The Morning herald., 1876-09-05

Il
and when there simulated . gayety Of
manaer greater than had hitherto distin-
guished his most vivacious moments. He
had always been a general favorite, and
now hi, company was more sought after
than ever. Among the young persons of
the opposite sex with whom his engage
ments most frequently brought him in
contact, was young girl Of the name of
Fanny Hartley, pretty, gentle, excessively
amiable, but without much mind, and with
no literary taste whatever.
She had nothing to say, but she listened
to him, and he felt in her society sort of
repose, which was at present peculiarly
grateful to his angry, troubled spirit. Her
very silence soothed him, while the alb
sorbing nature Of his own feelings pre-
vented him at first from thinking Of hers.
Philip Hayforth had certainly not more
than an average share Of human vanity,
but he did at last suspect, partly from an
accidental circumstance which had first
drawn his attention to the subject, that he
had created in the heart of the innocent
Fanny deeper interest than he had ever
intended. He was touched, grateful, but
at first grieved, for he "could never love
again"
But the charm of being loved soon began
to work his heart was less desolate, his
feelings were less bitter, when he thought
Of Fanny Hartley, and he began to ask
himselfif he were wise to reject the conso.
lation which Providence seemed to offer
him in the affection Of this amiable and
artless young creature.
And when he thought Of the pain she
might perchance be suffering on his ac-
coant, all hesitation upon the subject was
naasved at once. If she loved him, as he
believed, his conduct, it, seemed to his
really kind heart, had already been bar
barous. He ought not to delay another
day. And accordingly that very evening
he offered his hand to Fanny Hartley, and
was accepted with trembling joy.
Their marriage proved a happy one.
Fanny was as amiable as she had ap-
peared, and in the conduct of the COM
moner affairs of life, good feeling with her
supplied in great measure any deficiency
of strong sense. Philip did perhaps occa-
sionally heave gentle sigh, and think for
a moment of Emily Sherwood, when he
found how incapable his wife Of respond
ing to n lofty or poetic thought, or Of ap-
preciating the points of an argument, un-
less it were upon some such subject as the
merits of new dress or the seasoning Of
pudding. But he quickly checked the
rising discomfort, for Fanny was so pure in
heart, and SO unselfsh in disposition, that
it was impossible not to respect as we'll as
love her.
In short, Philip Hayforth was fortu-
nate man, and, what is more surprising,
knew himself to be so. And when, after
twenty wears of married life, he saw his
faithful, gentle Fanny laid in her grave,
he felt bereaved indeed. 1t seemed to him
then as perhaps,at such time it always
does to tender heart, that he had never
done her justice, never loved her as her
surprising goodness deserved. And yet a
kinder husband neAer lived than he had
been; and Fanny had died blessing him,
and thanking him, as she said, "for twenty
years of happiness" "How infinitely su
perior," he daily and hourly thought,
twas her sweet temper and loving dispo-
sition to all the intellect and all the poetry
that ever were enshrined in the most
beautiful form" And yet Philip Hay
forth certainly was not sorry that his
eldest daughter-his pretty, lively Fanny
should have turned out not only amiable
and affectionate, but clever and witty. He
was, in truth, very proud Of Fanny. He
loved all his children most dearly; but
Fanny was the apple Of his eye-the very
delight Of his existence. he had now al |
most forgotten Emily Sherwood; but when
he did think of her, it was with indifer.
,ence rather than forgiveness. He had not
heard of her since his marriage, having,
some time previous to that event, COM
pletely broken off the slight acquaintance
he had formed with her relations; while a
short absence abroad, at the time Of her
union with Mr.. Beauchamp, had prevented
him from seeing it's announcement in the |
papers. .,. -,
Meanwhile poor Emily's married life
had not been so happy as that Of her
former lover. Mr.. Beauchamp was OF |
pompous, tyrannical disposition. and hat |
small mean mind. He was constantly |
worrying about trides, perpe'ually taking
offence with nothing. and would srend
whole days in discussing some trivial point
of etiquette, in the breach of which he con-
ceived himself aggrieved. 4 very miser.
able woman was his wife amid all the cold
magnifcence of her stately home. Often,
very often in her hours of loneliness and
depression, her thoughts would revert to
the brief, bright days Of her early love,
and her spirit would be wrapt away by
the recollection of that scene on the bal
conv, when Philip Hayforth and she had
stood with locked hands and full hearts
gazing at the sinking star and the sweetly
breaking day, and loving. feeling, think
:.... M. ~ IL az Lal hut nnn mind hpfWeen