A
.-( i
i t7
'WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAV; -WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WE CEASE TO FOLLOW."
I 'BY JOHN G. GIVEN.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY,- MAY- 2i, 1819.
VOL. 5. NO. 33.
- .
i i r .1
4
1
1 31
i
SELECT T A L E.
''om Scott's Weekly Paper.
I TO; SEVER M1RRY A MECH1SIC.
BY LILLE LILBER.VE.
Angel form are watching o'er me,
Ua my brow I feel iheir breath,
And it coo la the brain thai' burning
With the leprosy of ddath.
Faint, weak, languid an J exhausted,
Clinton Courtland opened his eyes to the
alight morning light that was admitted into
his chamber. Catharine stood bending
over him. He recognized her and faintly
nailed, and attempted to speak. WiJi a
look of alarm she laid her white fingers
. upon his marble lips and said
You mast not speak; the physician has
forbidden it; the slightest exertion may in
jure you.'
One grateful look he bent upon herpale
face as she turned away. Lawrence too
was . there. . lie approached and, taking
the almost lifeless hand of his cousin with
in his own, laid his brow upon it to hide
his feelings. '
Catharine laid her hand on the arm of
Lawrence. This must not be she. whis
pered. Beware of causing the least agi
tation and excitement.'
Courtland turned away, and bowing to
the maiden as he passed, as much as to
say 4 1 have done wrong' left the room
to compose his feelings."
The surgeon had said that nothing but
the most watchful care could save him,
and this she bestowed hour after hour,
and week after week un weariedly . Alia
too sometimes sat by his bedside. And
Lawrence and Edgar were there. But
Catharine was the angel of the sick room.
He had bled much at the lungs, and this
kept him weak, though he was slowly re
covering. The visitors had almost all left the
.springs; yet our little party still remained.
Bat Edgar had announced his intention ot
leaving; he had been there much longer
v 'tended.
BrtdV e like death t0 the heart of
r.
- r , Jf ailC ICll ilUW UtUl IU liCl Hd3
lied Lawrence Courdand. And
are;
Ka tliot ha rrtwn( Lor o n 1 1
va,yelt she stood as high in his esti-V-VuU
as any lady there. Yet her heart
, sighed for a preference. Did he even care
'for her, how many opportunities he might
have had of showing it! But no it was
evident his heart was all untouched. Yet
his keen, watchful eye seemed sometimes
to say he had read hers; but the impress
ion this knowledge made upon him could
not be fathomed. Who could read .Law
rence Courdand?
The hour has come, and we must part;
God help each lonely loving heart,
And may each string that rloubt hath broken,
Be linktd together a truthful token,
That we, from this, shaLl ever bo
Flighted and pledged eternally.
Catharine Cameron sought for the last
time a secluded arbour where, with Clin
ton, previous to his sickness, she had
sometimes sat, and painful recollections
were flooding to her brain. It was the
last day she would ever behold him; the
sun would set for the last time upon them
beneath one roof, and how desolate would
be her heart!
Would he ever think of her! O, could
he but live in his remembrance she
would ask no more. a
' Clinton entered unexpectedly, and with
n easy and refined air, sat down by .her,
and appearing not to notice her tears and
confusion, said
I understand by your cousin that you
leave for the North to-morrow, and O,
Miss Cameron, how can I ever thank you
ufficiendy for what, for all, you have done
for me? How can I ever reward you
you to whom, in reality, I believe I owe
ay life?
Hush, sir?' Catharine found words to
say;-Do not speak of it it is nothing
nothing more than than '
Than you would have done for any
one else, interrupted the invalid mechanic
in a dejected tone.
Have I done more than duty deman
ded? the, maiden asked in a tremulous
voice. J . ' '
' And yet we may perform acts of dutv
. tth different feelings. It may be a cross
"u may be a pleasure J
Catharine was silent, and he resumed in
d melancholy, yet musical, voice
- Vv nte much as 1 have endured, much
a leave suffered the long and lingering
hours of helplessness have been the hap-
. piest I have evet kaown. for there was oae
dearer to me than life who watched over
xne. Yes, I could evea pray for weak.
-ness and sickness if woman's fond and
faithful heart was caring for me.
