It so happened that this visit lasted
several days, and a period of greater happiness to the young Lieutenant
probably never occurred. Mary Prescott, at that time, could not
properly be called a woman, except in the grace and dignity of her
character. She inherited the rich fancy, the nervous sensibility, and
stern will of her father, and what may seem like a contradiction, the
gentleness and modesty of her mother. She was the youngest child, and,
naturally enough, the pet of the others; but, the parents were too
sensible to spoil her by flattery or foolish indulgence. She was of
that age when the female mind is most susceptible to the great passion
of our nature in its most romantic phase, when Lieutenant Canfield
visited their house. His frank bearing, his gentlemanly deportment,
and, above all, the favorable reports which her father gave of his
gallant conduct, conspired to enlist young Mary in his favor.
[Illustration: Mary Prescott.]
They were scarcely thrown into each other's society before the natural,
though sometimes tardy, results of the virtues we have mentioned were
seen. The tell-tale blush--the voice unconsciously lowered to the most
thrilling softness--the timid glance--the deep-drawn sigh--the absent,
vacant appearance when separated for a short time from each other--the
supreme happiness when together--all were signs which escaped not the
eyes of the sister and mother, although the matter-of-fact father
failed to notice such trifles.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45