Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-24

DceH lof WY tiHio oCS'o''J oou'StoN
to gambling. Seeing himself on the
brink of ruin, he determined to make a
desperate effort to retrieve his affairs;
he failed, and, wanting the courage to
face ignominy in this world, he rushed
into the presence of an ofiendcd Deity.
'This vas the beginning of my mis-
fortunes; grief and horror overwhelmed
me; sunk under the weight my feel
ings, and violent fever reduced me to
the brink of the grave. While l was
suffering under it, losses came thick up
on me, and, with the return of health, |
found myself beggar; nay, worse, for
owed large sum, which | could not
pay. My Julia inherited her mothers
fortune, il was settled upon her ont Of
my power to touch; but 10 sooner did
she learn the state Of my affairs, than,
unknown to me, she surrendered every
shilling to my creditors
Noble grip cried Vilars.
Noble, indeed; but how was her con-
duct appreciated, where most it ought to
have been felt? She had lover; they
were brought up together, and l believed
him truly attached to her. knew that
her affection for him was only that Of a
sister, but she cedcd TO my wishes, and
consented to give him her hand; the day
was fixed, when my ilncsss delayed the
marriage; but neither Julia nor myself
ever doubted his truth. No sooner did
he learn that she had given up her in
heritance, than he wrote her an eternal
farcwelln
sThc scoundrcl'
$50 called him. Julia uttered no
reproach; her cheek was pale, but her
voice did not faltcr, when throwing her
self into my arms, she exclaimed, Faith
or, from this moment we have nothing
in the world but each othern We quit
ted Lyons. l sought employment in
Paris | found il; my salary was scanty,
but Juia's industry at needle work added
a little to it; and if we were not happy,
we were at least content.
But Fortune had not done persecu-
ting me; the loss of my place, and the
illness of my daughter, reduced us to the
state in which you found us. Your be-
neficcncc relieved us from certain death.
dressed prayer to heaven, in which
you were not remembered!
"A few days after Providence had sent
! you to our assistance, we received intel
! !igence of a most unhoped for reverse
| of fortune. The lover who had so cru
ely deserted my child was dead, and re-
pcntiDg of his conduct, had left her the
whole Of his immense property. He
had no near rclatives-thus nothing him
dered us from profting by his will; but
butwe lost no time in returning again TO
Paris, where only we could hope to dis
cover you. Till to-day, our researches
have been unavailing, Thank heaven,
we have at last found you; it was the
only thing wanting to our felicity
VIllars replied only by grasping with
fcrvour the hand that belmont extended
to him, and from that day they were in
scparablo.
Treated by Julia with the easy free
dom of a sister, Villars believed, during
some time, that he regarded her with an
affection merely fraternal. Happy in
her society, he never thought Of asking
himself whether he could be happy with
out it, but the moment came in which
he was obliged to put the question to his
heart.
One morning when he went as usual
to Delmont's, he found him alone, and
more thoughtful than common.
Have you not something on your
! mind, my dear sir, said he, (which rem
ders my company just now importunute
to you? Ifs so, tell me at once to be
gone
Con the contrary, I shall tell you to
stay, for | want to consult you about a
proposal have just received for Julia
"A proposal for Julia!'
Yes-what is there in that to sur
prise youH
Nothing, nothing stammered Viii
lars, only l thought-that is, did not
think
He stopped; belmont looked at him
lnquiring!y, and finding that he did not
proceed; he finished tho sentence in his
own way:
'You did not think, presume, that
my child ever meant to marry. Well,
what her determination may be, I can't
tell you; but at any rate, the Count St.
Maur is very anxious to learn it. You
know more of him than l do, tell me
what yon think Of him
Villers hesitated; he knew nothing but
good of the Count, and yet he could not
bring himself to say so. At last he ut
tered, with effort,
Il believe him to be n worthy man;
but who is there that can deserve Ju-
lia2,