Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/110

Rh this I merely observed, "it would not be an unprecedented occurrence, did the priestess first proselytize and then reward with her hand;" and the subject of our singular dialogue, which had been conducted half in badinage and half in earnest, was dropped. The calibre of Miss Beaumont's mind was of a superior order to that of most women ; and her fond father had not failed to charge it with all that he could impart. That she had hardly ever been contradicted, and that she deemed it unworthy of her or any one else to disguise a sentiment, had sometimes exposed her to ridicule and scandal, as well as on other occasions procured for her the high approbation of the wise and the good. In perfect consistence with her character, therefore, my concealment, on the occasion I have been describing, ofmy early intimacy with the Dangerfields, as soon as she detected it, reduced me very considerably in her estimation ; so that during the greater portion of the remainder of the time over which my narrative will extend , I neither had an opportunity, nor a desire to obtrude myself as a party ; and yet I never got disentangled from the intricacies of what I have already taken upon myself to honour with the title of a strange drama in real life. (To be continued.)

THE PORTRAIT ; OR, A PARENT'S CURSE. " But while my guilt's to thee unknown, Come, let me press thee to my breast, Thou treasure without crime my own ; Thou only wealth I e'er possessed ! Thou pledge of pure and faithful loves ; Image ofone I still deplore— Yet now her death a blessing proves ; She lives not to behold this hour.' 1

" I should like to know the history of this," said I, raising a long glossy ring of hair, which lay in a small jewel-box in the nearest corner of my aunt's well arranged drawers. A shade passed over her placid face, and her voice trembled as she said" It is the dearest relic I possess of a valued friend. Not a day passes that I do not look on it, and call to mind the last hour it shaded her lovely brow. If you wish to hear her his-