The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-02-16
smote his brow. and .rembled with the ex-

| smote his brow, and trembled with the ex
cess of his emotion.
DO not despair while even shadow of
trust remains l urged gently. Charles,
for Alicia's sake-for your sons you must
hope on; let us return to your wife, II you
are thus moved, what must be her suffer-
ingsi'
the countenance of Morton; then, bursting
into hysterical laugh, he himself directed
my atteation to it, as he exclaimed bitterly:
DO you not see how my impotent pride
rushes to arms, when friend would look on
the wretchedness that will ere long be food
for the cold eye of an IMPLYING world!--and
yet and he held me back a moment, and
the glow of memory frightened his coun-
tenance and flashed in his dark eyes: you
will not see Alicia as have seen her--as
she will be no mere = This vision of pres
ent wretchedness, darkencd the tablet OF
memory, and with an expression of subdued
feeling, he led me in silence to an obscure
street. and finally to his miserable lodging:
the creaking stairs gave notice OF our APP
proach to the young and heart stricken wife,
and on our entrance, her eye at once eagerly
sought, and rested on her husband. Fair and
beautiful as the Mahomedan houri, there
was cast OF thought upon her fine face, that
pictured to the heart the depreciating sad
ness of the recording angel, when noting
down the trcspasscs Of man--hcr dress was
homely, even to wretchedncss, but what had
drc-s availed to such face and form? The
| long braids of raven hair tina. pressed her
! forehead were lost beneath close cap of
the purest white; her child played at her
knee, plump and rosy, unconscious OF pres
ent troubles, and thoughtless of those to
come Never aid bow so low before til
tied beauty on first meeting, as l did be-
fore the wife of Morton! On our entrance,
Charles had thrown himself upon a chair,
and with his face buried in his hands, Sob
bed aloud. Alicia was beside him-hcr
white arms encircled his neck-her lips
pressed his Lrow-I was forgotten!
At length Morton raised his head, and his
eye fell upon me as stood in the centre Of
the apartment. Alicia, speak to him. he
murmured in an unearthly tone our own
sorrows are enough; why should we spread
their pestilence abroad1 She approached
me, and az the moment Morton's child play
fully clung to his knees-hurrirdly he grasp
ed the little innocent, and raising him up At
arms length, he exclaimed: Charles, un-
happy victim of fathers wcakness--you are
a beggar Pleased with the rapdity of the
motion and the emphatic accents of his fa-
thcr, the import of which he guessed not,
the child laughed in his face. Morton could
not bear this in a frenzy OF emotion he would
have rushed from the room; Alicia, like his
guardian angel, held him back. She had
not shed tear; her bosom heaved wildly,
and her cheek was deathly pale, but still She
spoke with fearful calmness.
/ Alicia said the unhappy Charles, as
subdued by the violence of his own emotion,
he remained passonately in her embrace,
why do you cling to mes have not drawn
the worlds scorn down upon your
If the world indeed scorn us, my love,
said the young wife, tenderly, 'let us be eve
ry thing to each other, and the sting will be
unfelt.'
At this moment quick step was heard
upon the stairs--the door yielded to the pres
sure of heavy hand, and with smile of
honest Joy upon his countcnance, a man in a
mean habit, entered the room. You have
gained your cause Mr.. Norton he uttered
hastily-and heard no more. A wild laugh
burst from the lips of Charles, and he strain
ed the senselcss form of his wife to his breast
with irightful violence.
was slowly sauntering in Pail Mall, but
three days ago, when from the window OF
handsome chariot a fair hand notioned my
approach. For a moment looked ncredu-
lously at the lofty brow, kissed at intervals
by n superb. snow-white plume; at the raven
hair. hanging in glossy and luxuricnt ring
lets; at the mild dark eyes, cleaning with
tempered brightness; but, in the next instant,
! a large tear swellcd in them. was in doubt
, no longer; it was Alicia; and as extended
my hand, her boy twined his little fingers "a
round one of mine, and drew my hat over
nv eyes, to conceal my weakness.
DURHAM OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.