Catharine bent her head still lower, but
her confusion was apparent. Clinton took
her hand in his and continued
May I not hope that the hallowed de
votion bestowed upon me in those days of
debility, will not be withdrawn now? But
perhaps that was only pity all you have
to bestow on a neglected and rejected me
chanic' The maiden raised her drooping head,
and with difficulty articulated
'If you think thus of me, Mr. Courtland,
then indeed am I unworthy of another
thought from you.'
'Forgive me, Miss Cameron, forgive
me. I have .wounded your feelings. I
meant it not. Perhaps I am too sensitive
upon this subject perchance I am too
distrustful. May be I too keenly feel all
of slight and wrong.'
And after some moment's pause, he
went on
'You know, dear Miss Cameron, my
station in life; you know of my prospects,
my character all this you have heard
from Edgar, and with regard to them I
have nothing to offer, and will only add
that I love you; that 1 have long regarded
you as an object of tenderness; and now
now say, dearest, that my passion is re
turned say that it is, that you will be
mine!'
Catharine trembled, and the rich blood
flushed to her shaded temple, and, without
lifting her eyes, she replied, falteringiy,
'Ere I answer let me beg of you to go
back with me to the past. We have met
before.'
Clinton started turned pale, and a con
vulsive shudder shook his weakened frame.
'What! before?' he almost gasped.
'When? Where?'
Catharine, attributing his emotion to
surprise, answered
'Do you remember the frail child that
bathed your sunken temples, on board the
Washington, years ago, and who' she
hesitated.
'And who gave me this?' and he drew
the rich phial with tangled ribbons from
his"vest, and resumed, musingly,
'And what a balm your childish caresses
wrought on a heart that was writhing with
such agony as I pray Heaven I may never
know again.'
And with startling abruptness he went
on
'And did you then learn wiio I was
my name?'
And the deep, dark, searching, scorch
ing look he fastened on her face, told of
the mighty feelings struggling in his soul.
But Catharine betrayed no confusion.
She did not even lift her eyes. She was
looking on that one seene that had lived in
her memory for years. And she answer
ed thoughtfully
'did not perhaps my father did.'
Clinton drew a long, free breath. The
weight on his heart had been too oppres
sive; and he murmured tenderly
'This is a blessing I had not looked for.
I had not expected again to see the angel
of that hour; but in those dreadful days of
suffering that followed, I still saw that
sweet, ciiildlike figure bending over me,
and cooling my fevered brow. And now,
thou hast come to me
again
and calmed
Surely, vou
my heart with kindness.
are my guardian angel; and all I have to
repay in return is love, love the pure and
j the true, love that hath never been proff
: ered to woman before.'
'And it is all I ask more; I dare
not
accept it.'
And the maiden bent her fac
e upon her
hands and wept.
Clinton drew her nearer to him, and
poured his pleading prayers upon her
heart, in winning whisperings, in earnest
eloquence.
There was no word in answer; but one
stifled sob, and he knew her heart was all
his own.
'Did I not consult my feelings,' he ob
served, after an interval of some minutes,
I fear I should forget what is due to yours
and the restrictions of delicacy, and plead
with you to accompany me home now, as
my bride. To thst heme, humble as it
may be. And will only ask that you will
name the time when 1 may come to con
duct ycu to it.'
And Catharine listened. O how wil
lingly would she have dispensed with all,
could she have been permitted to watch
his returning health, and administer to his
every wish and want.
And may be he read all this as he gazed
earne&iy and affectionately on her change
ful features; but if he did, he seemed re
solved to adhere to his first resolution, and
whispered as he watched her fluctuating
countenance 1
'But you have not answered me, dear
est; when will we meet again? When
may I come to claim my own?'
'Name your own time,' she responded,
falteringiy. I will be ready.'
And ere they returned to the house, the
day, the week, the month was fixed upon.
It was evening. A lady who had
brought her three daughters to the same
watering place for the" last eight years, like
so many articles of merchandize, showily
shrouded and placed in the most advanta
geous position, without getting them off
her hands remarked to Clinton Courtland
the first time she had deigned to notice
him.
'It seems, sir, that your cousin is very
fastidious, and unconscionable diifieult to
pleas;:; for it is reported that there is not a
lady in his native city that he would mar
ry; and that he has travelled all over Eu
rope without meeting any one he deemed
worthy to share his hind and fortune.'
