Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-04

kin. They never dreamed with what in
tent she had come. They. in their chart
ty for others, could not conceive that slit
had an idea of evil regarding them.
But Amabel Wyndham laughed at theil
charity. She did not scrupIe to abuse it
when it served her purpose to do so.-
And she glided in, in her elegant attire
with her soft, yet brilliant beauty. hel
captivating manner. her keen, delicate
light flashing wit placed her in dazzling
contrast to her fair, and yet noble cousin
Miriam. 1t was not the first time Ed
ward had seen her, but he had never
viewed her so nearly, never spoken to her
before this evening. Amabel took care
that his earliest impression Of her should
be only an agreeable one.
She was peerless in her loneliness, her
grace, her mental gifts; she would have
scorned a royal court. Edward was a
scholar and a gentleman, cultivated and
refined, and a passionate admirer of beau
ty. It would have heen a marvel, if one
like him had resisted her entertainments,
for she was the very spirit of beauty.
How incomparably lovely!" was his
mental exclamation, as she sat near him,
gaily and earelessly chatting wish her un
Gle and Miriam, and now and then turn
ing her bright. yet softened glance upon
him, with some smiling word Of remark.
or of question that drew him ere long.
from silent admiration. into animated con,
verse with the rest.
He did not compare her with Miriam.
He was not thinking Of Miriam, when he
said to himself that the world could con
tain no face mere enchanting than that of
this charming guest. But during the
hour that Amabel stayed. he experienced
a pleasure. the nature of which he could
hardly have defined, had he tried; and
the depth of which he never sought to
lfathom- He only knew that he admired
Miss Wyndham very much.
And so the heartless beauty fingered
as long as it suited her, seeing plainly.
and with secret delight, how Edward
Vane was attracted; until she was fully
satisfied with her first attempt, and bid
ding the party a graceful adieu. vanished
like some brilliant star, while we are ca
gerlv. delightedly watching it. hides itself
behind the clouds. And Miriam Har-
leigh never dreamed aohose eyes that star
had dazzled.
When next she met her beautiful con
sin. it was after service. at the little vii
lage church. and as Miriam fingered near
the door, awaiting her father. AtnabeI. in
passing, slightly tapped the young girls
cheek with her gloved hand.
How came you ever to attract so ele-
giant a lover as Edward Vane % she ask
ed; do You know that I am quite pleas
ed with him ? and that is dangerous for
you. you know Take care my pretty
cousin, that / do not win him from YOU.
By the way, dear Frederick has also be-
come acquainted with him. and | believe.
cultivates him most sedulously. st any
rate, he has invited him over to spend a
day or two with us this week. You can
afford to lose him for that time-ean't
you. Miriam, dear p
Frederick was Amahel's brother.
Finishing her beartless speech with a
soft laugh, and a kiss on her cousins Inns.
she passed on TO her carriage. And Mi
riam looked after her an instant, with n
sudden terror e. her heart-a ste.o
!,aiior overspreadi..gg ncr checks; sayin9
iii a low, ~halfhitter tone:
"Amabel, Amabel, was that what you
came for 2"
She only said to Edward. when he
came again, Do you know Frederick
""ynanam. Edward? y "Yes, Miriam
/ was introduced to n nj. not long ago
did | not mention it? | an forgetful-
of everything bat you, my darling" he
added, with q beaming smile. Then he
continued: " Yes, and only yesterday he
made me half promise to come and pass
a day or two with him at his fathers. !
do not know whether | shall go, though
he is very urgent. He seems to like me-
A dull pain went through Miriam's
heart; but she would say nothing, nor let
him suspect what she felt.
Will he go ~ she asked, mentally,
and with slow and unhappy suspense, she
waited to see.
Edward did go. IF he had foreseen
the result. he might have been wiser; but
with him, as is the case with many anoth
er, wisdom was purchased with expert
ence.
Daring the day that he spent Will
Frederick Wyndham, he was thrown fire.
qnently into the society Of the beautiful
Amabel; their acquaintance matured, anc
his admiration grew deeper with every
hour that passed, revealing some new
beauty, some new grace in the variable
~wayward, yet eversenchanting Amabel.
When Miriam met HIM again, she long
ed to ask him, " do younot like my beau
tiful cousin But she refrained. q
will not mock myself" she thought
how can he help liking-nay. even loving
her r.
1t was not Edwards last visit to hi
friends. Amabel chose to win him, ant
there was but little resistance made
Frederick was a pleasant friend, and Ed
ward Vane, neglecting to question BIZ
own heart too closely, said that II was be