cell attentions | could not avoid
paying % the lady, dictated az they were by
yCu'seif"
81 BY me, Mr.. Bennington
Certainly Did We walk, you babe me es-
cort her did we dance, yen solicited me as ker