The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-21


which had thus rendered him the dupe Of
female arthce, was, notwithstanding, endu-
ed with too much philanthropy, and too
much humanity of feeling to suffer his charge
to be neglected. He procured a nurse for
the present, and before he left the Island
made ample provision for the future support
OF the child. He now returned home and
did not visit the place till some years after,
when he found his ward had become an in
sting little prattler. He soon became at
tached to her, and no longer regretted the
incident which gave him, as he termed her,
his adopted daughter. During the follow
ing twelve years. Captain s. frequently vs-
tied the island. and always provided liberal
ly for the support and education OF the
child that was thrown on his benevolence,
without any of that regret, that drawback
of feeling, which so often attends the osten-
siyc generosity of the penurlous and destroys
the merit of their charities. His heart was
warmed by generous impulses, and required
not the aid of arithmetical calculation to
measure the bounds of its munihcence. He
always manifested towards her the affection
and tenderness of a parent, and took pa
rents interest in her welfare. She had now
arrived at the age of fourteen, an age, which,
| in that soft climate, confers all the maturl-
ty of womanhood, and more perfectly. per-
haps, than at any other period, opens the
blossom of female beauty. She was esteem
et;as possessing an uncommon share OF beau
ty and vivacity. And such was Captain SIS
attachment, that his was other than pa
rental affection, and il soon became rumored
in town that he was about TO lead her to the
Hymenial altar. Capt. S. was at this time
making preparations to return to New Eng
. land.
, One day as he stood on the wharf ct
which his vessel was moored, billet was
put into his hands by person who imme-
diately disappeared. He peruscd and found
it was polite request Of attendance to dine
, at IA house III the city which was particular
!. lied in the billet. The house and family
+. who occupied it were to him perfectly un-
! known; and so singular were all the circum.
t stances attending the invitation, that he, tor
some time, hesitated whether it would be
cxpedicnt to accept it. Curiosity, howev-
er. soon conquered his doubts, and he re-
e solved to attend. 1t the appointed hour he
7 arrived at the house, and was ushered into
n an elegant apartment by lady who called
{ him by name, and introduced herself by the
d name of Miss w. assuring him at the same
time that the cause of his invitation should
: be the subject of "A future explanation. Cap
i tain S. thaught he had seen the countenancc
+ of his fair entertainer before; but he was
IS unable to call to mind when, or where 1t
e might have happened and the hour which
Z, succeeded, spent in lively conversation on
the leading topics of the day brought moth
ing with it to assist his memory or to allay
his curiosity; and yet it brought along with
it an increasing qualification, pleasing In
:, terest which he had never before experlen'
i ced. happy dream of uncertainty, it the
~ expression be allowed. was tioatlng over
his mind, and sensations were awakened II
+. his bosom, which he was conscious he hat
y. before, on some occasion or other, felt, anc
- he knew that these sensations had been hap
y, y, py ones, and yet his memory had been una
- :. BILE to identify them.
nj Dinner was now announced, md he wa
.. soon seated at a table loaded with all th
delicacies that the cline afforded, serve'
of up with the utmost taste and elegance =
i. The hour of dinner was past with the sam
III pleasure on the part of Captain S. and wit
he the same case and sprghtliness on the par
- of his fascinating hostess. The compan
- soon withdrew and left Captain 5. and tn
~ lady alone. And now, Captain 5. said She
~ addressing him with confidence which wa
I'd inspired, perhaps, by tue consciousness ,
~, the favourable impression which she ha
4, made, and now, for our promised earlanH
he ton, which permit me to commence by II
W. W. ouiring how fares your adopted daughter
r.. We'll, madam, very well, believe, replie
~. Capt. S. somewhat surprised at the qne'
-. tion. And it is rumorcd, sir. said the lad,
= tha, YOU are about to change the title OF s.
,,e thcr for one of different nature. kumt
.be often speaks vaguely, replied Captain ;
'na nr, still uncertain whittier her remarks tcnde
om on Nobody could be better entitled to that pr
G., yilere. sir, continued she, but what grad
~ alas! what grade, in the scale ct your cel
W. W. snres, have you assigned to her unseemins
v,s unnatural mother.
and Of that, madam. replied Captain 5.
.cp but i'll qualified 10 Judge. Perhaps that m
use ther might have had reasons to Justify n
ST. conduct-and without knowing the circur
she stance under which she acted, i could n
nd. yer feel to condemn her for awakening
We; extraordinary an interest in my bosom.
oon Yes, sir, returned the lady, in nelanch'
md w and touching tones, that mother had re
his sons for her contluct-conduct which $
ant. knew the world would, and had a right
de- condemn as base and unnatural--but thi
self you she parted with the infant of her
his som without paug without one tear
ost, motherly affection? Oh! could you have
the known the anguish of that moment-tl
een distraction of feeling which rent her blet
lied ing bosom, when she relinquished the 81
r .~,x1. -. ,..,f$ no