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‘< © - BY GOULD & ELWELL,
Office 80 Middle, near Corner of Exchange
‘VOLUME XV.
A BEAUTIFUL STORY. -
[From Chambers! Papers for the People ]
JIARTIETTE:
OR, THE RASH REPLY.
CHAPTER I.
, George Wituiam Bertram, Esq., of Fernie-
lee, was the representative of an. old family in one
of the Southern counties in Scotland. "The Ber-
trams had never occupied a distinguished place
among the gentry of the country; they had never
done anything, to benefit others or to aggrandize
themselves; they had never been heard of beyon:
their own district ;.their fame was unknown to his-
tory alike for deeds of honor and infamy ; but they
could count Icannot tell how many’ generations,
and they possessed a landed property which,thanks
to the entail, had never passed out of the family.—
They were thus undeniably respectable, and were
known and visited by everybody,although not much
sought after by any—at least of the class_ to which
they belonged, for though perfectly uneéxceptionable,
their society could convey little distinction:
‘The present laird of Ferniclee was placed, in pe-
culiarly trying circumstances. While fortune had
@enied him a son and heir,she had lavishly bestowed | ®
upon him six danghters, all grown up, and all un-
married. . This was a compound evil; for the prop-
erty, being entailed in the male Tine, passed to a
distant branch of the family,and the income it yield-
‘ed not being large, there seemed no possibility of
providing suitably for the girls save by marriage;
and though the eldest was now twenty-seven, no el-
igible admirer had yet presented himself to any of
‘them. , True, Miss Susan, the second daughter,had,
when at the age of nineteen, imprudently contrac-
tod an engagement with a young man she had met
swhen on a visit from home; but as this youth was
neither rich nor well- born,the engagement was sum-
imarily broken off by Mr. Bertram, and poor Susan,
from a laughing girl with rosy cheeks and merry
blue eyes, became pale, and silent, and fretful, and
almost as uncomfortably anxious to be well-married
as her plain, and, common-place elder sister. ; At
one time great hopes ‘had been entertained that’ a
neighboring Inird would propose to the third dangh-
ter, Harriette; but after a time the flattering pros-
pect seemed to vanish, and the gentleman in ques-
tion, after a sojourn of six months at) Cheltenham,
returned home with an English bride, The laird and
his family in general were much chagrined. '-Har-
rictte, indeed, bore it wonderfully well. ‘The world
belicved her to be disappointed, but gave her credit
for being a girl of spirit, who would not wear the
willow. The world, however, gave Miss Harriette
Bertram more credit than she deserved ; for she was
not a slighted maiden,but, on the contrary,Mr.John-
stone of the Grange was her rejected suitor. Aslit-
tle, however, as thg world did her own family guess
the real state of the matter. She knew that it would
have been in yain to plead to her father. that Mr.
Johnstone was vulgar in manners and person, and
mean and illiterate in mind, end she therefore studi-
ously concealed her rejection of his suit—a rejection
.“ which he himself took good care not to publish,and
which he had never forgiven.“ As for ‘Jane,’ Ellen,
‘and Anne, the three younger Miss Betrams, they
belonged to the everyday. class. of young ladies.—
‘They did worsted work and erochet; doted on sen-
timental verses, the more meaningless the: better;
were devoted‘ to waltzes and polkas; conversed
‘chiefly about beaux and dress; always spoke in the
hyperbolical yein;, were perpe
themselves in love, and were occasionally slightly
jealous of each other, ‘thongh more frequently on
.Perfectly amicable terms. Their eldest sister, Ma-
-rianne, they considered “ a downright old maid,and
far too plain to be married ;” Susan, they. thought,
might still have a chance; ‘while Tlarriette’s estab-
Tishment was certain, if she would only give a Tittle
more encouragement to her admirers. But J must
now make my readers Aequainted with Mr.and Mrs.
Bertram.
» ‘The former was a Atle, foolish, fussy, important-
looking ™man, with dark features, along nose, and
quick black eyes, which seemed to bespeak restless-
ness of disposition rather than activity of mind.—
‘As to the rest, he had a queralous, jealous temper,
ant insatiable craving after perzonal and social con-
sequence, was fond of gossip, and totally devoid of
‘tually , imagining x
St.
