Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-04-25

unmerltcd Duruen, she lOOkeu calmly
out on the fresh morning aspect of nature,
$50 in unison with her own pure and i'll
nocent countenance,) and said, in the
tone OF one breathing at length from the
pressure Of painful thoughts, show beau
tiful every thing does look this fine
spring molning!
1t does, indeed" said I, struck with
the coniidng na,Uetie of this involuntary
remark; "and | suppose you are the
more sensible of it from being young
trav eller." Her only answer was one
OF those quiet intelligent smiles, which
admit Of various translations, and which
j chose to construe into assent. Coup
ling the remark with the circumstance of
her only luggage being small band
box, set her down for "a farmers daugh-
ter Of the eighborhood; and added, " !
suppose, like myself, you are not going
far ?'
81 nm going to London, sir" said she,
with a tone ol calm seli-possession, rs if
such a journey had been to her daily
occurrence; and so, indeed, it was, not
etaphorically, but literally.
/. ~ VIII iiolC
surprise than | could well account for
,"Were you ever there beiore?" % yes!
| was the reply, rendered more piquant by
its singular composure. 81 came from
seventy miles beyond it the day before
yesterday"
1t would be quite superlluous to say
that my curiosity was excessively excit-
ed by this unexpected answer; and l
dare say my readers will set me down
as l did myself when it was too late,
as very stupid fellow for not having the
dexterty to crafty It,
But my companion, as if ashamed of
having so far committed herself to u
stranger, and rather young gentleman,
(though l have wife and five children
written upon my face, 1 believe, pretty
legibly,) sat back in the coach, and an.
swered one or two Indifferent questions
with that laconic gentleness which is in
finitely more discOuragirg than sullen
silence. i felt | had not the smallest
right to ask in direct terms, My dear,
what could make you travel seven hun
dred miles for one day :" and as saw
she had not the leas. mind to tell inc,
really must plead guilty to the weakness
Of being ashamed to use the advantage
my station and knowledge Of the world
! gave me, to worm out secret which,
from silent tear that | saw trickling
down behind her veil, lguessed must be
iraught with more pain than pleasure.
| The struggle between my curiosity
and better feelings was still going on,
when the arrival of the coach near my
friends gate, gave to the latter an invo-
Iuntary, and not very meritorious tri-
amph. Now that all idea Of intrusion
was at an end, could venture upon
kindness, and | said, | aln sure in hon.
est simplicity "I'he idea of your going
such long journey by yourself, or with
a chance company, grieves me. Can
be Of any use in recommending you to
the protection ofthc guard or othcrwise?'
"Thank you, sir, a thousand tines"
said she, raising for the first time pair
of mild innocent eyes TO my face "but
tEe, who put it in my mind to come, and
blessed the purpose of my journey, can
carry me safe back again; and should
be silly indeed to mind going few hun
dred miles by land, when, trusting TO
Him, am about to sail to the other end
Of the world. an much obliged to
you sir, am sure though" said she a
gain; and if we had beer destined to 60
another stage together, ] should certain
! ly have known all.
II Time, however, on all occasions des
potic, is ineXorable when armed with 9
} mail coach horn. l could only shake
hands with the gentle being | left behind
me, slip crown into the guards palm te
lock well after her, (Which l was glad tc
see po took as a tacit affront,) s. turn my
thoughts, by strong effort, to my North
umbrian friends affairs.
These occupied me fully and disagree
ably all the morning and early in the
afternoon was forced to run away from
my friends old claret, and older stories
, (for l had shot snipes on his lands with
my first gun about twenty years before,
to fulfil an engagement in Edinburgh
early on the following day.
! compounded for this outrage on the
old gentleman's hospitality, by accepting
his carriage to convey me back to Bcr.
wick in time for a coach, which / knew
! would start from thence for the north in
the course Of the evening; and no soon.
er did j find myself once more at the
door Of the Kings Arms, than the cir.
cumstance brought full on my memory
1 the romantic occurrence which had beer
for the last few hours, eclipsed behind ;
mass Of dusty law papers, and the portly
persons Of brace of hard. featured ant
, harsh-toned Northumbrian attorneys.
I'll / found ,nycolf u 20 x., ,,.nntao t,,,> m.