The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-02-12

served quiet Roderick Dexter.
When his visits first became frequent
Clara honestly supposed them intended fol
herself; Elsie WIS so young, so gay, so diff
ferent in every respect from the grave, plair
suiter. Then, too, he paid her very little
attentions. his discourse was generally ad
dressed to the elder sister, with whom he was
more at ease. Clara liked him. she was
quite able to overlook, in remembrance oil
hit real worth, all those deficiencies at which
Elsie carped, and to feel honored by his
preference. 1t was not quite pleasant sur
prise when circumstances disclosed her mis-
take; she was mortified, humiliated at the
appropriation, even in her own mind, of ar
interest not designed for her. But q still
greater surprise was the fact that Elsie prov
ed by no means Indifferent to her conquest.
Whether her slight and purposeless charac-
ter felt its importance enhanced by the hom
age of this earnest and serious man; whether
she found in it something to.lean upon and
to strengthen; or whether she was simply fat
tered that the person most universally hon.
! ored and esteemed among her set preferred
her, none could say. Yet it was clearly ap.
pearent that, however she might pretend to
undervalue him and laugh at his GAUcHERIEs,
she was proud of his regard and watchful oil
his attentions.
After Eleanor Barlow's arrival this became
more than ever manifest. A young lady un-
der the same roof naturally received a little
notice, even from the reserve tutor, and that
little was sufficient to make Elsie uneasy
Her regard needed only the stimulus of jeal-
ously to fan it into the brightest fame OF
| which her heart was capable. She was rest.
less, absent, dnring all her hours at home
even the adornment of her person, her most
engrossing care and greatest pleasure, failed
to interest," her; in company she was only gay
if Mr. Dexter were near her and devoted
Even his difidence drew encouragement from
his demeanor; declaration of his feeling
speedily ensued, and poor Ned Torrington
was awakened from dreams of Elsie by the
news of her approaching marriage. For for
tune had been kind to the young tutor; he
was appointed TO fill vacant Professorship,
and matrimony was Unstable not only in his
own eyes but in those of the friends of his
detrothed. So the marriage took place with
all the ECLAT possible in q country village,
and Roderick Dexter bore home his BRIDE
Elsie expected in her new life nothing less
than perfect happines, though> she never
troubled herself to analyze the expectations
and see what grounds she had for it. She
had not been by any means very happy in her
maiden home, spite. of her beauty, her bell
hood and entire freedom from care; there
had been plenty of hours of dissatisfaction
and ENNUI. But she fattered herself that
these were due to circumstances; she had been
under SO much restraint-Clara was so ex-
citing, so fussy, always wanting her to be in
flnenced by high motives and strict notions
of duty. There would be no such trouble
with Roderick, who was more than satisfied
with her as she was. Life seemed to stretch
before her gaze, sunny scene of love and
homage; she did not inquire how she was to
merit the love or keep the homage.
Roderick's hopes had basis hardly mora
solid. Rapturous gratitude for the prefer.
ence of creature so beautiful, a lovers faitf
that robed her in all attributes of womanly
perfection; was this the capital to meet the
uuceasing drafts of married life? But there
was an essential difference in the vision o.
the two; Elsie thought only of the happiness
she was to receive, while Roderick was re
solved, with all the force of o nature deep
and earnest, to brighten the existence o
that being so lovely and beloved, who hat
given herself to his keeping.
(CoNTINUED.)