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Article THE MASON'S DAUGHTER. * ← Page 5 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason's Daughter. *
liar and easy footing that clearly evinced indifference , and proved that love had no share in any part of her conduct towards him . This , indeed , though severely felt by the suitor himself , who nevertheless hoped in time to soften Louisa ' s obstinacy by perseverance , was not so obvious to the world at large , and gave rise to the report of an attachment to which Captain Johnson had alluded at the mess-table . Matters were in this condition when the praises of Louisa ' s
beauty were nightly sounded in Captain Manvers ' ears , until his curiosity became excited to see that of which he had heard so much : the reports , too , of her obduracy piqued him into trying how far she was proof against his own irresistibility . An introduction in the way of business was soon accomplished , and Manvers became a hanger-on , in common with many others , who amused themselves in their leisure hours by adoring the shrine of beauty . How different was his reception from
that of the other worshippers ! Louisa saw how superior Manvers was to the rest of the admiring train , both in person and manners , and soon began to confess to herself that he was the only person whom she had seen that she could really love . It matters little to detail how it came to pass that the lovers , for such they professed to be , continually met unknown to any one . Matters were so ably managed , that Manvers had contrived to secure the good graces of Louisa ' s father and the
would-be lover , without exciting their suspicions . He was always welcome at the house , and the parent deemed himself highly honoured by the presence of so distinguished a guest , whose prospects were too great to render it possible that he should ever stoop to such an alliance . These visits afforded opportunities for the lovers to lay schemes for
meeting and enjoying each other ' s society . They loved!—at least , such is the term used in the world ; but how different were these loves ! Hers was the deep absorbing love which occupies the soul to the exclusion of every other feeling . For him she would have suffered all the ills with which the earth teems , and with him she would have deemed them trifles light as air . His was the libertine love , which , sated with the enjoyments of the world , had found a new flower , which he wished to pluck and wear it in his
. bosom , heedless how soon it would wither there—decay and die . Manvers soon perceived , that great as was the affection which Louisa bore him , she never could be induced to lower herself in her own estimation by any ste ]) which could compromise her character . She would have preferred death to dishonour . This Manvers knew too well to make such a proposition : his only course was to propose a secret marriage . He represented that his father would never consent to his
marriage with one who was so much below him in life , though she was in worth so really above the highest of created beings ; a marriage of this description might induce his father to disinherit him , whjle , on the other hand , were the proposed union kept secret for a few years only , Manvers must become his own master , and the possessor of a vast fortune . These representations had no weight with the lady . She proudly replied to such offersthat she would not clandestinely enter the famil
, y of any one . She was content , she said , to wait to any period of time , until Manvers was in a situation to make her his bride ; and as such she was willing to pledge her fidelity—more she would not . Manvers , finding her inexorable , was compelled to rest content with this engagement for the present ; but he still waited to see what time would effect , and more especially what might come to pass when his corps would leave , the town
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason's Daughter. *
liar and easy footing that clearly evinced indifference , and proved that love had no share in any part of her conduct towards him . This , indeed , though severely felt by the suitor himself , who nevertheless hoped in time to soften Louisa ' s obstinacy by perseverance , was not so obvious to the world at large , and gave rise to the report of an attachment to which Captain Johnson had alluded at the mess-table . Matters were in this condition when the praises of Louisa ' s
beauty were nightly sounded in Captain Manvers ' ears , until his curiosity became excited to see that of which he had heard so much : the reports , too , of her obduracy piqued him into trying how far she was proof against his own irresistibility . An introduction in the way of business was soon accomplished , and Manvers became a hanger-on , in common with many others , who amused themselves in their leisure hours by adoring the shrine of beauty . How different was his reception from
that of the other worshippers ! Louisa saw how superior Manvers was to the rest of the admiring train , both in person and manners , and soon began to confess to herself that he was the only person whom she had seen that she could really love . It matters little to detail how it came to pass that the lovers , for such they professed to be , continually met unknown to any one . Matters were so ably managed , that Manvers had contrived to secure the good graces of Louisa ' s father and the
would-be lover , without exciting their suspicions . He was always welcome at the house , and the parent deemed himself highly honoured by the presence of so distinguished a guest , whose prospects were too great to render it possible that he should ever stoop to such an alliance . These visits afforded opportunities for the lovers to lay schemes for
meeting and enjoying each other ' s society . They loved!—at least , such is the term used in the world ; but how different were these loves ! Hers was the deep absorbing love which occupies the soul to the exclusion of every other feeling . For him she would have suffered all the ills with which the earth teems , and with him she would have deemed them trifles light as air . His was the libertine love , which , sated with the enjoyments of the world , had found a new flower , which he wished to pluck and wear it in his
. bosom , heedless how soon it would wither there—decay and die . Manvers soon perceived , that great as was the affection which Louisa bore him , she never could be induced to lower herself in her own estimation by any ste ]) which could compromise her character . She would have preferred death to dishonour . This Manvers knew too well to make such a proposition : his only course was to propose a secret marriage . He represented that his father would never consent to his
marriage with one who was so much below him in life , though she was in worth so really above the highest of created beings ; a marriage of this description might induce his father to disinherit him , whjle , on the other hand , were the proposed union kept secret for a few years only , Manvers must become his own master , and the possessor of a vast fortune . These representations had no weight with the lady . She proudly replied to such offersthat she would not clandestinely enter the famil
, y of any one . She was content , she said , to wait to any period of time , until Manvers was in a situation to make her his bride ; and as such she was willing to pledge her fidelity—more she would not . Manvers , finding her inexorable , was compelled to rest content with this engagement for the present ; but he still waited to see what time would effect , and more especially what might come to pass when his corps would leave , the town