And this seemed one confronting conso
lation for his so completely neglecting her
row of rougi redeeming movables for
sale.
The mechanic smiled, and was about to
reply, when L iwrence came into the apart
ment. Th3 mo her and her daughters
soon retired. Edgar with that everlasting
expression of mischief on his lip, said, ad
dressing Mr. Courtland,
'I heard a lady just say, that had three
several fair daughters to market, and has
had these dozen years, that there was not
a single lady in New York that Lawrence
Courdand would marry.'
'She must have a very exalted opinion
of me then,' was the dry response.
And is it so, Courtland?' Edgar laugh
ingly asked of Clinton.
'I do not think he ever made the inqui
ry,' the o.her rejoined, his dark eye light
ing up with something like pleasure, 'for
fear perhaps that he would be successful.
Is not this it, cousin?'
'It may be 1 was not listening,' and
Lawrence leaned his head upon his hand
in deep dejection, until roused from his
abstraction by some one inquiring of him
about his travels abroad about the coun
tries and curiosities the castles on the
Rhine and the ruins on the Rhone; and
then he went on with an ease and facility
that astonished, leaving no room for fur
ther questioning, and about as correctly as
a person .would do who had read, with
close attention, of the places and things
described.
Poor Alia! She had feared and felt the
fascinations of the courted Courdand and
they had parted forever, without one seem
ing regret on his part, or one wish, one
request to be remembered.
Will he comewill become? Methinks I hoar
His fiuoUiep livht and free;
Will he coma will ha come? O how I fear
He lias half forgotten me.
And then then but nay. nay
Each darkened doubt be si til away.
Catharine Cameron's wedding-day was
near at hand. The bridal paraphernalia
had been sent home, and she -with Alia
was examining it. It was plain, but cost
ly and elegant. And Alia playfully re
marked 'This dress is just like you, Catharine;
it is rich and graceful, and delicate, with a
kind of mysterious-bewildering, bewitch-
mgness, that cannot be described, that
' cannot be resisted; and it is too beautiful
too too lovely for
She hesitated.
For a mechanic's wife. Let me finish
the sentence for you,' the maiden return-
eu, with a sad smile: 'But, she contm-
ued, 'I am not very ambitious;
perhaps
.la maii HUUlii UCl UL il L 111 C
But I will never marry a mechanic!'
Alia said, for at leas the ninety and ninth
time. . .
'Something I have heard you say be
fore, sister dear,' responded a voice at the
door, and Edgar entered the apartment,
and added 'But would you not marry
Lawrence Courdand now, if he were a
mechanic?'
And the merry, mirthful light in his eye
had changed to a serious, searching gaze.
Alii colored a3 she answered
'But that is impossible altogether so,
you know'
'Yet you have not replied to my ques
tion, fair sis.'
I should think I had, satisfactorily.'
And the maiden's proud lip slightly
curled.
'Would you, Alia, would you marry
Lawrence Courtland, if he M ere really a
mechanic?'
'I have said. But he will never be one,'
was spoken with a restless quickness.
'No but if he iccre, and should offer
you his hand, would you accept it, were
there but that one obstacle in the way?'
And there was a provoking smile on the
speaking lip of Edgar.
Alla's pride was roused, and in a scorn
ful, irritable tone she replied
'No! I would sooner die first!'
The brother's brow was somewhat
clouded, and he responded
Sister, you will one day marry a me
chanic, else set me down for a false proph
et that's all. .
A false fool! I had almost Eaid,' Alia
rejoined, half indignant at the other's jes
ting language.
Edgar smiled most annoyingly, and ta
king pencil and paper from his packet,
wrote a few minutes, and then read over to
himself in a low tone, yet distinctly audi
ble I will never marry a mechanic. No!
I will sooner die first. False fool,' &c.
And then, deliberately folding up the
pa;e, put it in his pocket-book. And then,
turning to his sister, said gravely
I fc'iall keep these wise sayings as
choice as the commandments, to read to
you some day.'
'I declare, Edgar, you are enough to
pro vke the patience of Job.'
'Y'es-but then that honest old Patriarch
never had any sisters that married me
chanics.' And carelessly humming an Italian
Opera air, he left the room.
