Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-01-05
THE INTELLIGENCER.
From the English woman's JOurnail
THE MI5DEEDs OF AURA PLA1sTow.

She was but nineteen; and nineteen does not
calculate chances OF crilcise defects Besides,
who could have refused him, handsome, agreea-
bile, fascinating, rs he wasy Were the paltry
ficts ofa totally different education and diamet-
rically opposed habits and principles to weigh
against graceful manners, snowy accomplish
ments, an oblging disposition, and the pleasant
abandon Of amateur vagabondism Was it to
be expected that Aura, young, credulous and
limpreSsionablc should reject the love of such a
man as handsome Tom Delane, because there
might be flaws in the perfect fitting of their so
diversely moulded lives? 1t wOuld have been
heroiSm of prudence scarcely natural in one SO
ignorant Of life and so careless of consequences
as Aura. And as for seeking advice from her
father and mother,-who, in this prosaic world
of ours, ever knew Of any work-a-ldy common
sense in household where the husband wore
beard and blouse, and gave away his money
to the poor instead of paying his debts to his
creditors; where the wife dressed the children
like pictures, and despised the suggestions of
milliners; aud where they all lived the lives of
gypsies, and did not know what regularity or
in door Snugness meantg Aura would not have
heard much rational counsel from her own peo-
pie, even If she had asked it, but it never occur
red to her to ask it, for the Plaistows had the
ory about the sacredness of their childrcn's in
divdualty, in virtue of which, those Young per.
sons thought and acted for themselves almost
as soon as they were out of long frocks aud Lead
| ing strings. a mode of education singularly
delightful 10 the educated, hut one not calcula-
ted TO produce much facility for accepting, or
proneness for asking, advice. 1t was not sur
prising them that Aura, instead of referring Tom
to her papa or mamma, when he asked her if
she would be bis wife, should simply put her
hands in his, aud looking UP frankly into his
face, say, ayes, Tom, | WILL for | like you y her
color rather deepened, aud her heart beating
faster than usual, but that was all. Nor was it
any the more surprising, considering who and
q hat hap E,fbo, IIDropn Doic-
tow, should add nothing by way of comment or
caution, when she went mp 10 him, and puther
arms round his neck as he sat painting, saying
in her loud, clear voice-all her consonaEts labi-
|al, and all her vOwels open-"Papai Tom De-
lane asked me 10 marry him to,dav, and said
would" No one who knew them would have
wondered that the fathers only answer should
he to lay down his palette snoothe his beard,
pat her flushed face, and tighten the belt of his
blouse; then, after the pause of few moments,
20 say, Every well, my dear, you know best
Tom is fine fellow, and | believe he will make
you happy, but we shall miss you, my Aura"
And so to turn to his easel again; his paternal
duty discharged, and his conscience at rest if
his heart waE troubled. For never yet did
loving father want TO marry of his daughters
and Horace Plaistow, careless artist as lac was,
was too passionate n lover of his family and his
home, TO wish to see it broken up.
When all was made known and clear here, at
MerIidno Vale, Tom wrote home 10 his mother,
and told her, very timidly aud very respectfully,
that he was engaged to Aura Plaistow, the ar
lists daughter. He knew he might rs well have
said the mountebank's daughter, or the pick
pockets, as far as Mrs. Delane's estimate ofcom-
parative respectabiiity went
II wonder how my mother will like it," said
Tom 10 himself, sealing his letter-with the De-
lane coat of arms, as he always did when writ
ing home for, Indeed, if he had not done so,
he need not have communicated with that res
pcctable place at all. And how will Mary and
Margaret agree with Aura? Nut well, think;
but Aura will be none the worse for u little of
our home discipline. She only wants that to
make her, perfect, for though it is very charm
ing here, still, we cannot be asleep under the
trees like blackbirls, thinking of nothing but
pictures and pleasure. My wife must be more
conventional and disciplined; know how to man
age her household, aud be able to keep indoors
should be distracted to live in this way forey-
or, though it is very delightful for time. But
when | have Aura all to myself, and under my
sole influence, she will be very different crca-
ture"
| He kent his thoughts to himself, and said no.
thing about his fear ofhis mother, or his designs
| for tile tanning aud conversion ofhis bride. And
as the only home bondage which Aura knew OF
was love and loving likeness, she never imagin-
ed that Toms people could diSapprove oi what
| Tom liked, or that he would care If they did
Love meant happiness with Aura, constancy
and ainiiy; she could not imagine divided
/ home, or family with hearts pointing different
ways So the Delane mine, which some day
might explode and scatter her innocent theories
To- the winds, as yet sumbered beneath her feet,
unseen and unknown.
Afte- surIy delay of several days, at last the
answer came from Mrs. Delane She said very
little about the engagement nt all, "declinng TO
express her opinion, or TO give herssanctinn un'
til she had seen the youug lady herself; 50 far,
but only SO far, waving her primary objection
to the undesirable status Of the family, and the
Ifather'squestionable profession" Enclosed was
La short, Stiff, uncomfortable note for Mrs. Pais-
tow, written in the elthird person, compliments
and ALL icily complete, desiring an introduction
10 Mrs. PIaistow's daughter, before matters were
allowed to proceed farther" To accomplish
which introduction, Aura was to go TO the Hol-
lies, where the Delanes lived, on visit OF an
4 indefinite length.
s'what a formal letter." said sweet tempered,
sunny faccd Mrs Pluistow, who spoke TO her
| very servants with more frankness than many
women use to their friends, and who was never
known TO have looked sour or cad in her life.
tMy mothers heart is warmer than her man
ner, {" said Tom, hot he looked as il he were tel
ling falsehood and knew it.
'iOh she shall not be cold to mel cried Aura,
laughing, 81 will soon kiss her into good hu-
mor.p
'.My mother never kisses any one, y said Tom,
l...,,-oi,- Ha almost shuddpred Mt the Thought.