PORTLAND,
anything resembling dignity of character. lis wife
had been a beauty in her youth,but her tall, elegant
figure was prematurely bent from ill health, the
light of her glancing eyes dimmed with care, and
her once gay spirit broken by the incessant worry
of her daily life. Originally possessed of a fair share
of abilities, her mind, ever since her marriage, had
lain fallow, for she had neither aim nor hope in cul-
tivating it. “Poor Mrs. Bertram! gentle, quiet, and
subdued, she lived alone in the world, aud endeay-
ored to find, in the hope of a better, consolation for
her cheerless Jot in the present. ! Even in her child-
ren’s love, thongh passionately fond of them,
she found but little sympathy. |’ She’ shrank from
their mirth and their gayety, haunted by a feeling
that her presence must. be a check to their joy; while
they, accustomed to see her all their lives plodding
silently and uncomplainingly on.amid her, house-
hold cares, guessed not that it had ever been differ-
ent with her,or that their confidence would have ad-
ded to her happiness.” She, too, wished her daugh-
ters were married, as she saw no other’ prospect of
their being provided for, having endeavored in vain
to persuade her husband to insure his life. It was
her proposal, her idea, and therefore could ‘not be
entertained. Was he not capable of judging, for
jimself ?, Did he not know that these rascally of-
ices made money by their transactions ?. Where,
then, could be the economy in having anything to
do with them? Mrs. Bertram shrank, however,
from the idea of her danghters marrying from mer-
cenary motives, and Jooked forward to : their fature
with that melancholy resignation which character-
ized all her anticipations of a temporal nature.
Ferniclee was an old-fashioned place, sweetly sit-
uated in one of the wildest districts in the south of
Scotland. When I say old-fashioned, I do not mean
owever,that the mansion was rendered picturesque
by gable-ends and turrets, and innumerable stacks
of quaint chimneys ; nor do I mcan that it was voy-
ered with ivy, or had a hall, with * storied windows
richly dight.” ' There are few such mansions in
Scotland, and Ferniclee ‘assuredly was not one of
them, On the contrary, it yas one of the very plain-
est edifices one could imagine. It was built of rough
gray stone, with a long plain front, and long rows
of small windows, with a very steep roof of gray
slates, or rather slabs, in many places overgrown
with moss and lichens. The‘ door, which «was in
the middle of the house, was approached by, a long
flight of moss-grown, steps, with long, thin, gray,
iron railings, round. which some creeping plants
made an ineffectual attempt to climb. The house
was situated at the top of a gentle declivity, which
might have been made a prettly lawn but for, the
grasé-covering, which was generally rough and un-
shaven, At the foot of this bank flowed a stream,
here and there overhung by low alders and birches,
and dwarf trees of varions descriptions. ‘ Behind
the house rose a green hill, used as pasture ground
for sheep; while on the right and left’ stretched
away to some little distance plantations of various
kinds of woods, conspicuous among which at pres-
ent was the mountain ash, with itsclusters of coral
berries. In front there was a y f some heathy
hills, not high, but wild, interspersed ‘with green
knolls, and ferny or broomy glens,down which gen-
erally tumbled and sparkled a little streamlct.’, Al-
though a very pretty place, there was about it a cer-
tain air of desolation. The trees wanted ‘praning,
and the walks weeding. ~ Within, though’ neat and
tidy, and fuil of young and blooming girls, it, was
dalltoo: and to-day; when I am about to introduce
‘ou to its interior, it. was unusually so... Mr, Ber-
tram and five of his daughters have gone to the ra-
ces, which were to be held near a town a few ‘miles
from Ferniclee ; Mrs. Bertram was busy at work in
the breakfast parlor; and Harriette was readinig in
her own room—for Harriette aid nat care for Tees,
and had remained at home. *
Varriette Bertram was generally allowed to bea
pretty girl, and not without some reason. » Her well
Peper figure was light, active, and graceful ;
er movements easy, quict and natural. " Her com-
wien, though pale, was remarkably fresh, and
clear; her eyes large and beaming, and full of an
ever-changeful expression ; and her rich, dark hair
singularly soft and luxuriant. What’ she wanted
in regularity of featare and, brilliancy of color was
amply atoned for by the viyacity and intelligence
of her expression, the sweetness of lier ready smile,
AUGUST 16,1851.