.The wedding-day was to be on the
morrow, and yet Clinton Courtland had
not yet come. Ami but once had Cath
arine heard from him, and then he men
tioned that his health was better, and that
he should be there the appointed day. It
was now the evening previous, and her
uneasiness could scarcely be concealed,
and yet she made an effort to hide her
feelings, and even conversed more, and
with more spirit than usual, that the fami
ly need not suspect she had a single fear.
Night had come. The effort had been
sustained through the day, but could be no
longer. And as the shadows of evening
gathered around, her voice was hushed in
her heart.
And then Edgar took up the discourse,
but he too gradually sank into silence, and
leaned his head against the casement lost
in thought. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson, and
Alia continued to converse on indifferent
subjects as it to draw Catharine away
from her own darkened thoughts.
The street door bell rang. Edgar star
ted, and Catharine felt the hot heart's
blood rushing to her aching brow; it was
only a vood sawyer come to demand his
! day's vages. Another it was but the
j r.ewspaper carrier. And again it was a
business man wishing to see Mr. Emer
son private. '
Again the bell rang and it was only a
genUeman inquiring if John Smith lived
there.
Every knell fell like an iceberg weight
on the crushed heart of Catharine Came
ron, Edgar had risen, and flinging open a
window stood watching the approach of
a carriage. It stopped. A gendeman
leaped lightly from it, and up the broad
steps, and touched the bell. Edgar turned.
'lie is come he has come," was his
joyful exclamation; as he snatched the
hand of his cousin, who had sank back
half fainting into her seat, and burying her
face in her quivering hands, burst into
tears.
This sudden revulsion of feeling was
too much. Edgar stooped down, and
kissing her brow, darted out to meet his
friend; and in a moment returned with
Clinton Courtland, who, bending a knee
beside his affianced one, withdrew her
hands from her face, and pressing them in
his own, read in those tear-wet, shrinking
eyes, a love as deep, as strong and pure as
ever dwelt in the heart of woman.
Not here it is too joreoa? a place
For thine humble mi I hdjipy hri'Ie
The li'y would shrink from the gel Ion vase.
To its own free home 'noalli the tide.
The mechanic and his bride had reach
ed his native city. As they drew near
one of the most splsndid mansions within
it Catharine, involuntarily exclaimed, as
she looked from the window: "What an
elegant edifice!" It was indeed so. The
eye could never tire in gazing on it.
All that taste and talent, wealth and skill
could bestow was freely lavished there.
Scarcely had she spoken ere the car
riage drew up at the broad marble steps
that led to the portico. The floor of that
was marble, and the parian pillars that
supported it were carved in the Greek
Corinthian, and the capitals so rich and
graceful, and symmetrical, were of the or
nate and Ionic.
There was a slight smile on the hus
band's lip as Catharine looked to him for
an explanation, and he said, as he pushed
open the carrirge door with negligent grace,
"This proud and princely mansion you
so much admire is the residence of is the
home of Lawrence Courtland. He wish
ed us to stop here to night, aud as I gave
him my word I would, we will not pro
ceed further; and yet " he added the,
smile almost fading from his faded lip.
"And yet this may be impolitic, for after
viewing all this splendour and magnifi
cence, the mechanic s cottage will find but
few attractions will seem even humbler
and humbler."
Catharine shrank backin the vehicle,
and forcing a gay tone, replied 'Then if
you really think so, we had better pro
ceed 4here to-night, as it is, but a -mile or
two, you say, and I am not fatigued at all.
Let us go there directly then pardon me
I would rather.'
Excuse me, dearest, but I always meet
my promises though it may be at the
eleventh hour;' he added gaily, as he lift
ed Catharine down the rteps, and drawing
her shrinking arm within his ld her up
the marble stairs. She said no more, bu.
the tears came into her eyes. She could
not help it.
They stood on the broad aud beautiful
landing, and ere the bell was touched, the
door was opened by a domestic, whose
dress bespoke the gendeman's servant.
And they entered the hall, with its marble
floor and stairways; with carvings and
mouldings of the most elegant and elabo
rate workmanship.
