Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30

fit left me poor, it would at least restore me to
my liberty"
Let me do myself justice here, asl have visit
Ell justice upon myself elsewhere. i was not
quite wretch. Ifmy passions were habitual-
! ly fierce and unSovernablc, their impulse in the
good cause was as powerful as in the cause of
| i'll.
1 lSnelt beside Isabclla's bed. confessed the
truth OF all she charged me with. l invoked
curses on my restless temper ;-swore that all
my former love for her was rckindled that
would not survive her death that / should es-
TEEN myself her murderer Nor did | at that
moment, so help me, Heaven, utter any senti-
ment which did not feel. If did not at that
moment love Isabella passionately, | would
bwc laid my lie down with pleasure for her
sa'ety--ior her happiness. And trusted that
l had in sor',' measure restored her peace of
mind and was seriously resolving to ike a
peaceful life; when 4 circumstance occurred
well calculated again to put my resolution to
the proof.
Had been asked for which of my virtues,
should ever have Il fortune given me, l might
have had some difficulty, and should have had,
IN answering the question. 1t was my fate,
however, for once to be enriched by my irregu-
laritics. My grandfather, penetrated on a sud-
den with admiration of the manwho had brought
his tanlilv-uaIne SO much into discussion, died,
after making twenty wills in favour of twenty
different people; and, passing over my father,
bequcaj,. ed Z property of $4,000 (. ar to me.
promised that, about this time, some unfore-
seen occurrence befel me. Two ofthese have
already described The thru was, OF all, the
most unexpected. While | was busy in pre-
p;,raticns for returning TO England, and devils
ing schemes out of number for pleasures and
splondCur when should arrive there-Isabella
left me.
1t was blow for which, less than for mira
Gle, was prepared. Returning one evening
from shooting,--we were then living at Con-
deixa,-l founda letter in her hand lying
&c lied upon my table. The SIGHT of the adj
dress alone paraJyzed me. What had happen
ed, flashed man instant across my mind. The
contents ofthe letter were these -
&c If | have used dcception towards you
Charles, believe me it is now for the first time.
wish TO spare you the needless agony of bid
ding mc farewell [ wish to secure myself a.
gainst the danger of being diverted from
course which reelection has convinced me is
the best. Icannot forget that you have ceased
to love me; have known the fact long, but
circumstances have kept me silent. l acquit
you, Heaven is my witness of unlzindness or
ingraiiiude --afIection--regard--
Coinpassion--l know you gave me these; and
love is not at our command. There are men
from whom | could be satisfied with kindness
and esteem; but cannot fall so low as to ac-
cept pity, Charles, from you +; you always will
-you.allvays must--love some woman can
know this, and vet live with you, and be con-
scious that you do not love me
&c For three years have endured to see YOU
Trctched, and 10 feel myself the cause of YOUR
distress. Could feel this, and yet be happy ]?
What did | gain by depriving others of your
heart, when knew that, TO me, your heart was
lost forever a thousand times have | wished
that your scruples would give way, and that
you would be happy in a course which could
haze added nothing to my misery. have borne
all this long; but my motive for bearing it is at
an end. Your accession of fortune makes nv
presence no longer necessary. Yoa h We now
open before you that career for which on nave
so long painted | believe that you are capable
of sacrificing it for for me; but can i accept
such sacrifice from you, Charles Can exact
1t? Do you ;hink could value it ?
&c Farewell will 10 longer continue to hang
npon yon, interrupting enjoyrnents in which
am forbidden to participate. Farewell MY
pen trenbles as | write the word but be as
sured that write ii irrevocably.
g DO not distract us botn By vain endeayours
to recall me- # love were yours to give, i
know, feel, that YOU would give it to me but
II IS not, Charles, at your disposal. Farewell
once more for [ had intended but to say,
Farewell = May you be happy, though my
day of happiness is over. Thank Heaven, your
lmpetuous temper is no longer likely to be excl
ted by want Of Ineansto those enterprises, which
might not always be successful; but, if ever
chance should place you again in such emergen-
cy, as TO make Jsabela's fortune-her life-her
love-worth your acceptance, then-and then
oniy-'yil She consent again to hear from you.n
She is LIVING yet,-I trust she is If the last
prayers Of one who has prayed but too seldom :;
If those prayers may be heard which merit
nor hearing nor vaIuc If merc,.- for another
can be granted TO him who dares not-cannot
ask it fol himself-then may every blessing
she can wish for--cvery blessing which can wait
ON life, be hers may she know that, in my
last hour, my thoughts were upon her safety
for her happiness
How merely is man the creature of events o.
yer, which he has nc control When | kissed
lsabeGa's forehead, scarce SIX hours before she
wrote that letter, how far was from imagining
that then beheld her for the last time and
what turn did our separation give, probably
to my destiny! despise the redantic dogma,
which says, &C no one can be missed.n Ill as
think of human nature, think that assertion is
o libel upon it. Among creatures who have as
little OF discrimination of fceling-to whom
the newest fool is always the most welcome
friend,-by such beings it may be true, that
"no one can be missed - but I DENY that any
man of common sensbility or PERCEPTION, can
part for eUer, even from mere companion,
without remembrance and regret
paused for my brain was giddy after read
ing lsabela's letter. Ny first thought was to
follow her. but, on reflection, abandoned the
design. felt that could not hope to over
come her fixed belief, that the continuance of
our connection would, on my part, be sacri-