The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-23

ana aDle TO perform Hef duties 10 ncr flltnQS,
after she had thus unburdcned her mind to
Freeland, he grew every minute more alb
sent, and more taciturn, and though he could
not eat with appetite, he threw down rath-
er than drank, repeated glasses of hook and
champaign to enable him to rally his spirits;
but in vain. A naturally ingenious and gen
erous nature cannot shake off the first COM
punctuous visitings of conscience, for having
committed an unworthy action. and having
also been the means of injury to another
All ON sudden, however, his countenance
frightened; and as soon as the ladies left the
table, he started up left his compliments and
excuses with Lady Leslie's nephew who
presided at dinner; said he had pressing
call at Worcester; and when there, as the
London mail was gone, he threw himself in
to post chaise, and set off for Somerstown,
which Lady Leslie had named as the resid
ence Of Mary Benson. AT least said Free
land to himself, with lightened heart, Il
shall now have the satisfaction of doing all
can to repair my fault But owing to the
delay occasloned by the want of horses, and
| by finding the ostlers at the inns i'll bed, he
| did not reach London and the place of his
destination till the wrttcbed family had been
dislodged, while the unhappy wife was weep
! ing, not only over the disgrace of being so
removed and for her own and her hus-
bands increased illness in consequence of it.
but from the agonising suspicion that the
mistress and friend whom she had so long
loved and relied upon, had disregarded the
tale CT her' sorrows, and had refused to re-
ieve her necessities Freeland soon found
a conductor to the mean lodging in which the
| Bensons had obtained shelter, for they were
well known; and their hard fate was gener
ally pitied but it was some time before he
could speak, as he stood by their bedside.
He was checked with painful emotions at
| first, with pleasing emotions afterwards =
for his conscience sinotc him for the pain he
had occasioned, and appandctl him for the
pleasure he came TO bcstow. 4 come said
he at length (wliilc the sufferers waited in
almost angry wonder, to hear his reason for
thus intrudng on them) 4 cafle 10 tell you
from your kind friend Lady I.eslie'--"rhen
she has ,.os forgotten me /" screamed out
the poor woman almost sasping for breath.
i.No, 10 be sure not--she could not forget
YOU, she was ncapable----here his voice
wholly failed him.-"Thank heaven" cried
she, tears trickling down her pale cheek,
al can bear any thing now, for that was the
bitterest part Of all My GOOD woman,
said Ere .land, it was owing to q mistake;--
pshaw no; it was owing 20 my .faasf, that
YOU did not receive a fifty pound note by
the post Yesterday FIFTY pounds" criad
the poor man wringlng his hahds, "why that
would have paid more than all we owed,
and could have gone on with my business,
and our lives would not have been risked nor
dispraced Freeland now turned away, un-
able to say word more; but, recovering
he again drew near them and throwing his
purse to the agitated speaker, said, "Thcre
ret we'll! get WE'LL oniyget zreH .--and what
ever YOU want, shall be yours: or shall
never lose this horrible choking while
live."
Freeland took walk after this scene, and
with hasty, rapid strides the painful chock-
ing being his companion very often during
the course of it; for he was haunted by the
image of those whom he had disgraced--
and he coul not help remembering that how.
ever blamcable his negligence might be. it
was nothing either in snfulness or mischief
to the lie told to conceal it; and but for that
lie offear, the effects of hisncgliscncc might
have been repaired in time.
But he was resolved that he woald not
leave Somerstown till he had seen these poor
people settled in good lodging. lie there
fore hired a conveyance for them, and su-
nerintended their removal that evening to
apartments luit VI hNSNoohty NN'ht"t - 49,
GOOD friends said he, 4 cannot recall the
modification and disgrace which you have
endured through my fault; but trust you
will have gained, in the end, BY leaving q
cruel landlord, who had no pity on your un-
.merited poverty. Lady Leslie's note will
trust, reach you Tomorrow; but If not,
will make up the loss; therefore be easy;
and when go away, may have the COM
fort of knowing that your removal has done
you no harm."
He then, aud not till then, had courage te
write to Lady Leslie, and tell her the whole
truth, concluding his letter thus:
"If your interesting hrofegcs have moi
suffered in their health, | shall not regre'
what has happened, because trust that il
will be lesson to me through life. and teach
me never to tell even the most apparently
triviai white lie again. How unimportan
, this violation of truth appeared to be at the
, moment and how sufficiently motived as i
was to avoid falling in your estimation; bu
it was YOU see overrued; for evil and fo
agony OF mind, disgrace, and perhaps risk o
, life, were the consequences of it to innocen
individuals; not to mention my own pangs;-
the pangs Of an upbraiding conscience. Blu
forgive memy dear Lady Leslie, However
, trust that this evil, so deeply rcpented OF
will be blessed to us all; but it will be lons
before forgive myself"
all, acl;. uaS flalirbtr1 with this can