Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-15

counts of his reckless and unste adj
character, which made her trembe for
the peace of her child, should their in
tercourse continue. Henrietta had OIL
ten promised her mother to refrain from
these visits, but her promise had as Of
ten been broken. Not that she was in
sensible to the afTectionate cares OF her
only remaining parent, ar that she had
.ot understanding sufficient to perceive
their wisdom, but her heart had unguard-
eddy admitted passion, to counteract
the force Of which, the tender solIcilude
! and fearful warnings OF her mother were
feeble and useless. She loved, not
wisely, but too WE'LL and that sentiment
which, when felt for a deserving object,
is the source Of the purest felicity, was
already TO shs too susceptible glrl the
cause of modification and sorrow.
As the evening wore away, Cathar-
ines anxiety increased; and when /
O'Clock came, and Henrietta had not re-
turned, her fears knew no bounds. The
night passed, and the hapless gil re-
turned not. Mrs. Walton had awakened
and asked for her daughter. Catharne
rietta had retired to rest; and this
equivocation, seen as it was to the up-
right girl, weighed heavy on her heart.
As soon as the day appeared, she flew
to the house of Charlotte. Henrietta
was not there. She had accompanied
Alfred iIenly to a little distance, and
Charlotte imagined she had then return
ed home. In the anguish of her feel
ings Catharine accused her of being ac-
cessory to their elopement; but in this
instance lienrie,ta's ill-judgins friend
was guiltless. They had not entrusted
her with their intentions, but Henrietta
was indeed gone, and Catharine returned
to the house Of her aunt in a state Of
mind which 40 language can describe
The truth must be told--the invalid
mother inquired for her child the mo-
ment she awoke-poor Catharine' $ tears
aud agitation told the tale too plainly -
Amidst her broken sobs she could only
hold out the solitary hope that they had
gone to be married, and would imme-
diately return. That hope was in vain
the wretched mother, cnfecbled by
illness, her heart laceraied by the appar-
ent ingraitude, disobedience, and too
probable misery Of her darling child,
sunk beneath the shock-her senses for
sock her, and on the second day she ex-
pired, raving for her darling Henrietta
Catharine, almost stupiiicd with grief,
was watching by the remains of her who
had been parent to her, and to whom
she had ever shown the affection Of a
child, and whose death had left her a
frIendless orphan, when a hursiod step
was heard on the stairs. The door flew
open, and Henrietta rusl,ed in, pale as
death, the very image of despair! She
threw herself upon the inanimate bosom
of that mother who had SO iondly cher
ished her in infancy and youth, and who
would have screened her from sorrow at
the expense of that life which her own
folly anu ingratitude had evidently short
ened She spoke not a word--not a tear
escaped her eyes-she clasped the cold
form in a convulsive embrace, and when
the screams Of Catharine brought friends
to their assistance it was with difficulty
she could be separated from it. For
many days the wretched girl continued
in state which threatened the total
overthrow of her reason She refused
all nourishment, and would not be com
forted. BY degrees, however, amid
the agonles Of shame and repentance,
the particulars Of her fatal elopement
aud sudden return were gathered from
her. she had not, when she left home,
any intention of taking so decisive step,
but urged by her lover to a private mar
riage, she had consented TO accompany
him to town at some distance, where it
was their intention to be married aud
Immediately return. She had felt Sc
cure of her mothers pardon, when she
should represent to her that she had lis
tened to her lovers arguments in favour
of private marriage from the convic-
ton that both must be miserable if sep
arated, and Henly knew too well the ex.
pectatIons of his parents, to hope they
would ever consent to his union with one,
whose station in life was so Ear inferior
to their own. The deluded girl lost sight
of the meannoss of which she was guilty,
IN thus obtruding herself upon family
which would scorn her alliance. She
listened only to the suggestions of love
and the voice of Alfred IIenly.
When they arrived at their place o.
destination, the first person Alfred be-
held on alghting from tie carriage, was
his father! business had brought him {,
the place and on seeing his son aligh
from carriage at that early hour with ;
female, he Immediately gucssedthe truth
Alired's CONSERVATION deprived him %
| all snll-Dosspssion Honripttn Cuintp.