Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-24

dIiCt may nut nc very napPf- Ous
nobody can make me very miserable. because
no one stands near enough to my heart to
reach it for good or for evil
/ was not always qnite so cailous. Years
ago-but stop why am going to reveal for
the first time secret that has never passed
my lips? Perhaps, it is because i feel-a
strong wish for some ones sympathy, and. Sc
cure in my incognitio. can venture to ponr
out long-buried thoughts that few would
suspect. My grave, hard, pale face is a dis
Greet tombstone erected over the ashes of n
dead hope and love; no eye can read the in
scription written in its wrinkles. and my ac-
quaintances will never guess whose pen bias
created these pages. .-}As'y
was twenty-tbree, independent, not i'll
looking, and was not generally considered
either dull or uninteresting. 1t was spring
time: the lovely April month. when youth
drinks in the balmy breath of Nature, and
the mere fact of existence is pleasure.
Caroline Ashton had invited some half-d0z-
en- guests to her fathers plantation. He was
absent: her mother and herself did the hon
ors of their beautiful home. We were old
friends and allies. She was trebly-distilled
firt, with innocent eyes, soft low voice, and
taste for mischief very strong and very well
developed. "a - "a - Tr.~. -FrfEIE u
The time passed gayly and swiftly in the
usual country fashion of rides, drives. i'm
promptu pic-nics by day, and impromptu
dances by night.
One evening-shall ever forget tive
fingered late beneath the moons light, saun-
tering through the grounds. Twice had Mrs.
Ashton sent to call us in, with some message
which none of us listened. l was standing
with Caroline just at the extreme edge of a
rustic barricade. 1t hung over the river as a
protection to those who might ascend or de-
scend too carelessly the narrow winding path
oVershadOwed by ancestral oaks, which skirt
ed the broad stream, and was one of the nu-
merOus walks that beautified Ashton Hall.
We had been a little sentimental, although
each knew the other too thoroughly to be de-
ccived. She was only keeping her hand in,'
and was laZily conscious that she was very
pretty, and liked to tell her so.
You are absurd" she said. turning away
her head from my "ardent gaze why can
not men invent new vocabulary of phrases
If Laura or Bessie ,.wsgep sUddf tilt +" stsike
strain and never feel the difference Obi how
chilly it grows! Didn't mamma send after
u.s." FE.. ~
She shivered coquettishly and moved away
Stay" l pleaded; pray, stay. 1t is 50
calm. so happy here. How different from
Bessie Mortimer's jingling talk and Charley
Benson's insane taught"
my friends. Sir! is it decent to speak so
But you prudently omit one name. Laura's
lovely eyes are watching for you" She sprang
up the steep path, laughingly waving her
white hand.
''Iodr fate awaits you in yonder mansion.
my lord; 90 seek it - and she ran of extend
ing the broad ends of her scarf like wings on
either side.
l overlook her, and we mounted the front
steps together
Mr.. Ashton met us in the hall with a slight
shade of anger. ''My DEAR" she said to her
IouOb+pr :. I hava for u,a
have a guest. and a very mysterious one.
You have worried me by your tardiness in
coming"
"a guesti n mysterious onel is he a
handsome man? L hope he won't turn out to
be travelling peddler? | am sorry. dear
mamma, to annoy yeu. Kiss and make friends.
1t was so nice in the moonlight"
Mrs. Ashton smiled as she kissed the up
turned, fresh lips. mo man at all, my dear.
Read your fathers letter. You need not go,
Mr.. Leicester; read it to Mr.. Leicester, my
child"
Mr. Ashton's letter was very short-very
uneXplanatory-very hurried. He simply said
that business would detain him three weeks
longer in Florida. Meanwhile he sent this
letter by the daughter of an old client. "She
is young, sad and friendless;" so | remember
the words ran. ''Need say more to commend
her to the kind hearts of my wife and daugh-
teri"
And not even her name mentioned, you
see!' exclaimed Mrs. Ashton, who. although
the best of women, was a little nettled at this
unceremonious advent. Your papa always
was, and suppose always will be"
my papa" interrupted Caroline, gayly.
Just so, dear mamma, have no doubt he
always will be. But we can ask her her name,
that's one comfort Where is she? How
did she get here ? Let me put her through
her carechism at once. I'll practice first on
you. Mr. Leicester. Hold up your head.
What is your name?' Don't say n. or
NJ"
Hush, hushr" whispered Mrs. Ashton.
'she is in the drawing-rOom, and we were
just at the door of that apartment by this time
in our slow progress through the wide en-
trance hall.
The evening was a little chilly, and a few
t~igs burning in the chimney not only gave a
cheerful. ruddy blaze, but attracted by their
pleasing warmth. The clear globe of an as
trail lamp shed its mellow, steady light from
the soia-table drawn rather near the fireplace
Between these two lights, seated so that the
one played flickeringly upon the dark silk of
skirt, while the other shOne full upon her face,
a lady, who did not move as we entered.
So grave, so lost in thought, so completely
apart from us and from her surroundings, that
when Mrs. Ashton spoke she started, and it
was evidently with an effort that she remem-
bered where she was, and recognized our
presence.
She had no beauty, 1 thought; and she was
scornful ''even unto death"
Her eyes were swollen with excessive weep
ing. her cheeks were pale, her mouth faded.
her hair lustreless, careless, proiuse. Her
dress was almost shabby worn black silk
and an old shawl wrapped closely around her
shoulders.
Unperceived, Miss Ashton made me lugu-
brious grimace, as much as to say, what
borep' but she went up kindly enough, and
with that involuntary air of superiority which
women must take toward those worse dressed
than themselves; il was with a rather patron
izing tone that she welcomed her fathers eli
ent's daughter.
Bat it did not last Simply the stranger
thanked her, but in her words, her manner.
her carriage, there was that nameless' some
thing which proclaims conscious dignity, we'll
assured position, superiority, more than
equality.
Caroline drew back; she was not pleased.
and yet she could not take otfense. Catechise
this regal Niobe! The thing was impossible.
Caroline Wanted to question her, began, broke
down. /, meanwhile, played parsonage muet.
and the stranger did not seem to have yet
seen me.
At last Miss Ashton said, "Perhaps man.
ma, Miss - | beg your pardon papa neg
lected to tell us the name OF our very wei
come guest"
MY name" she said, ''my name is Fred
erica Rawdun."
Hiss Rawdon?'' The lady bowed.
Perhaps, mamma, Miss Rawdon would
like TO go to her room. Is her luggage taken
to it,"
..There is my luggage" Miss Rawdon said
t.nif,tiofr ~. xFuties. On ha H..nr h.r
is all have"
The ladies tried to hide their surprise, and
Mrs. Ashton rang the bell. There was an
awkward pause Caroline plunged into it
She evidently was determined not to be over
powered ia her own house by woman in an
old gown, who seemed to have dropped from
the moon.