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

me alter so long separation, ana SEEM
ed to behold the lustre of her dove-like
eyes dwelling fondly on my own. hail
ed the white cliffs Of Dover, shining
through the mist, for bringing me nearer
to her presence. My fame had travel
led before me; and discovered when l
landed, that l was in as high estimation
among my fellow-countrymen, as had
followed my efforts in Italy. At the first
opportunity made inquiries for Laura
and her family. ! found that her father
had died during my absence, leaving an
immense fortune to be divided amongst
his widow and children, who, with the
exception ofthe son, had retired into the
country. 1t was sometime before l found
out her residence, and when it was dis
covered, l had still greater difficulty in
seeing her. At last / met her by accident
in town. She appeared glad to see me,
pressed my hand with extacy, and looked
up into my face with all her usual tender
ness; yet, afterwards, she blushed, hung
down her head in silence, and seemed
fearful Of being seen in my company. !
would not leave her until she had given
me permission to write to her, and had
received her promise to answer me. l
was too much wrapped up in the happi-
ness l felt in her society, short as the pc
riod was in which we were together, to
observe, at the time, those signs of es-
arrangement, which afterwards came be-
fore my memory with all the bitterness
of disappointment My friend-it was
the last time we met"
In the few last sentences his voice fal-
tered, and at The conclusion il was so
broken as to be scarcely audible but,
with supernatural energy, he struggled
with his feelings, and, in few minutes,
resumed his narrative with apparent COM
posure.
81 wrote,"-hc continueI-"yes,
wrote to her; l told her how long had
loved her-how faithful had been my af
fection, and that my attachment could
only cease with my existence. That t
me all the glory / had obtained was worth.
less, unless she for whom only it wa.
sought, made it valuable by sharing i
with me: and implored her, by all he
gentle endearments, and by all the hap
py moments we had passed in each 9th
er's society, to assure me, at once, eithe
Of the certainty of my happiness, or o
my misery. l waited long and anxious
| ly for an answer. When any suspicion
entered my mind of her Inconsistency,
thought Of all she had endured for my
sake. recalled to mind the letter sh,
had written to me from the country ,wher'
she had been sent by her friends for thu
purpose Of preventing any communica
ton between us, in which she stated tha
! the prosecutions of her relations had be
come quite insupportable, and the water
Of a lake, round which she was in tn
habit of walking, looked so clear, SO tran
quill, and SO beautiful, that she had beel
tempted to put an end to her misery an
her existence at once but that tn
thoughts of possessing my love held he
back, and she felt that she could not Civ
up my affection, even to possess peace
and happiness, and heaven. Yes,
thought of these things, and my hear
smote me for suspecting her Of deceit
l waited without murmur; laidthe fau
of the delay on variety Of different eau
ses, and felt assured of my coming hap
piness: My friend! imagine my feeling
when received this letter"
With a trembling hand he gave m
a note which appeared much crumplet
and felt damp to the touch; it was date
more than three months back, and rea
as follows:-
"You have, perhaps, before this, ac
cused me Of neglect for not having ar
swered your note before, but have bee
unable to do so. Your letter was VIII;
might have been expected from you
, noble and disinterested. am gratefi
for your kind affection for me, though
can never repay it as you merit. Fol
get me, Arthur ask you to forget me
, l am still your friend, and shall neve
cease to be SO, but you will meet wit
those more likely to make you happy
you can then remember me as the lrien
of your adversely, and as one who woul
never have forsaken you in the day
trouble. "Your sincere well wisher,
e "LAURA."
was wondering, within myself, at tn
s extraordinary fckleness of this cir
5 when my friend, with more composur
than could have expected from hin
, proceeded.
"When l had perused that letter, h
4 continued, "its meaning came with sue
: a sudden shock upon my brain, as to d,
range, at once, every faculty il possessed
n l was sensible only of sudden and il
, tense pain about the region of the hear
e The rest heard from my attendant
r they were alarmed by hearing noise
= my room; they rushed in and found m