PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.
THE GENTLE WARNING.
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BY JANE WEAVER.
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In a neat apartment of an old colonial mansion, still standiag in one of the neighboring stator, might have been cess, nearly n century ago, two persona, Both were forunles, and both were lovely. One who seemed the senior, sat in a carved chair, before a table of curious workmanship, on which lay an open letter, to which abe pointed with one band, while with the other she beld that of ber companion, on whom she gaxed earnestly, as if in expostulation.
This companion was standing, She did not return the gaze of the other, but looked down haif petlishly. ‘Though younger than the speaker, she was scarcely more beautiful. The one indeed was the slender bud, the other the matured flower, They were orphans and sistars.
“Rosa, dear,” sid the elder, “do not beangry, for I spoke for your good. This letier, which, by # mis- take in the eupersoription, I received and read, is, I find, intended for you; and it comes from one as hol- Jow-heurted as he ia insidious. Lord Beauehampe is, a. man of the world and a profligate, and, believe me, he means to trifle with you.”
Her listener bad heard her in motionless silence, but aow she angrily jerked away her bead.
“Nay! dear sister,” said the elder, “you must hear me. By the memory of our sainted mother, who bade me watch over you, I obarge youto listen tomy warn ing. We ste but proviacials, and, though wealthy, ‘without rank, Lord Beauchampe is the son of « dake, and can choove from the richest and highest of Eng- land. Think you, then, that he would wed an up- known provincial ? You would tell me that true love overlooks distinetiont—so it would in 8 generous heart—bat this man is notoriously selfish, vain, and profligate—he only seeks you to betray——"
"You do him injustice, He is all that is noble ud good,” cried Rosa, with eyes sparkling with indignation. “But you are ell my eaemies bere! you fare angry that be does not love you.”
And the beaatifal girl had flaunted from the room ; while her sister, with a sigh, felt that expostulation, at Yeast at proseat, would do no good.
Never was there a greater difference between two characters, than between Bertha and Rosa Despencer, ‘The former was thirteen when ber mother died, while the latter was but seven, Almost the last words of the dying woman bad been to leave her youngest child to the charge of the eldest, io whom she already per- ceived a discretion and energy above her years. ‘This task thus aseigned to Bertha, had been a dificult one, for Rosa was as wilful and thoughtless as one sister had been obedient and discreet, in the endeavor to correct the faults of Rosa, Bertha had disciplined her ‘own ebaracter, so that, nt twenty-two, ehe wasas newer perfection, es any human creature can ke. She had long been afianced to a young clergyman in the vioinity, but, mindful of her promise to her mother, she steadfastly refuted to marry, while her sistér re- mained so young.
A few months before our tale begins, a new gorer- not bad come out from England, and, ia bis train, appeared Lord Beauchampe. He was handsome and accomplished, but it required no superficial obeerver to see that he was without principle; and indeed it was currently rumored that he had been sent to America, into a kind of exile, in consequence of his extravagant vices at home, Ross hed been intro- duced to him at ball at the government house. In- experienced and vain, abe believed all his Gatteries, aad when he sought her intimacy, her beart beat with ‘visions of future greatnors as bis bride, Bertha, who read his character, endeavored to discountenance his visits, As she was mistress of the establishment, Lord Beauchampe, with all his polite impudence, dared not fores himself on her acquaintance. Hence be was compelled to carry on his designs against Rosa in secret. The thoughtless, wilful girt first met him ac- cidentally abroad, and then by appointment. Affairs had already progressed to a dangerous crisis, when a letter misdirected, fell into Bertha's hands, and re- vealed the peril of her sister.
Alone in her room, Rosa repented of her taunt to her sister, She knew thai Bertha adored her betrothed, and that even the offer of a monarch’s hand could tempt her eisior to desert Charles Vanghan. But Rora believed that hee sister was prejudiced against Lord Besnckampe; and though, at firs, she thought of eocking Bertha, and asking her pardon for what she had said, the recollection of what abe thought injustice to her lover, deterred her.
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