Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-06-06

poSure. Wneu l WAS TAKING my lcaVe,
he pressed my hand with more than his
usual kindness Of manner, while The tears
were tracing their way along his hag-
gard cheeks. l knocked at the door as
/ recalled these things to my mind; the
servant opened it; his look alarmed me;
rushed up stairs into my friends bed
room, and there beheld the unhappy
man extended lifeless on his beu! On
the table, near him, lay small bottle,
which had contained poison Of the dead
licst nature. ] saw how bitterly ! had
been deceived by his composure Of the
! previous evening; he had evidently pre-
meditated selEdcstruction, and had as
sumed tranquility to avoid SUSPICION
He seemed to have died without strug-
gle. AS was examining the corpse, l
observed something -slittering between
its bony fingers; it was gold locket,
containing her hair, and on the back Of
it was engraved the name Of Laura.-He
died us he had lived.
\ Witnessed the last honors paid to his
remains, and then proceeded 10 examine
his papers. He left his pictures to be
sold for the benefit Of his relations, ex-
cept few, which he bequeathed to me
as testimony Of his friendship; and one,
which was "the Yelled Picture, " he
begged me to take IL Laura, after he was
buried, and to give into ber hands at the
same time, the following letter.
II 81 do not write either 10 complain or
to reproach am as much above the
one as am superior to the other. Be
fore these lines meet your gaze, the hand
which now traces them will be cold, and
the heart from whence they spring will
have ceased to hold communion with the
world: the dead complain Of no injuries,
and feel no wrongs | write TO assure
you Of my forgiveness, and That my last
words may express, with heart and soul,
and in spirit and in tru,h-God bless
you! ARTHUR"
L With some difficulty ! discovered her
} dwelling, and learnt that she was going
to be married the following week. After
) asking for the young lady, / was told by
the servant she wnnlt be with me inmc-
r diately, aud was desired to walk into
handsomely decorated room. l placed
= the picture in the most advantageous
7 light, and awaited her coming. In a
{ shor. time she appeared. She was fully
as beautiful as she had been described
, but there was IA trace Of melancholy III
the features of the original, which the
Y portrait did not fossess. | wondered not
. at the iniatudtion OF my unfortunate
G friond as ! gaz'd an the charms with
g which this Cifce had i"und his existence
: in her love. | said nothing to her, fear
t | ing to trust my Voice IN her presence, but
= gently undrew the curtain of the picture.
S As soon as she bchcld ii, Il food of sweet
@ recollectons seemed to rush upon her
: heat, and her whole soul appeared alb
n sorbed in the scene before her. AS she
d gazcd upon it, she drew in her breath
g eagerly, so as to make her respiration
I distinctly audible, and her looks were
e expressive Of the most intense interest,"
!, gently put into her hand the letter; she
l took it almost mechanically, but without
t taking the least notice of my presence;
her eyes fell upon the characters, which
Il she recognized and read. AS soon as
J. she had peruscd it through, she turned
y her gaze upon me with glassness Of
8 eye that rivc,tcd me 10 the spot. Her
beautiful mouth became InolnenarIy
G distorted; her lovely features underwent
!, a sudden and complete transformation,
q expressive of deep and silent agony
d she dropped the letter at my feet--uttcr-
ed long and horrid laugh, and sunk
= down upon the floor IN violent Mysteries.
l. For several days she was in state Of
n raving madness and though the fit left
1t her in a precarious state Of weakness, on
: her first return to sensibiity she sent for
u me. She badc me relate TO her all |
l knew Of her lover. did sos and she
r continually interrupted my narration with
}; execrations on her cruelty and falsehood.
n After she had heard me out, she told me
n she was the victim of her mothers ambi-
;: ton. During Arhur's absence, she had
"a tried every scheme TO thrust him from
ID her affections, and to bring about a mar
Di rage which she considered more advan-
tngeous. She had succeeded but too
well. Laura's heart had been humbled
e by threats, and her life had been render
], cd miserable by urkindness. Receiving
'e no intelligence of her lover, in moment
D, of weakness she agreed 10 all her moth
er proposed. She now exclaimed against
70 her inhumanity, her falsehood, and her
n treachery, and accused herself Of being
= the murderer Of her lover. Although
J; great attention was paid to her by her
4 friends, she received a shock from which
I. she never recovered; and before the day
$; arrived which was to have seen her u
10 bride, the grave possessed all that re-
y ,c ~ Al l.. Al