Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-03-30
THE BROKrN vow.

THE BROKEN vow.
"But let the world lay what it will,
Though sorrow may awhile intrude,
Fair VISIONS voice is faithful still,
Still, to be blest, is-to be good"
'lIe will not come tonight" said
Emma, as she looked out Of her cham
Der window on the still and depopula-
ted streets, and saw the dark rain
clouds gathering in the sky, che will
not come to-night-it is past his hour
he did not used to be so careful a.
bout the weather-but will not in
duIge in disqu,etude--he has promised
-" the word died upon her lips;
she recoIlected the coidness-the tone
Of ambiguity with which that promise
had been repeated, when Theodore
last visited her, and in confused and
embarrassed manner, though with
much parade Of his regret and disap-
pointment; assured her that it would
be impossible for him to conform to his
engagements, and marry her at the
time appointed. She remembered
how her heart sunk within her at the
moment, and the strange, mysterious
prc>entment, that crossed her mind.
That then, for the first time, she
thought how bitter thing must be DIS
appointed love-for the first time felt
the force Of the remark, which she had
50 often heard:
"Men's vows are brittle things"
Still, the natural buoyancy Of the
spirits forbade her to despond. True,
he had broken his first engagement,
but he had represented to her the i'm
perious necessity Of the measure, and
she had acquiesced in it. True, he
had not fixed the more distant period,
he had left the final hour ,ndefinite-I
but she had his promise; she had his
oath; she would not believe him un-
faithful, she could not believe him perl
jured. At last after an absence Of
week, which seemed TO her a wear, he
visited the house again; he once more
mingled with the smiling family cir
Gle; he seemed the same he had always
been; and she was happy. But he
retired before the family this cost her
4 nights rest--it was not his usual
MAJ ncr, and she wondered why, at this
partis ular time, he should have more
business than usual.
Love has eagle eyes, and from their
piercing vigilance, duplicity must be
coupled with most Consumate art, if it
would avoid detection. Emma was
carressed by a large circle of acquaint-
ance. and Theo lore was also favor
ate; III parties they frequently came
together, and there, when the spirits h,
are up. and all reserve thrown of, the
heart unmasks itself. There Theodore
often forgot his caution, aud not only
abated his usual display Of partiality :
for Emma, but lavished his fondness
OH another. The generous girl for
gave him until forgiveness became a
crime committed against her ownheart.
She resolved to lead a more secluded
life, and in prosecuting her resolve.
she soon found ample evidence Of what
che most feared. His visits grew less
and ess frequent, until, in a short per-
Tod Of time they were discontinued al
together.
omanlike in the deepest Of her
sorrows, she retired as it were, within
herself, and secure in the confidence ,
that not even her nearest relatives OF
friends knew any thing of her disap-
pOintment. she nursed her grief III Sc I.
cret; and put ON a smile as sweet, Il
not as gay, before the world. But he
roically as she played this new and de-
cept've part, her feelings gradually =,
obtained the victory over her frame !,
she pined and Pined away, day after ;,
day; the Paleness Of departed health :
bianChcd her cheek, and reyed in the
stillness Of the evening, among the :,
tombs Of her fathers in the church., ard, :.
like a thin shadow Of the past. None !,
knew her grief, but he who was its ;,
Cause and he shuddered at the ruin he 7
had made.
Her friends perceived. with concern. -
the rapid decay of her health; and as :
the family had some relatives in Der. :
muda, tn. y resolved to send her there.
The voyage had salutary effect, and :.
added life to her almost inanimate :, .
frame. The glow of health gradually ;,
returned, and she shone in the ,naturi. =
ty OF her beauty, a star of no uncom- :
moi iustre in the fashionable world of 8
that delightful Island. 4 wear had !.
not elapsed before the hand of ore of .
the wealthIest merchants in the Island =
was offered her I{a woS coD,r.,,. }