The National Register.
London, England, 1820-03-05 00:00:00

down thenrojectiel precipices, or attacked by the ruffians
who infested the surest shades. But Sir Eustace, rickless
of his own existence, and apprehensive only for thesafily
of his companion, in whose fate lie already felt an nide-
seribalde interest, haw not, thought not, of the Minters
that en% ironed him. When he heard the transports of his
lowly charge, who hid generously cninntittsd licr,clf to
his honour and pi otection ; alien he saw the rekindling
eplendour of her bright blue eve turned on him with- an
expression of this liveliest gratitude; when he felt the
warm pressure of her delicate hand, and saw her over-
come with langoor and lei icily, oink fearlessly Olt the bo-
son, that was hound to protect her, his agony—his emo-
tions welt irtilllppri titt,le. The contest between lose and
hoimiir geter• daily and even hoot ly more dubious ; and
had it not berm fur that strong principle of honour and
feelio; which wove has engrafted on the heart of an
Emllishinaii. lie wound have sullied his spotless character,
and his itesialle companion would have been undone for
ever. It is 111 the power of those only who have been in
similarly is vie sit mitions, to know the danger and the
difficulty of a conflict between passion and prudence.
On the evening of the fourth day they arrived at a
little cottage situated in the most Itanantic part of the
Apennines. Concealed by a deep glen on one side, and
erabosomed in the dark shades of the forest pines on the
other, it seemed totally secluded fro.n the world. A
mountain streandet that shelved down the ragged preci-
piers, murmured gently on its course, as it wound round
the hamlet, so that nature seemed to have Mended, in this
her favontile retreat. the extremes of sublimity and soft-
ness. The simple but kind-hearted tenants received them
with transport, and hasiened to prepare every thing that
was requisite for their comfort
Laura, however, wits too
trey, to take pleasure in the good mitred officiensuess of i
the family, and requested to be shown into a room whine
she might enjoy a temporary repose. tier wish was cheer-
frilly romplitd with, and Sir Eisstace, taking advantage of
the absence of his lovely companion, hastened into the
shed, which hail been intended to conic!, the idea of
stables, to see that his jaded homes were accommodated I
as their weariuess sequin-eft Having executed his Mien-
Butts, he returned to the cottage, and entered an adjoin-
ing apartment, in thecxpeetatienofineeting with his kind
peasants, who he supposed bail by this time arranged every
-thing for their repast. 4t)ii opt ii ill g the door, he %toe ted on
distoverinx his mistake, and was still more astonished at
[leafing titbit:Line labials ;but treinaloihly twoneusced. The
voice evidently eine,. Irmo it litileret ess at the curlier of the
apartment; lie hastened forwards to iosestigste the cir-
cinnstatieeli, and beheld a sight that bewildered and de-
lighted him. It was his aduied Laura, the inteiesting
companion of his travels. She was reposing quietly on a
small truck or bed, mad seemed greatly agitated while she
once again uttered in a tremulous voice, the name of I. its-
tace. Her loose hair. which had escaped from the fillets
which humid it, lay.in clustering ringlets owes• her face,
and a warm dash glowed on-liar .couniewatier, mistake no
doubt from the fatigue attendant. on the journey, that
verily increased the native bestrty of her person. The
mantle that had hitherto concealed her Heck was par-
' 'Willy loosened from the clasp, and displayed a breast of
the purestalabawi.r, daugeru sip, doubly dangerous, to the
nseittated eyes of the beholder. Sir 'Eustace hung over
his slcepiug charge in an agony of pa,siou—esery feeling
—every emotion that had been hitherto restrained by the
sing .ii %it tee of an Imglisliman, new burst forth usltla
irresise ble violence, lie pan lid fur se vet al mu-
inclehi—be brut over Ilie lice of his compainun, and
imprinted a warm kl,sl/11 her cheek. 11 was a kiss that
the most see sepolous need not hive condemned ; it was
the list--the parting acknowledgment that passion made
to villue, etc she yielded entire rubmission to her will.
!sir Imstece tewained not longer in the room—lie wiped
away the teals that were 'tai tang from his eyes, and co-
veting his face with his hands, rushed hastily awn the
alias tomtit.
A 6. se continued trovel bratig:it them near Sll,ll,
the road to which stowed round the base of as roursimus
hurl eip ice, whom sides were eusered by iu, e iiiiiiiiii g0...t-
-iny of laburnum trues. And lucre Sir Euslnce had unauter
opwiluoity ufdi.ruveriug the mental attract im.s of Is:, taw
companion. %% believer they reached a spot conspicuous
fur its suld,tnily, she a touleipoint oui its peculiar twiteities,
and associate it atilt similar art Ms, of cc herb site bad for-
away been nn enthusiastic: spectator. Doeply vets, d in '
the esquisite poetry of mi. clitairy, and possesilleg That
tittles. simplicity for which the lialioit ladies are so te-
walkable, she put the %angular dispositoit of the young I
Englislinuto to the s•eVelc,l trials that his liatillre 5*.0•
capable of sustaining. When phr talked sit het hashand,
awl t rat( it his glllbd 111111111114. sue b/.1,11111 to be a brio,
of a t•Upctior or,ler ; uadtsar iaistatcr tionlat that tee had
never tell c'ooluesiee so genuine, or twain s 01-I..bie.
litit his cumin ion, n h.( h n.,9 hey. r Ver.) Nl4.lnA, soon
beg:it to •rol, wider repeated rhhilis is. A ..air ill her
s of l'illifekaill/A loci'
.by r s 114 ,i•lo (bight have tic.ii tiiiiimituhril, slap tundutd
moor laymelaus by hunt_ rcpli.iii.i. .‘ clouting gloom bill'
rerite,' to the natural buoyancy i,f leis despcsimal t lii• cause.
ichunce becaine scan and emaciate el & and a cold tem, te
took phase of his onor aphrisliiii: lacura lien self
could out avoid irmatking Ilw that
hit b. eh so lid, ly rviht.t if iii his character. she ked
ultimo-1y in his face; she 1 t..uprd his hand in nei,,
rreiursltil 10 11,4/0 11.1111 bike iut,,u c11111111,11:e111h. 11.1,40.4'14
" ..111 un'ti'ed (Warn; my L .ura,'• re pill J,r
it dry rvi)ant Isithhoi.,s us ill lir of little
; but w kill linked 111 the rnlb curs if a Cenci hteManel,
and rt,loleil tO all lbe culirmo I. of so. lets, it ).,t, should
eser erniolceceral to call too iiiii hour,. Ike •11411,1Nr
have passed so happily together, then, iteducel"-- hi-, pia
riescuted Pins from cuntinuilig ; Laura be held his emotiou--