and the spirit of her manner and‘ bearing. There
was nothing insipid . in her’ appearance—it every-
where bespoke what we call character, and was, be-
sides, preeminently lady-like. ‘And in trath her ap-
pearance. belied her not. warm sensibility,
generous, and even noble impulses, with a refined
sensitiveness of disposition almost approaching to
fastidiousness, and a spirited, though: sweet, affee-
tiohate temper,were among her most distinguishing
characteristics... The faults of her character grew,
as it were, out of its beauties. . The warmth of her
feelings, and the glow ‘of an imagination, ever, ere
reflection came to her aid, prone to paint in bright.
er or in darker colors, as the case might be,each in-
cident which befell her, obscured the clearness of
her judgment, and led her to act from the impulse
of the moment rather than from the good sense she
really possessed. . In short,she necded the teaching
of life, and a touch, perchance, of the discipline of
sorrow, to give regular beauty to a mind which was
yet but a wilderness of flowers
Tarriettte, I have said,was reading—one of those
noble books which warm and elevate the heart while
they expand the mind. ‘She raised her eyes from
time to time, and looked up in thought, her counte-
nance full of a lofty gladness. “At” last her glance
full on a ball dress, which, with its various accesso-
ries, lay spread out on a bed before her. “Ah!” she
thought, as the sight of it recalled her to her every-
day cares—*I wish I were not going. I may enjoy
it pethaps, but not as I enjoy this quiet morning —
Everybody seems so common-place. I wonder if I
shall ever ‘meet any) one different? There must
surely be many, and yet I never met one, Bat now
I must go down to mamma.”
-At dinner, Mr. Bertram and. his daughters were
full of the raecs; the former was in unusual glee.
“Had a bow from the marquis, Mrs. Bertram !
deed his lordship was uncommonly gracious ; said,
when he passed me the second time, ‘A fine autuinn
day, Mr. Bertram ; but rather windy.” The mar-
chioness,' too, shook hands with’ Marianne on the
stand, and bowed to the rest of the girls. There
was a Mr. Hartley, of Sandilands. Hall, in Hamp-
shire, there, who’ paid a good deal of attention to
Sasan, so I asked him here to dinner to-morrow,af-
ter the races. It would be an excellent match for
her.. Be sure, Mrs, Bertram. that you have every-
thing in good style.” os
‘What sort of a person is, M
inquired Mrs. Bertram, ,
“Person | Mrs. Bertram ? Of course heis a prop-
er person, otherwise I shonld not think of encour-
aging him to address one of my darighters. | Really,
Mrs. Bertram, you surprise me., You might have
alittle dependence on my judgement, I think. ; No
doubt it is vastly inferior to your own; still, madam,
I would‘ have you know I am‘‘not an absolute
fool.”,. Mrs. Bertram returned no answer, but bent
her head over her plate:;” ol ow
“Susan said ina kind ‘tone to her mother; “We
is not very handsome,mamma, and not very young,
cither ; but so very agreeable, and scientific, and all
that; and everybody speaks well of him,” 1
“ “But oh,” cried Ellen, “there was such a charm-
ing young man there } a cousin of, Mr. Hartley’s—
and they are both staying at the Grange—a, Mr.
Clavering, a London Barrister,’ exquisitely good
looking,and amazingly clever, they say. I hope he
maf dance with me to-night; and by the by, that
reminds me I have the pink flowers to fasten j in my
d n
Hartley 2 r tainty
CHAPTER II, *
“The Bertrams were, as usual, among the first i in
the ball-room ; they were all, with the exception of
Marianne, who had & cold, looking uncommonly
well to-night. » Susan’s complexion looked, by gas-
light, dazalingly fair, while excitement had lent a
low to her check’ and a light, to her’ eyes.” She
danced the first dance with Mr. Hartley. Iarriette
not having an interesting partner, and being a. lit-
tle tired, sat down as soon as the dance was over.—
The scat she had chosen was under the’ music-gal-
lery, which was supported by pillars. Seated near
one of those, she was completely concealed by it
from the observation of two gentlemen on the other
side, whose conversation she was thus unintention-
ally obliged to overhear,” One| of them inquired
who her sister Susan was. The other, who was
One Dollar for Eight Months, in advance :.
fore ® - '
better ant an
TERMS: $1,50 PER YEAR. |) ys
al ta
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITRBRATURE, NRAWS, &&. ht pe tea
SATURDAY,
NUMBER 8."
trams, of Ferniclee—the Breatest, husband- hunters
in the country.”
