The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-01-24

heart, and resist the kind old mans reason.
ings and pleadings?
Why did believe him when he told me
I should win his sons affections? Did I
not know that his heart was given to ano.
ther2 Dear old man, he fondly believed
his Frederic's affections could not be with.
held from one whom be himself loved so
tenderly-and how eagerly drank in his
assurances.
Amid all the sorrow that felt, while
kneeling by his dying bed, how did my
heart swell with undefnable pleasure, as he
laid his hand, already chilled by death, upon
my head, gave me his parting blessing, and
said bis son would love me! Mistaken as.
surances! All, why did I fondly trust it :?
Were now free free would I have the
knot united that makes me his for life?
Not a word like this Nay, be is mine
and 1 am his by the laws of God and man,
WE ARE ONE!
He must sometimes be at home, and an
occasional hour in his society will be a
dearer bliss than aught this world can be-
stow beside. His fathers blessing is still
warm at my heart. I still feel his hand
upon my head Let me act as he trusted I
should act, and all may yet be we'll Over
look my infirmities, forgive all that needs
forgiveness, sustain my weakness and guide
me by thine unerring wisdom. She fell
upon her knees to continue her supplication
and pour out her full soul before her Father
in heaven, and when she arose her heart, if
not happy, was calm, her brow, if not cheer
full, was serene.
Frederic Westbury was an only child.
He never enjoyed the advantages of ma
ternal instruction, impressed on the heart
by maternal tenderness for his mother
died before he was three years old, and all
rec0llecti0ns of her had faded from bis mem.
ory. Judge Westbury was one of the most
amiable, one of the best men; but with re-
gard to the management of bis son, he was
too much like that venerable Israelitish
priest. His son, like other sons often did
that which was wrong "and be reproved
him not" He was neither negligent in
teaching, nor in warning but instruction
did not as they ever should do, 60 hand in
hand; and for want Of this discipline,
Frederic grew up with passions uncontroll.
ed, with will unsubdued. He received a
finished education, and bis mind, which was
of high order, was richly stored with
knowledge. His pride of character was great,
and be looked down with contempt on all
that was dish0n0rable and vicious. he
had chivalrous generosity, and frankness
of disposition that led him to detect conceal.
ment or deceipt. He loved or hated with
bis whole soul. In person he was elegant /;
his countenance was marked with intellect
and strong feeling, and he had the bearing
of a prince. Such was Frederic Westbury
at the age of four and twenty.
About a year before his marriage Fred
eric became acquainted with Mariah Ell
don, young lady Of great beauty of person,
and OF fascination of manners, who at once
enslaved his affections. But against Miss
Eldon Judge Westbury had conceived pre-.
judice, and for once in bis life was obstinate
in refusing to indulge bis son in the wish of
bis heart. He foresaw or thought be did
so, the after ruin of that sons happiness,
should be so ally himself.
He had selected a wife for his son, a
daughter in~law for himself, more to his
own taste. Julia Horton was possessed of all
Possibly Frederic might have thought 60
too, bad he known her ere bis heart was in
possession of another but being pointed
out to him as one to whom he must trans
fer his affections, he looked upon her with
aversion as the chief obstacle to the
realization of his riches. Julia was born,
and had been educated in q place re-
mote from Judge Westbury's resi-
dence but from her infancy he had
seen her from time to time, as business led
him into part of the country in which her
parents resided. In her childhood she en-.
twined herself around the heart of the
Judge, and from that period be had looked
upon her as the future wife of bis son.
his views and wishes, however, were strictly
confined to his own breast, until to bis dis
may, he found that bis sons affections were
entangled. This discovery was no sooner
made than he wrote pressing letter to
Julia, who was now an orphan, to come and
make him a visit of few weeks. The
reason he gave for inviting her was his
health was rapidly declining, (which was too
true) and be felt that her society would be
a solace to bis heart.
Julia came; she saw Frederic, heard his
enlightened conversation, observed his pol
ished manners, remarked the lofty tone OF
his feelings; and giving the reins to her FAM
cy without consulting reason and prudence,
she loved him. Too late for her security
but too soon for her peace, she learned that
he loved another. Dreading lest she should
oetray her folly to the object of her IN.
sought affection, she wished Immediately to
return to her native place. But to this,
Judge Westbury would not listen. He
soon discovered the state of her feeling, and
1t gave him unmingled satisfaction. It ar.
gued well for the success Of his dearest
earthly hope; and as his strength was ran
ldly declining, consumption having fastened
her deadly faDgs upon him to hasten him to