The whole countenance of the servant
lighted up with animation as he ushered
them in, but he did not speak, he only
bowed respectfully Clinton smiled, and
held out his hand, which the other warm
ly grasped in silence, and then hastened
on to open the doors of the saloon.
Catharine was startled by the beautiful
brilliancy oi everything around her, it
seemed so like enchanlment. And vet she
was reared in ease and opulence, was ac
customed to every luxury in early life
had moved in the first circles, but she had
never seen aught like this. The finishing
and furnishing seemed designed by the
same exquisite taste. Rare and faultless
was everything on which the eye could
rest. And there was that silent and sub
dued splendor that universally pleases; the
pure and delicate refinement that enchains
the attention; that careless concealed mag
niacence on every side that bewilders the
seirses andfacinates the fancy. But where
was Lawrence?
He came not to greet the guests he had
invited. Perhaps he had gone out.
Clinton did not enquire for him, but led
his bride to a costly seat with golden gild
ings, and then rang the bell. A servant
girl entered genteely dressed, with a glad
smile, and a half graceful inclination of the
head, and took away Cotherine s travelling
habiliments, yet purposely lingered in so
doing to gaze for a moment on the fair
bride. Clinton soon left apartment.
Catharine heard the sound of many voict s
in the distance, ,and it seemed like the
mingled welcome of servants on the return
of a loved and long absent master. And
then she heard her husband speaking in a
low voice, near the door, as if giving di
rections, which he soon alter entered, and
carefully closed.
Catharine lifted her eyes from the cost
ly charm around hpr as he came in, with a
slight flush on his pale che.k, and a deep
er biilliancy, and a melting tenderness in
his dark and dangerous eye, and seating
himself beside her spoke, and his law rich
voice was ever a music strain.
'Do you not think that the owner of all
this cold and costly splendour, would en
joy himself better did he but marry some
good and gentle girl, on whom he might
place his heart's highest and holiest affec
tions, in whom he could trust, to whom he
could look for devoWon, whom he could
love and live for, an! worship, forever!
say, my Cathariiie, do you not think so?'
'Yet he might not think thus;' Catha
rine responded, evading a direct reply.
And i have sometimes thought pur
sued the husband 'that your gay cousin,
Miss Emerson, looked not with an eye of
indifference on him who was the lion at
the Springs.'
The fair girl sighed as she replied.
And would not any preference she might
have evinced, or felt.be wholly lost on that
fastideous favorite of fortune.' :
Clinton hesitated mused and then rc-1
turned i
'On Lawrence Courtland I think it
would. He will never regard the fair Alia
in any other light than as a friend or .
He would be glad to court her among the
many lovely links of friendship in life's
choice chain. But, my own Catharine,'
and he drew her hand within his pale and
tremulous fingers, and bent his facinating
eye on hers, 4But, do you not think you
would be happier amid all this wealth, and
luxuriance and magnificence you see here,
than the lonely occupant of a mechanic's
cottage?'
O! no, no, no,' the gende girl answer
ed widi sudden energy; 'not for the world
would I be mistress of a mansion like thi?.
Courtland smiled, and in a playful tone
returned:
Then you are not very ambitious I per
ceive.' The warm blood struggled to the check
of Catharine as she answered faintly, fal
teringiy, while her face was bent from his
burning, searching eye: 'And yet I am
ambitious to deserve, to retain, to maka
happy, to bless the noble heart I hope I
have won.'
May God in mercy grant that Zaic
rence Courtland; may be ever deserving
the high and holy heart of the fair and
faultless being, that the humble, despised
mechanic hath sought and obtained. And
the speaker's lip quivered as he bent it to
the beautiful brow of his wife, and his
sweet and startling voice was hushed there
on. Catharine felt a shock through her
whole frame. The truth struck on every
throb, and springing to her feet, zs if to
escape from thought, from destiny, from
aie proud and loty one lrom whose em
brace she broke, with a su'ded groan fell
back insensible into the arms of her hus
band. He w.'shed no eye to be a witness
to this scene, and himself applied what
restoratives were nigh for her lecovery.
He b ithxl her temples, he kissed her ccld
lips, he begged her pardon, he whispered
his love and constancy,' and yet long she
lay p. le and- inanimate, and seuseiesa to
all his enJearmf nt?.
