Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue

ou grow pr

the privilege of p

!-Plain arrogance!

YD

d bundles of papers secured with red tape, the visitor would easily have mistaken it for such. The space on the walls not occupied by book-cases was hung with rich paintings, whose artistic beauty and elevated themes betokened a refined taste. The floor of the room was covered by a magnificent tapestry carpet. The chairs, lounges and tables, were of the most costly and elegant description. The windows were hung with graceful and brilliant drap

s of a delicate white, unbrowned by the southern sun, and the skin was so transparent that the roots of his black beard were visible beneath its surface. His jet-black hair hung in rich, wavy curls, which seemed to be the especial care of some renowned tonsorial artist, so gracefully and accurately were they arranged. His black eye was sharp and expressive when his mind was excited in manly t

et become canker-spots on the surface, but they rankled and feste

he fashion demanded, he did not court ridicule by overstepping its flickering lines. He was not t

d him to acquit himself with much credit in the cases intrusted to his management. A few months after his professional début, his father's decease had placed him in possession of a very lucrative practice and a moderate fortune, thus enabling him in some degree to follow the bent of his own inclinations. To those whose habits and desires were similar to his own, he was not long in unfolding his true character, though not to a sufficient extent to de

in the rear of the office with oriental splendor, his life and habits were free from the scrutinizing gaze of friend and foe, and he found himself situated as nearly to his mind as his income would permit. These indications of a dissolut

aged in the consideration of some complicated affair; and the more he thought, the more impatient he grew. He finished his cigar, and lit another; still the knotty point was not conquered. His h

nicating with the ante-chamber was opened, and the bo

he attorney, and a light and cheerful smile came, as if by magic, upon his care-

said he, after disposing of the usual c

in a cold and even serious tone. "I have called to request your immediate attendance at Bel

eriously ill," returned Maxwell

t entirely to his bed. When shall I

an hour after your own a

r;" and she tu

the lady did not seem to meet

, in an embarrassed manner; "pray, ho

ot accede to it," replied the lady, in a firm and dignified mann

is all I ask," said Maxwel

sterday returned, should be enough to convince you that

ble him to realize the cherished object of his life,-would enable him to revel in the ease and affluence he so much coveted. Something must be done. Here was an opportunity afforded

eceived the letter, and was not awa

s she relinquished her hold of the door-handle, and retu

uish with which I have awaited your reply," returned the lawyer, in accents of humility, which were too well feign

the papers on the table. There lay Maxwell's letter, with the envelope in which she had returned it! Sh

ved that his deceit was exposed; but he insta

time to plead with you for the heart which is wasting away beneath your coldness. You do not, yo

f not disposed to listen with favor to his suit, she was softened into pity for his assumed misery. Under any other circumstances, the lie he had a moment before utter

ly grieved that you should have suf

s," returned Maxwell, hastily, feelin

encourage your suit," pr

that heavenly sympathy in the c

iven me an index of your sentiments, and I have endea

something upon which to

I regret it

wards me, I have dared to fan the flame in my heart,

ever terminate any hope you have cherished in relation to this matter. Painful as I now feel it must be for you to hear, and painful as it is to me, on that account, to declar

me wait, bid me prove myself worthy,-anything, but do not forever extinguish the little star I have permitt

replied Miss Dumont, with the return of some portion of her former dignity;

you doom me," said Maxwell, h

" and Miss Dumont gr

any time, till you examine more closely your own

gentleman to save me from further annoyance," said Miss

more self-possession. "I have been pleading for exemption from the direst of h

ion; for he assured my sentim

it with resignation. I feel that I must still cher

unded as he had led the unsuspecting object of it to believe. That he really loved her was to some extent true. That his love was earnest and pure, such as the blight of coldness and inconstancy would render painful, was not true,-far

asing wit and liveliness of his conversation, had well earned him this distinction. Flattering himself that he should be able to win her affections, he had gradually emerged from the indifference of the mere formalist to the incipient attentions of the devoted lover. These overtures were not well received, and, if she had before treated him with

é of the lady's father, who had been spending a furlough at Bellevue. In the matter of fortune Maxwell's rival was not to be dreaded, for he knew the lady was not mercenary in her views. The young captain was penniless; but his family was

pen his campaign by addressing her, eloquently and tenderly, through the medium of a letter. He felt that he could in this manner gain her attention to his suit,-a point which his vanity assured him was equivalent to a victory. But his philosophy and his vanity were both sorely tried by

pects to be resigned,-was now a desperate one. Through the long vista of struggles and difficulties he saw his end, and the fact

n, he paced the office with rapid and irregular strides. He could devise no expedient. A lady's will is absolute, and he must bend in submission. He blam

terrupted, by his attendant's

ing serious has happened, I trust," said Maxwell, laying aside, with no ap

plied the vis

nce," continued Maxwell. "She requeste

sitor, whom we will style Jaspar, to disti

a little matter having detained m

siness upon which my brother wished

not dangerously ill," said

but he thinks otherwise, and is now engaged in putting

h it is better at all times to b

draught of the will, which he wishes reduced to the usu

our o

e requested me to bring

te. There are cigars, and the morning p

oreshadowing the opulence that awaited her, he could not so easily pass over. They were so strongly suggestive of the fortunate lot of him who should wed her, that he could scarcely proceed with the work. An hour before, she had veiled his prosp

e a little impatient. Thrice he rose from his

xwell, noticing Jaspar's impatience,

it done," observed Jaspar, coarsely, and with a cr

d Maxwell, exhibiting the p

bearer of the first tidings of joy. Long before the heart dare resort to coarse, material words, the smile carries the messages of affection. To the villain it reveals the sympathetic purposes of his ac

tment, and sadly lacking in common integrity; but that he was capable of bold and daring villany he had had no occasion to suspect. As he turned to the document again, the ba

attention to the development of the histo