Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-06

the silent drawing-rooIn, his manner was very |
different from what it had been on the last
occasion. He was now calm, but gloomy, and
almost stern; and he waited for the appear
ance of his inviter with neither hope nor fear,
but with a naughty impotence. Instead of
Mr.. Hargrave, however, it was Martha who
entered the room, and he started back at the
unexpected apparition in surprise and agi-
tation. The color that rose into her face, and
made her more beautiful than ever, prevented
him from seeing that she had been ill and
when abe held ont her hand, the slight grasp
he gave it was so momentary that he did not
discover its attenuation. A painful embar
rassment prevailed for some time, hardly in
terupted by common questions and monosyl-
Liable replies till at length Richard remarked
that, his place being taken, he could wait no
longer, but should hope to be favored with
Mr.. Hargrave's commands in writing. He
was about to withdraw, with ceremorious
bow, when Martha stepped forward.
'Richard.' said she, ~ have no fear that
my early friend will think me iininodest, and
therefore will speak without concealment.
larry yet WHILE for | have that to say which
peradventure, may make thee consider thy
place in the coach light sacrifice"
"HowYi
Richard" she continued, 'thou didst
once WOO me for thy wife, and vert rejected
by my fathers commands Circumstances have
brought about a change in his feelings. Must
speak itf' and slight smile, passing away
s,,o fha brin Ain all Int
rose into her face g Vert thou to ask again,
dear friend, the answer might be different =
So long silence ensued after this speech,
that Martha at length raised her eyes sudden
ly, and fixed them in alarm upon Richards
face. In that face there was no joy, no thank
fulness, no love nothing but blank and
gastly stare. He was as white as q corpse,
and large beads of sweat stood upon his brow.
''Manl what meaneth this ~ cried Martha,
rushing towards him; but he threw out his
hands to prevent her approach, while the an
swer came hoarse and broken from his bag
gard lip.
Ruin-msery--ho But not for YOU"
added Richard, cold and beautiful statue -
Not for you, beneath whose lovely bosom
there beats not woman's heart Pass on
your way, calm, stately and alone softened
by no grief, touched by no love, and leave me
to my despair. Martha, am married ~
And so saying, he rushed out of the ROOM
Mrs. Hargrave had lust entered it unobseryed,
and now stood beside her daughter. Martha
remained in the same attitude, leaning for
ward, gazing intently at the door, till the noise
of the streetsdoor shutting smote upon her
ear and her heart, and before her mother
could interpose, she fell senseless on her face.
Ii is said, and said truly, that men recover
more speedily than women from love disap-
pointments. The reason is, not that they feel
them less deeply, for the converse is the case
the strength of the male character running
through all its emotions-but that the cares
and struggles of life, and even the ordinary
contact with society into which they are forced,
serve gradually to detach their thoughts from
the sorrow over which they would otherwise
continue to brood. Women, at least in the
class affected most by such disappointmcnts,
have more leisure than men. The world has
fewer demands upon them; and they can
only exhibit their mental power and holiness
of resolve by making wholesome Occupation
for their fevered minds. OF these women was
Martha Hargrave. Although stunned at first
by the blow, its very suddenness and severity
compelled her to reflect upon her position,
and summon up her energies. She did not
permit her sympathies to- lie buried in one all
sorbing subject, but cast them abroad upon
the face of society; and wherever, within the
reach of her influence, there was ignorance
to be instructed, vice reclaimed, or misery
lieved, there was Martha ready, nlinistering
angle at the moment Of need. Under this
moral discipline she recovered her bodily
health. The fresh roses Of youth continued
to bloom in her lovely cheeks long after her
hair had began to change its hue; and so the
gentle Quaker commenced her dcscent-grad-
ually, gracefully, glidingly, but still demurely
into the vale Of years.
The process was different with Richard
Temple but still OF kindred character. To
say that he did not repent his marriage would
be untrue but still he had honor and integ-
rity enough to cherish the wife he had mar
ried in return for her love. He devoted him
family; proposed in both and in due time
arrived at the enjoyment Of at least ordinary
happiness. But at length period Of COM
mercial calamity came, and Richard suffered
with the rest. His fixed capital was still
moderately good but he was embarrassed,
almost ruined, for want of money. One day
during this crisis lie was in his pFivatc-room
in the contingencies, brooding over his diff
iculties, and in the least promising moodthat
could be imagined for sentimental recolections
when letter was placed before him, the first
two lines of which informed him, in brief
business-lilSe manner, that Martha was dead
The paper dropped upon the floor; and cover
ing his face with his hands, he abandoned
himself for long time to the deep and pain
FIJI memories of his early years.
On emerging from this parenthesis in the
commoner cares of life lie took up tina letter
to place it on the table when, on glancinr
over its remaining contents, lie found that
poor Martha had bequeathed tohim herwalch.
and the whole of her original fortune Of E5,-
900. This completely unnamed the man Of,
business and throwing himself back in his
chair, he sobbed like child. Although the
money was of infinite Importance 10 him, az
the time, freeing him from his present EN-