Guy Rivers: A Tale of Georgia

ffairs in the public eye, he had grown totally heedless of ordinary events, household interests, and of the rapid gr

s supercilious, as it certainly was angry. Proud, jealous of his sensibilities, the soul of the youth rose in arms, at the look which annoyed him. That Edith's father should ever disapprove of his passion for his cousin, never once entered the young man's brain. He had not, indeed, once thought upon the matter. He held it to be a thing of course that the father would welcome a union which promised to strengthen the family bond, and maintai

the look of her father suddenly recalled-which had never been suffered to reach the ears of her cousin;-which indicated to her, however imperfectly, the possible cause o

any kind is exceedingly paralyzing to young lovers, caught in a situation like that in which our luckless couple were found on this occasion. It

n himself stern. The look which he now gave her was new to all her experience. The poor girl began to conceive much more seriously of her offence than ever;-it seemed to spread out uni

e exclamation wa

answer, with the

however, without stealing a fond

oler. The manner of the thing had been particularly offensive to him. But the father of Edith, whatever his offence, had suddenly risen into new consideration in the young man's mind, from the moment that he fully comprehen

ton, with all his storms, approached to the attack. The expression of scorn upon his face had given way to one of anger wholly. His glance seemed meant to penetrate the bosom of the youth with a mortal st

rew dark and lowering also; and, for anger, they gave back defiance. This silent, but e

nderstand from

In respect to Edith and myself, sir, I have but to say that we hav

it, I pray, since you h

rd, contemptuous manner. The youth st

we loved each other, uncle; only, that, up to this time, we

his own, from the necessity of hinting to him that such extreme sympathies, between the parties, were by no means a matter of course. But the nephew

nction an alliance between you and my daughter? [50]Upon what, I pra

y interrogation. Ra

Edith!-Do I hear you right, uncle?

em. What, I ask, are your pretensions to the hand of my daughter, and how is it that you have so

as been done openly, before all eyes, and without resort to cunning or contrivance. I must do myself the justice

forgotten that you are yet but a mere

u who have forgotten them. Was it well to speak

ve yet to be taught many things. You m

will not have it spoken of in that manner. It is not true that I have abused any trust,

ion was simply, while it diminished his own testiness of manner in his speeches, to add something to the severity of t

outh, yet-quite too young to think of such ties as those of marriage, and to make any lasting engagement of that nature; but, ev

of human nature-he would have withheld the latter part of this sentence. He must have seen that

or heart, or person, the lesson is gratuitous. I need no teacher to this end. I acknowledge its truth, and none on this point can more perfectly agree with you than myself. But if, looking beyond these particulars, you would have me recognize in myself an inferiority, ma

t be aware, nephew, that my daughter, not less from the fortune which will be exclusively hers, and her individual accomplishments, than from the lea

of inconsistency in its predilections with which to rebuke itself. But, I understand you. You have spoken of her fortune, and that reminds me tha

a sacrifice; she must win a husband who has a name, a high place-who has a standing in society. Your tutors, indeed, speak of you in fair terms; but the pu

on to the practice of the law, do

. I only say, it will be then tim

do not. You mean something by that word pretensions which I a

ith his impetuous nephew, and the cool and haughty sentence which fell from his lips in reply, while arres

now, only reminds me of the too free use which my brother made of it when he bes

t choice prudence which seems to have been the guide of others, of our family in the bestowment of their affections. He did not

se you are the indweller of my house, and becau

. It shall not trouble me; and I shall be careful to take early

ded as if the last spee

sant, choosing a wife from the inferior grade, who, without education, and ignorant of all refinement, could only appear a blot upon t

relieve me at once, Colonel Coll

, he raised her to a position in society which she could not fill to his honor, and which, finally, working upon his pride and sensibility drove him into those extravagance

f Ralph Colleton a portion of the family picture

from the apartment before his uncle could interpose to prevent him. He heard not or heeded not the words of entreaty which called him back; but, proceeding at once to his c

unqualified regard. This feeling was not lessened, though rebuked, by the development so unnecessarily and so wantonly conveyed. It taught a new feeling of distrust [54] for his uncle, whose harsh manner and ungenerous insinuations in the progress of the preceding half-hour, had lost him not a little of the youth's esteem. He felt that the motive of his informer was not less unkind tha

descended to notify the stubborn youth of the same important fact, but with almost as little effect. Without

e, at least," was the muttered speech of Ralph,

father, he knew that the course lay open. The long route he had more than once travelled before; and he had no fears, though he well knew the desolate character of the journey, in pursuing it alone. Apart from this, he loved adventure for its own sake. The first lesson which his father had taught him, even in boyhood, was th

ily comprised the residue. His travelling-dress was quickly adjusted; and not omitting a fine pair of pistols and a dirk, which, at that period, were held in the south and southwest legitimate companions, he found few other cares for arrangement. One token alone of Edith-a small miniature

ended to the lower story, in which slept the chief servant of the house. C?sar was a favorite with the youth, a

! what for you go dis time o'

ion of his steed for the journey. But the worthy negro absolutely refused to sanction the proceeding

e-foot. Old maussa no like de fiddle, and nebber hab party and jollication like udder people. Don't tink I can stay here,

u belong to your young mistress.

ith a cunning emphasis; "enty I see; wha' for I hab eye ef I no see wid em? I 'speck yo

ing, proceeded to the performance of the required duty. A few moments sufficed, and with a single look to the window of his mistress, which spoke unseen volumes of love, leaving an explanatory letter for the perusal of father and daughter, though addressed only to the latter-he gave the roug

; and the probability is, that, looking to the profession of the law, in the study of which noble science his mind had been for some time occupied, he had contemplated its future practice in those portions of Tennessee in which his father had been known, and where he himself had passed some very pleasant years of his own life. With economy, a moderate talent, and habits of industry, he was well aware tha

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