The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-07-02


fore had been struck for the crimson tide
surged over Russell's face, and he pulled his
hat trifle lower to conceal his confusion.
"No have not consulted her - he said.
:" If she is a true woman she will not love me
less, for acting up to my conviction of duty"
He paused, then trying to smile, he added !;
at will be very good way to test my friends.
But | suppose Allie is waiting for me. Walk
up and take tea with us once more before our
family is disbanded."
"Not this evening, thank you. I must
make myself presentable for the party at the
Clifton's tonight. You and your sister will be
there l suppose ~
1t is probable Allie win not. / shall be
there however," CAN right, l will see you
then, and l cannot help thinking you will get
over the absurd idea of, as you call it, flank
ing the enemy, and leave well enough alone.
His tone was cold and high, and there was an
air of conscious superiority about him as he
walked away.
Russell gazed after him and murmured "Is
it possible that from this one whom | had
hoped one day to call brother, must be first
made to feel the hollowness of the worlds
friendship. He never refused to go home with
me before. l must see Virginia tonight
find our idols are clay"
That evening, in pause of the dance,
and while the softs strains of music were
yet echoing through the apartments Rus
sell drew Virginia Griswoll into shaded
alcove, and told her of his plans, and at the
asked if she would wait until he had won a
position to which she need not stoop to bestow
her hand. But the languid sweetness of Vir-
ginia's eyes changed to a cold, scornful CLEAN,
as she replied haughtily that ga quarryman,
even though he might be as wise as Solomon,
equal in society !? -" and with stately bow she
swept past him into the brilliantly lighted
saloon. Soon Russell saw her joining in the
dance with young Lieutenant whose epau-
lettes were brighter than his character, and
with heart proud of its own high resolves
he passed out unnoticed into the starry night,
and sought his home, soon to be his no longer,
where Alice with loving fingers was packing
away few of the most precious of their
household treasures, to take with her as a me-
mento of the days before she knew that friends
could be false, and that life was not a sunny
dream.
The next day Russell dissolved his conncc-
ton with Griswoll & Co. Then the servants
were discharged, the furniture sold at public
4Ai,o A. ~.
sister had entered upon their new duties.
Three years passed away. The names of
Russell Mabery and his sister had been for
gotten in the society in which they had form
erly moved or if not forgotten, they were
never mentioned. No one sought them in
pened to meet any of their former acquaintan-
ces, they were passed by with a cold bow, or
supercilious stare. But they had been vaua-
BILE years to Russell during two of them he
remained in the quarry, discharging his duties
with dignity and faithfulness. Never was he
known to commit an act of injustice, or to
utter disrespectful word to his interiors and
by his precepts and example, marked change
was apparent in the character of many of the
workmen. His evenings were spent in study,
and often far into the night he fingered over
them, diving down deep into the knotty codes
and points of law, mastering in short period
with his astute and far reaching mind, that
which others had been years in doing.
And not only did his mind expand but, re-
leved from care and anxiety, his form grew in
strength and manly vigor. His face, always
handsome, gained new expression of firm
self reliance, and earnest purpose and the
glance of bis fine dark eyes, always kind and
truthful, seemed to pierce the thought of his
fellow men, and read each act. No one under
him dare try to deceive him, and all regarded
him with the most profound respect. Every
Sabbath afternoon, Alice came out and took
tea at the farm, and in her society and that of
Jessie Stephens, the farmers daughter, he
found all the wishes of his heart met
At the end of the two years he had laid by
sufficient to enable him to continue his studies
without interruption, until he could be adj
mitted to the bar. Judge Ainsworth advised
him to give up his situation and make his
home with him until that period. He felt
uSelly lteltSitu III HIS pupil, HOI OlilJ DecduSe
of his superior talent, and the elements he saw
in him for making distinguished man. but
for the firm integrity of his character, upon
whose open pagethere was no blot, or stain.
He had one son whom he had hoped to make
his successor. But he had chosen the minis
try, feeling that duty called him, and he was
then finishing his studies in Theological
Seminary.
1t was not without some regret that Russell
left the quiet seclusion of the farm house, to
enter again into the busy world and mingle
with that class of society he had once found
so false. And as he took his departure he
looked back with reluctance to the vine wreath
ed window of the room, where he had passed
SO many peaceful hours in the enjoyment of
his studies.
But perhaps it was the golden curls and
lovely face Of Jessie Stephens, visible there,
that held his gaze the longest, and the men,
DRY of her sweet compauionship that hallowed
the spot, and heightened the charm gifts sylvan
beauty. But in his heart was the sweet as
surname that Jessie loved him and when he