Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-07
CLEARFIELD PA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 1860

| stay at home with you. Why wish me to &C
| cept this gentleman, this foreigner who is 81
unlike me, and who will surely make me un
/ happy? What is there in marriage that on,
should rush into it without even friendship
II does not confer happiness; we see that every
day. How many married people do we know
! even here at Brighton, / see them, that are il
mated and ready to be tree of their yoke
Do you wish to condemn me to a similar fatei
| o, father, am not dutiful child, that you
wish to be rid of me ?''
"The deuce take the perversity of women,'
was muttered in reply. Somebody immedi-
ately slammed the door and the conversation
ceased. l said the voice had piqued my curl
| osity, and no sooner was it silenced than felt
| an overwhelming desire to see the owner of it.
| How could / accomplish the object? There
was the ventilator, broad aperture, through
which could have leaped if necesssry-why
not make use of that I? l softly moved a large
chair across the room, and placing it beneath
the opening in the wall, stepped into it, |
now confess, looking back upon that time,
that for person of my years and dignity the
act was contemplate, but am not ashamed
| TO state that l never thought CT the extreme
| indelicacy and presumption of that step, or
| what might be its consequences. AS | raised
my head to the level with the sill, l saw hang
| ing opposite to me, against the wall of the
| room was about to lecoDnOtre, large mir
| ror, and from its clear surface reflected the
| image OF lady l knew it was the owner of
the voice a slender fairy creature, reclining
! in fauteuil, her head bent down upon her
| hands, and the whole attitude indicative of
| mental suffering. did not see the face, but
cloud of curls that floated over the neck and
arms were the insignia by which knew
should recognise it. So long as burst pre-
served my position but a slight movement of
the curls startled me, and l sprang down.
Early in the evening took station in the
assembly rooms which commanded a view of
the entrance, and after long and faithful watch
ing, my patience was rewarded. The forid
figure of Lady Grey appeared and by her side
was MISS Conyngham, u gentleman of dubious
aspect accompanied them man with lightest
hair and moustaches, and small eyes, the light
of which was nearly extinguished beneath
bushy eyebrows. did not like the expression
of those green eyes; it was furtive, and SEEM
ed constantly looking ont for surprise his
manner was clearly that of the world. l knew
that it was Mr.. Conyngham, and my eyes soon
turned from him to the fair creature at his
side. She wore plain white dress, without
other ornament than a branch of heather that
fastened it to the throat, her countenaEce was
pale and grave, and she stood in silent indiffer-
ence, regarding the gay scene about her, so
unlike the silly things that were fluttering their
fans and arching their necks to show them
selves off.
drew near, and heard her refuse to dance
with two or three young en,who had hurried
to her on her entrance. 1 too, looked around,
with the hope of seeing some friend or aC-
quaintance that could introduce me, and for
tunately encountered the glance of Mr.. Love- |
lace, young gentleman whom had well
known in London. We shook hands, and af- |
ter few prelimnaries, l inquired, who is the |
young lady with the beautiful hair
'sThat," he replied, sis Mss Conyngham !; |
fine looking girl, is she not And OF strong |
h.. 4
whose face looks as if he had imbibed all the |
claret in his cellar, is her father, an old rep
rebate he wants to marry his daughter to |
Dutchman, as old and ugly as himself, just be- |
cause he is the owner of thousand dykes |
and hemp manufactory. | would marry her |
my yself-provided coud-to save her from
such fate, if L had the money to pay the
parson."
"Who is the tall lady ?''
t'That is lady Grey, sister of the young
iady's mother; will ask permission to intro
duce you," and before my heart had made ten
strokes, found myself conversing with them.
Lady Grey discovered at once to be a true
English gentiewoman she conversed well, |
aud on many topics, sprinkling all her talk,
however, with certain quality phrases that SER
we'd to convince me that stratum hauteur un-
derlaid the affablity. Miss Conyngham was
herself. have never seen another like her.
Clear and honest was the ray that shot from
her deep eyes. She made no effort at display
or effect, but talked on in answer to my ques-
tions and proposed her own with combination
Of suavity and dignity that she would have
worn if had been her brother. l asked her
to dance.
ssNo," she answered, ssshe did not dance
that evening"" She gave no excuse, but her
eyes looked cloudy moment after when
phlegmatic gentleman with sinister lip, came
up with similar request. She declined it,
mentioning the gentleman's name to me by
way OF introduction, as she did so. 1t was
Herr Won Holt. He looked suspiciously at
ne; think he thought me rival. l stayed
by her, however, saving her as far as possible
rom his odious talk and amorous glances by
myself between them an officious-
ness for which she seemed to thank me.
He at length walked around to the place
where Mr.. Conyngham was standing. Lady
Grey was talking with DIR. Scandnavius, the
great Doctor of Laws, and was at last VISA
Wis with Miss Bess. improved the opportu-
nifty. Soon, however, Couyngham came and
led his daughter and sister away. l followed
hem and sought my own room, where tried
20 remember the length of time had been at
brighton-lt seemed like two months, so much
u nope and fear had been crowded into the
limits OF day. l had forgotten my illness,
md business seemed 4 subject had been ac-
Iuainted with In some former phase of exist
nee.
cannot infinitely follow out the events of
he ensuing week. will only say that met
he charming Miss Conyngham everywhere.
walked with her by the pier-chain-Lady
Frey, of course, on the other sde-sometimes
anced with her, and once had the felicity of :
irving with her on the cliffs. had preser-
ed the secret of the ventilator, though in my {
wn vindication will state that / had never {
stened to it since had known my neighbors {
kept my room in perfect quietnde, and if
card voices in the adjoining room, would {
o out that might not overhear the conversa-