The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-08-16
MISCELLANY.
N~O~~-~~>~-O-~-~-
From the Phil. SATURDAY Eve. Post.
BEATRICE.
by BERTHA BARTON.
BY BERTHA BARTON.
CHAPTER l.

which actuated her to take thus Singular
O. step. Could ambition be her incentive!
Certainly the bait 1rds golden one, but
was not Miss Eagcrton the daughter of
the late Hon. Hervcy Eagerton, and sole
heiress of the broad lands OF lIazelhurst
Park ?
1t was mystery.
Not one of the luminarics which re-
volvcd around Beatrice Eagerton had
ever 50 dazzled her with its radiance as to
cause her to reveal her confidence she
was gracious and charming, hut nerer
confidential.
Perhaps some one slightly tinged with
sentimentalty might here suggest that
Miss Eagerton's coterie had made an i'm
portant omission the existence of the
fabric upon which engagements are said
to be erected being altogether ignored,
viz: love:
No one within the limits of Miss Eag-
erton's circle would have possessed the
temcrity TO advance such Il remark, for
the avalanche Of sarcasm lavished upon
the offender would be overwhelming.
When settled CONVICTION upon point
has been attained, one cannot tamely
brook to be aroused from it. Now it has
long been an established opinion that
Beatrice Eagerton would never love. and
never marry. She had led such an indie
pendent, self-suiliccnt lfc-how could she
submit to the silken fctters of wedock
and even putting that aside, her supposed
ideal was far too exalted to meet with its
counterpart in this sublunary sphere, where
corseleted knights rank among the things
that are no more"
This ground was not self-assumed, but
where Others placed Miss Eagerton.
Linley Rutherford was only plain,
dark man, but unlike the hero of Jane
Eyre" (which some writer remarks has
become the pet style Of the fiction writers
of the present day,) he was genial and
pleasant, and Beatrice Eagerton may have
imagined that the nineteenth century can
boast of as brave, true hearts as ever beat
under armor.
Beatrice had refused many eligible Of
fers. What if her suitors were men Of
the world. men who led aimcss lives,
hcedessy throwing away time that could
never be redeemed Were they not ami
able langudly polite, and wealthy ari.to-
Gratis What more could reasonable
girl desire ?
But there are some hearts which the
above requirements cannot fill, and it may
be that Beatrice Eagcrton's ranked among
that class.
When Linlcy Rutherford (metaphori-
cally >pcakincJ threw down the gauntlet,
entered the magic ring. and distanring all
competitors, bore oil the prize, Miss Ea-
gcrtons circle were lost in maze Of be-
wildercd surprise.
Unimaginative man that Mr.. Itthcr-
ford was, he dreamed of blisafu future,
and erected various "Castles in Spain 4"
relative to the time when beatrice would
become the queen of his home, Us she was
now OF his heart, the presiding deity Of
his elegant mansion; his till death would
part not fashions votary, not the worlds
but his alone Beatrice had been lett an
orphan at an early age. Her aunt, Mrs.
Morris, to whose care she had been com
mitted, was a weak minded, fashionable
woman, who endcavurcd to instill in the
mind OF her young charge her own false,
hollow principles. Thus, surrounded by
influence which would have spoiled less
noble nature, she had grown into woman
hood.
do not wish it TO be inferred that
Beatrice was taultess; on the contrary,
she was wilful and capricous, but she was
also high souled, generous and true.
Miss Eagerton's myriad friends were
familiar with her exterior life, hut of the
undercurrent OF her thoughts and feelings,
they knew absolutely nothing. These
pleasure seeking butterflies could not at
tain to her level, neither could she descend
to theirs therefore she looked down upon
them from her height, simply tolerating
them as the companions OF the day. She
honored them with her favor, allowing
them to bask in the light reflected from
her presence, snd they were well content.
Apparently beatrice was on ardent de-
votce Of the shrine of fashion and gayety.
There had been time when heartsick she
turned from the worlds false stimuants,
longing to lead higher, better life; but
her theories were pronounced chimercal,
and politely sneered down, and she was
chilled and disappointed by the look of
sympathy. j'robably intervening years
had obliterated such early girlish emotions.
She was now twenty-five, and appeared
to be conlormed and moulded into the
ways of the world Ifmemories of what
might have been" ever arose, Beatrice
made no verbal demonstration.
Shall / describe Beatrice Eagerton
She was, what is generally styled a sta
tuesque beauty, with a tall, slight figure,
infinitely graceful; a clear, pale complex
ion, and small crimson mouth, which
when she smiled reminded one of trite but
beautiful SMILES. But her eyes, her
splendidIy, glorious eyes, were her chief
attraction. ui..- .-.
! will relate little incident by way of
illustration. ..
1t was at an evening company, that a,
group of young men stood idly discussing
Miss Eagerton.r All agreed that the color
of her eyes had never been ascertained by
either of the party, and variety of OPT