And wain she did revive the concious
ness of her peculiar p sition startled the
f.ozen life-blood to her cheek and lip, and
burying her fac. in hisboson, sobbed like
a lone forsaken child.
For moments Lawrencs did not inter
rupt this fearful flow of passionate feeling.
He only drew hf r nearer to him. Tears
would calm and balm her excited and
quivering nerves. It had it did. And
theie from I12: grieved"heart'a depths a
pr iyer had gone up to Heaven; and peace
d ew its promise bow over the heart harp's
troubled, tremulous strings; and they told
their accustomed minstrelsy, though touch.
ingly, and tremblingly as she lifted her
head and said: r
Oh! is this, is this a dream; or are you
but mocking me. But do not, oh do not
hite ma for this weakness that I cannot
help.' :
Tears stood in ! e eyes of the husband
as he replied -'Hate you, my own, my
own; you, wt.o are my hope, my life, my
all, save Ilea ea. I would'not exchange
the bliss of this one moment for all that
the world ctn ever give. Oh! if you but
knew how my heart has longed for sym
pathy, for fellowship, for companionship,
lor love. Ch how for year I would
have given all I possessed, all, everything,
f jr one loud and faithful smile on which i
could lay all trustingly, and hopefully, my
achi ig h art and its shadowed wishes.
Listen, !ov e, a. id bear with me. You think
I have deceived you; I only suffered a de
ception which I did not choose to explain
away. Ere I arrived at manhood my pa
rents died. And I felt the blow most
keenly, most severely. I loved them af-f-ctionatdy
and reverend, with all the
power of a semi.ive and imaginative heart;
and their vast possessions we. e mine
But far more to be prized than all was the
fair and fragile orphan they left, to a broth
er's care. Oil! what a high and holy ob
ject I now had in life to do to p ctecfr
to live for her. My life at any moment I
would havj given to have saved her one
single pang. Angel that she was too pure
for earth, and Heaven calhd her homt .
And then there when 1 gazed on the
lovely cone for the last time, I dared to
murmur at the high behest.
Oh how alone L was among the mock
eries of the world. Even my cous ji's
assidaous ki ldness could not soothe me.
I was a way ward and pass.'onite youth.
I forgot the many blessings diat were a
round me, regretting those that were lost
forever. " My health ded'ned, and my
physicians ordered me ab.OiC4. I was on
my way to Europe when 1 met with you
0:1 that vefs.u's deck. Oh! I ow yourgen
tle kindness reminded me of mv lost sis
ter; and your voice thrilled cn my heart
like hers.
From that hour, for weeks, I lay on a
sea coast city, sick and helpless. .. As socn
as I was suriieitntly recovered 1 embarked
on my journey, it. was years ere I re
turned. But my health had received a
shock from which 1 fear it will never re
cover.: And this has been meant to me in
mercy; for benea.h the chasienings of the
Al nighty I have found the wiscom that
willed n.e to worship Him. To look to
Him, to love Him, to trust Him, to say
fiom the heart Thy will be done.
For my wea th and s;ation i havo been
flattered and fawned upon until 1 am ck-k
of the homage where there is no heart; and
have sighed for one all true and truthful,
that I might worship.
'Many a fine lady I might have led to
the aliar here many a proud and tided
one in foreign lands. But wou!d she be as
fend and faidiful in adversity as in pros
perity. You may deem me jealous and
distrustful perhaps I have had reason to
be. Experience has taught me a lesson,
not all the linguist's lojric c juld have done.
When we went to those Southern Springs,
it seemed that our arrival was expected.
All but Edgar Emerson were sirangers to
us, and all intuitively. greeted my gay and
elegant cousin as the courtly Courdand,
and me as the lowly mechanic. Clinton's
lips opened to rectify the mistake, but I
motioned him to silence, and Edgar whis
pered 'Let the delusion pass. My
cousin at first conscientiously rejected the
idea, but his objections . were at length
over-ruled he had done nothing to favor
the deception. And he, you well know,
was the favorite of the day, and I was
thankful that I could be free from senseless
compliments, and ambitious attentions.
He read then a leaf ia life he never peru
sed before. So have I. Bat anions the
(Continued on fourth pzzre.)
l v
I
v y-
1 h ; -
7 1
TP
ir
1
i