Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-08


the faculty for self,delusion which is com
. mon TO us all, be resolved to visit hi
/ friend; it was but pleasant iutelligen
! intercourse he sought was il manly Il
shun the society he valued because 0
, this shadowy danger ? Honor Westwooc
} was nothing TO hims he would 90. ~
, went, and in that peculiar mood Of min,
it may be easily guessed with what re-
t suits. His early impressions were inten
. sifed, passionaiel ! !, took root in bin
against which ali lis struggles were uoa
gailing. But the lady was changed too
now Philip had corne back, she manifes-
ted a certain reserve. lie felt the change
and was piqued. Instead Of accepting
the opportunity thus offered, and placing
the intimacy on footing more consonant
TO his sense of duty-as had be been al
once with himself on the subject he would
have done-he determined to combat and
overcome this estrangement. He sue
eeeded As bis visits grew more fire.
quent, Honor Westwood's manner resum-
ed its old grace and warmth, till her un-
Gle began to take ro.e of such small cir
cumstances as led him TO suspect that his
niece and his architect were--well, no
matter-Honor was Of age. mistress Of a
small fortune, and Philip Stourton was
an estimable man and bis good friend.
Smooth as regarded outward influences
was the course Of Philips loye-making,
but his own mind was irresolute and dis.
tracted. lie felt the fascination which
had seized upon hin grow day by day in
power. He knew that he was paltering
with a sacred agreement which be had
never proposed to himself to break lhr'o,
yet he would not terminate the intimacy,
and he dared not look beyond the present
hour. He worked hard at his profession,
crowded task upon task, purposely al
lowing himself little leisure for reflection,
but he gave blind way to bis impetuous
feelings whenever chance or choice led
him to Honor's side. He did not neglect
his own home; but The nurse, (pow
housekeeper,) TO whore management his
domestic concerns were intrusted, was far
from being satisfied with the state Of af-
fairs, and spoke ont her mind as she was
in the habit Of doing. 'The motherless
children were sighted. Business-if il
was business that absorbed Mr.. Stourton
should not swallow up home duties
and if it was gay company that attracted
him it was still less excusa5le' These |
remonstrancess she did not scruple TO make
to Philips face, and far from being 81
lenccd by his rcbukes, let fall expressions
which showed knowledge Of the a;ten-
tions he paid his fair acquaintance, and .
inveighed bitterly against second maria
ges. This was sufficiently insolent, but
Philip did not care to resort TO the obyi-
Gus remedy. Her well-iried fidelity, and |
the anxious care with which she watched |
over the welfare Of his children, forbade |
her being sent away; so her insubordi-
nation was endured, and her prate and
caprices passed over as necessary evils.
There came a time, however, when
Philips vacillating purpose became fixed,
though probably in au opposite direction
to what the real balance of his confused
feelings inclined him. On a quiet win
ter evening he and Honor met once again.
1t might be said that she was kinder to
him than usual. or be himself more sus.
ceptible. However that might be, her
beauty and the scarcely concealed favor
with which she regarded him SO far con-
luered that before they parted be had
asked her to become his wife. And on
he morrow, while his mind was filed
with conflicting emotions of love and re-
morse, Honor wrote to him, consenting,
It made him very happy, of course.
Poor Philip Stourton.
He had taken step, however, which
eemed irrevocable, and be rushed blind
y on TO the end. Like a man in the
of crime, he resolutely eva
led reflection on the course he was pur-
uing, though be could not prevent his
hougEts from playing at distance, as it
we're, round the forbidden point. In in
essant labor he endeavored to escape {
elf-examination, indemnifying himself {
With long evenings of delightful compan-
onship, when conscience, which then [
hould have stung the sharper, was laid I
o sleep by the all-pOwerful Establishments {
f the hour. y
After while the marriage day was
ixed, and the preparations for it were q
,egun. The fact was whispered about,
md reached the ears of Philips house, t
.eeper; but strangely enough that ready a
ongue of hers for once was mute, though O
Ter feelings were anything bat placid, to