“Ah! Ihave heard of them since I came to the
Grange. + They are quite notorious, I suppose 2"
“Oh, quite! So you had better take care of your-
self. | Your friend Hartley seems quite captivated
The gentleman laughed. a
“Oh, but I am not very easily caught."
“J should’ recommend you, however, to beware
of Mr. Bertram’s traps.” The speakers then walked
away.)
Harriette + remained with flushed cheeks and a i
mortified spirit; for, while she despised Mr. Jolin~ ..
stone and the petty revenge to which he had con-
descended, she was deeply annoyed by. what she
had heard of the reputation of her family,” and all
the more that she had felt it was’ not undeserved.
She was yet brooding over the disagrecable idea,
when a partner was introduced to her as Mr. Clay-
ering. The name she recognized as that of the Lon-
don gentleman of whom her sisters had been speak-
ing in the morning 3 While the tone of his voice, as
he invited her to dance, convineed her at once that
he was Mr. Johnstone’s companion behind the pil-
lar." In the present state of her feelings she’ would
have declined dancing with him, ifit had been pos-
sible; but it was not... The dance was a quadrille,
and Mr, Clavering exerted himself to be agrecable
‘or rather he was agreeable without exertion. . By
degrees Harrictte’s uncomfortable feclings began to
vanish under the influence of his conversation.“ It
was evident, at all eyents, that he was not afraid of
her society, for he danced several times with her,
and engaged her as his partner at the supper table.
In her limited circle and secluded nook of the world
Harriette had certainly never before met so agreca-
ble # person, and the time seemed to fy during their
animated conversation. °°
Mr. Clavering was a young man not much above
thirty, whose talents had already opencd for him at
the bar a career full of promise. In person he was
about the middle height, gentlemanly and anobtru-
sive, rather than strikingly, eloquent in manner.—
Ilis features were good, though rather large, more
especially the mouth, which was,. however, well
shaped, and expressed at once firmness and’
temper. , Ilis eyes were gray, but large and full of
animation ; while his light brown, hair was smooth~
ly parted over a square, solid, open forehead.) Ilis.
countenancg altogether was manly and intelligent ;.
while his manner and bearing were characterized by
that air of ease and decision which is bestowed by:
extensive intercourse with the world, - mingled with
an indescribable something which, without being con:
‘ceit, yet seemed to denote the consciousness of su-
perior abilities; and, in fact, such was Mr. Claver-
ing’s real character. A younger son, he was, the
cleyerest of his own family. ‘Ie had’ been success~
fal at school and college, and professional Prosper-
ity already seemed to smile upon him; consequent-
ly, he could hardly fail to be aware of his own.tal-
ents and attractions, while at the same time he had
too mach good sense and good feeling to. be guilty
‘of the folly and presumption of conceit. Te’ was
rather conscious of ability than vain ‘of its his’ ‘man
ner, thongh bespeaking confidence in himself, ‘was.
perfectly free from ,fssumption, and possessed all
that respect towards those whom he addressed with:
out which no mauner can be agreeable. He had been
attracted by Iarriette’s beauty, which was of a style
to charm a mind of an intellectual éast. On i inguir-
ing her name he had been disappointed so find that.
she was one of the husband -hunting Miss. Bertrama,
Notwithstanding, however, he requested to bein,
troduced to her; and was agreeably surprised to find’
her quite free from ‘the manners of the: class ‘to.
which she was said’ to belong.” Me was surprised :
not only by the vivacity of her conversation, b ut by
the uncommon amount of intellectual cultivation.
which, without any effort, any appearance of tho lit-
“tlences and vulgarity of showing ‘off, it displayed.
In truth, Harriette had never before found herself in
Society so congenial. : Never had ‘she been more
charming ; never had she looked more beautiful—
As Mr. Clay ‘ering handed her_to the ‘carriage, she
.Was mortified to hear her father,in obsequious tones,
invite him to join their party at dinner the following
day, adding as an inducement, “And you shall hear
my daughter Harriette sing. She is allowed to have
a fine voice, and I am gore will be delighted . to ex--
Marriette’s rejected suitor, replied : “One of the Ber-
ert it for you.”
oe
