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Article FATHER AND SON. ← Page 8 of 30 →
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Father And Son.
eyes , the coveted of many hearts ; and she accordingly resolved to try her OAVII poAver . When does a pretty Avoman do so , and fail ? Had he known her as she really was , there can be little doubt that Leicester would have shrunk timidly from any closer contact with a nature so opposed to his OAVII ; but who can knoAV
a Avoman save as she desires to be knoAvn ? Long years of intimacy , even of courtship , must fail to SIIOAV the inner workings of the heart ; for the very desire to please , the very thirst for affection , renders each sex alike unconsciously actors ; and thus , Avhere a mask is deliberately worn , no certain indication can eA er be obtained of the hidden features of the soul . Nor can it
be adduced as a reproach against the Aveaker sex that they practise an unintentional deceit . With more impulsive feelings than those of men , they seldom pause to speculate upon the prudence of their attachments , but Avilfuhy close their eyes upon the shortcomings of the idols to Avhom they have erected a shrine in their ovm bosoms ; and involuntarily they practise a
self-abnegation which causes them to immolate all their tastes , their prejudices , and their Avishes , at the altar of what too frequently proves to be a false deity . Can it then be subject of
Avonder that Avhile thus deceiving themselves , they too often deceive others ? Surely not . The whole state of society is factitious . Men seek in Avomen rather playthings than companions ; rather objects to please the eye , or to further the ambition , or to increase the means of luxury , than to satisfy the demands of mind ; and truly "they have their reward . "
Enough , hoAvever , of generalities . The mask of Miss Lauriston was voluntarily assumed , for she appreciated at a glance the character of her neAV admirer ; she detected his ardent de-A ^ otion for beauty , his chivalrous respect for her sex ; his yielding disposition , Avhich Avould eA'en lead him to submit to a sacrifice rather than to be guilty of a discourtesy ; nor did she omit to
number among his good qualities a handsome fortune , and an admirable social position . Thus , long ere her maid had arranged her magnificent hair under its lace covering for the night , Caroline Lauriston had decided , that as it Avas evident the female members of many of the best families in the county considered Mr . Sdney Leicester to be a most eligible matchand Avere
y , anxious to secure him accordingly , it might be very well Avorth her OAvn Avhile to convince them that he Avas beyond their reach . It must , hoAvever , be admitted that , mingled Avith much that Avas selfish and unworthy in these mental speculations , a strong feeling of admiration for the remarkably fine person of the young heir ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Father And Son.
eyes , the coveted of many hearts ; and she accordingly resolved to try her OAVII poAver . When does a pretty Avoman do so , and fail ? Had he known her as she really was , there can be little doubt that Leicester would have shrunk timidly from any closer contact with a nature so opposed to his OAVII ; but who can knoAV
a Avoman save as she desires to be knoAvn ? Long years of intimacy , even of courtship , must fail to SIIOAV the inner workings of the heart ; for the very desire to please , the very thirst for affection , renders each sex alike unconsciously actors ; and thus , Avhere a mask is deliberately worn , no certain indication can eA er be obtained of the hidden features of the soul . Nor can it
be adduced as a reproach against the Aveaker sex that they practise an unintentional deceit . With more impulsive feelings than those of men , they seldom pause to speculate upon the prudence of their attachments , but Avilfuhy close their eyes upon the shortcomings of the idols to Avhom they have erected a shrine in their ovm bosoms ; and involuntarily they practise a
self-abnegation which causes them to immolate all their tastes , their prejudices , and their Avishes , at the altar of what too frequently proves to be a false deity . Can it then be subject of
Avonder that Avhile thus deceiving themselves , they too often deceive others ? Surely not . The whole state of society is factitious . Men seek in Avomen rather playthings than companions ; rather objects to please the eye , or to further the ambition , or to increase the means of luxury , than to satisfy the demands of mind ; and truly "they have their reward . "
Enough , hoAvever , of generalities . The mask of Miss Lauriston was voluntarily assumed , for she appreciated at a glance the character of her neAV admirer ; she detected his ardent de-A ^ otion for beauty , his chivalrous respect for her sex ; his yielding disposition , Avhich Avould eA'en lead him to submit to a sacrifice rather than to be guilty of a discourtesy ; nor did she omit to
number among his good qualities a handsome fortune , and an admirable social position . Thus , long ere her maid had arranged her magnificent hair under its lace covering for the night , Caroline Lauriston had decided , that as it Avas evident the female members of many of the best families in the county considered Mr . Sdney Leicester to be a most eligible matchand Avere
y , anxious to secure him accordingly , it might be very well Avorth her OAvn Avhile to convince them that he Avas beyond their reach . It must , hoAvever , be admitted that , mingled Avith much that Avas selfish and unworthy in these mental speculations , a strong feeling of admiration for the remarkably fine person of the young heir ,