Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-02
INFATU A TION +;
OR, THE FORGED CHRQUR.
THE MERCHANT AND MS wtFB,
CHATTER VI

merchant-princes. In his intercourse viii
the Earl Of Oakton-a ruined peer, ruined by
his own reckless Oxtravagance, who had beer
propped up for years by the iberality Of Mr.
Grubb-he had been brought into contsc
with the eATls daughters, and had faller
deeply in love with the youngest, the Lady
Adela. He proposed for her, generosity and
good feeling prompting the most liberal offer.
with regard 70 settlements. The earl and
countess accepted the proposal for her; hei
sisters, four Of them, and ell then unmarried
urged IT, Lady Adels resented it; not that
sbe cared for any one else, for her love had
been wasted upon one who had afterwards
married another, and heneeforth ell were
alike Indifferent But Lady Adela CheneviI
was Of naughty lineage, had been trained il
naughty ambition, and possessed Rhaughty
heart, and to descend TO become the wife Of a
merchant, or, as she called it, tradesman,
Was TO that heart as WormWood. Yet IN
wealth the match was all that could be de-
sired, and in age they were not unsuitable he
thirty, she nearly tWeDty-tWO-he was more
over, q handsome man, s man Of imposing
presence. She gave an ungracious consent
and they we're married; but she did not at
tempt to conceal her contempt for him, dis
playing il even on her wedding day. But
what a love was his As he sat by her in
the bridal chariot, his heart almost bursting
with the cruel words she cast TO him, as she
withdrew as far as possible from his side,
even jerking her silk dress towards her that
/ il might not touch him in contact, and, turn
ing her face to the window, fixed her attention
on the objects they Whirled by, he made 81
lent resolve, q prRyerful resolve, that his con-
duct TO her should not be regulated by hers to
him; that he would strive, untiringly, un-
Waveriegly, to win her love TO him; that nc
mother, seeking to win back q rebellious
child, should be more silently tender, more
unreseniul tnan IL would be 10 her his
greatly loved wife. "Sureiy -shAll s,asess "a .
was his mental conclusion, ''though it may be
with years lie little knew the Lady Ad-
ell.
child was born 10 them, girl, but it died
within & month Of its birth and, since then,
D other had followed it Perhaps, as Lady
: race CheneyiK remarked, things might have
!, ons on more happily with them had they pos
: ssed that tie between man and wife chill
- en.
5, Lady Mary Chenevix, one Of the sisters,
y I'D married an elderly man, the Hon. Mr..
~ evelaDd, q HidVWer, with groEn-up chill
: ten. Rather puzzled was he what to do
E lth his numerous family especially when
al new wife came home, for he would have
- ked to make q clear coast for her, SO far as
as practicable. He talked over Dir. Grubb,
ld got one Of them taken by him into his
bunting, house; the merchant in his geneTos
y, Offering the young man home in his
Wn house during the frequent absence from
OWN Of his father and Lady Mary. Charles
'lsveland was q general favorite. Good
hearted, inofensive, BY no means bad look
ing, very gentleman-lEe, rattling, ngreea-
ole companion, and rather addicted 10 expen-
sive habits-as what young man, in his class
Of society, is not especially when, like him,
they have got nothing to spend When he
first became an inmate Of Lady Adela's home,
she took to him wonderfully. Il happened
that she had never seen him, had pictured
him q sort Of country spooney, and his popular
qualities aEreeably surprised her. She ralr-
er made a boast Of liking him, patronizing
him when Mr.. Grubb was present. And
Why7 Did she really care for, did she love
Charles Cleveland2 No; but he was Of her
own order, he q Patrician, her dispised hus-
band plebean; and she wished 70 make the
latter feel that she remembered the distiuc-
ton always and practically. Besides, she
saw that Mr.. Grubb was panied by her famil-
lar manner Of treating Mr.. Cleveland, and for
that very reason she the more delighted in IT,
And so the time had gone on, and Mr.. Cleve-
land and Adela had grown into terms Of the
most confidential -iateIcourse-in short, as
Lady Gray expressed it, into deep Irritation,
Something worse on his part For while
she cared not for him, beyond the passing
amusement Of the moment would not have
given to him regretful thought had be sud
denly been removed from her sight forever,
he had grown 10 love her to idolatry. ltis
strong expression, but in this case iustifable
Almost as the sun is 70 the world, bringing
light and heat, life TO the flowers, fulness to
the corn, so had Lady Adela become TO him.
In her presence he could alone be said 10 live;
his heart was then at rest, feeding on its own
fulness and happiness and there be could
thankfully have lived and died, and never
asked for change; when obliged to be absent
from her, Q miserable void was in his breast
feVerish yearning for the hour that should
bring him to her again. But there must have
been something not healthy in his principles
for him TO have become attached, in this
senseless manner, TO married woman; his
feelings ought surely to have been better un-
der his own control. Gould the fault have
lain with Lady Adsla7 Most undoubtedly.
She, not casting g thought 70 the effect it
might have upon his heart and secure in her
own Indifference, purposely threw out the
bait Of her beauty and manifold attractions,
and 30 led him on to loVe-a love as true and
impassioned as was ever felt by man. What
did be promise himself by ~ He did not
know. Nov and then q wild vision would
cross his brain, quiekening his pulses, heat
ing his life-blood, OF Lady Adela O widow,
and he in position to make her his wife
but as TO oherishing, with regard to her, any
dishonorable thoughts, any degrading hope, |
that was not in the nature Of such love as
Charley CleYelands. What she said 10 LADY |
Grace was correct-that he had never addre5. !
sed 10 her a disloyal word. No, for he thought
Of her as all hat was good and beautiful !
but 70 avoid betraying unintentionhlly his 1
deep love for her, vas beyond his power
And Lady Adela, 70 give her her due, was /
notlikely 70 encourage him TO move.
But how did this work, with time, go far |
aS the two ware eoncerned2 Whilst Charles |
Cleveland vas living on in his FOOLS paradise, /
content could be have lived on in it fore ever, |
Lady Adela found the whole affair 10 grow |
very monotonous. She required excitement /
She had no healthy pursuits whence 10 draw /
satisfaction. No home (the French would |
better express il by the word "mensgs9) to
keep up and oontrive for; the hand Of wealth /
was at work, and all was provided for her
sfety; abe had no children 70 train and love;
81 had no husband whom Il was q delight 70,
nel,,o please and cherish; worse than ell, she
mao, mao, let US say as yeti no sense Of RESPONSE
oihly higher Being for time and talents
NaslSu We are spt 70 say y a youth, III
you, 90 ~ oscupy yourself in whatever you
ouenl' yoJi.ill do mischief = The axiom had
been lAss. ~ lHemplihed by Lady Adela.-
0hanee hAy t9Wn her Into the society Of the
c0un'essO' VI y, and this lady whose rep