Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-03-21

Iup, and all reserve thrown on htt
heart unmasks itself. There Theodore
often forgot his caution, and not only
abated his usual display Of partlailty
for Emma, but layished his londness on
another. The generous girl forgave
him until forgiveness became a crime
committed against herown heart. She
resolved to lead a more secluded life,
and in prosecuting her resolve she soon
found ample evidence Of what she most
feared: His visits grew less and less
frequent, until, at q short period Of time
they werediscontinued altogether.
Womanlike in the deepest of her
sorrows, she retired as it were, within
herself, and secure in the confidence
that not even her nearest relations or
friends knew any thing of her disap-
lpointment, she nursed her grief in Sc
cret, and put on smile as sweet, if
not as gay, before the world. But he
roically as she played this new and de-
ceptive part, erfeelings gradually OBJ.
tanned the victory over her frame; she
pined and pinned away, day after day;
| the paleness of departed health blanch.
ed her cheek, and roved in the stiffness
of the evening, among the tombs of her
fathers in the church-yard like a thin
shadow Of the past. None knew her
grief but he who was its cause; and he
shuddered at the ruin he had made.
Her friends perceived, with concern
the rapid decay Of health; and, as
the family had some relatives in Ber-
muda, they resolved to send her there.
The voyage had "a salutary effect, and
added life to her almost inanimate
frame. The glow Of health gradually
returned, and she shone in the maturi.
| ty of her beauty, a star of no common
llstre in the fashionable world of that
delightful Island. A year had not elaps-
cd before the hand ofone of the wealth.
lest merchants in the Island was offer
ed her. He was generous, noble, and
virtuous. She accepted, and became
a happy wife.
Having left Philadelphia with the in
tenton of returning, she now awaited
.nxiously for the opportunity; but a
variety of causes prevented it, year az
ter year. A beautiful family of boys
and girls grew around her; her husband
was deeply engaged i'll an extensive
andlucrative business, and twelve years
passed by before she was able to ac-
complish her wishes, in which time she
had never heard of her former lover.
Now, MIR. Letere retired from business,
and proposed accompanying her, with
their family, to America. They reach
I'd Philadelphia in safety, and walked
up Walnut-street to the old family man.
sion. 1t remained unaltered. Her
father and her mother, the servants,
her former friends who remained; all
welcomed her to her ancient home.
The shrubs she planted in the yard
had grown up beautiful trees. Her
name was where she had engraved it,
and the sash Of her chamber, twelve
years before, and she sat down by 1t
called back the recollection of by
past time, and wept; yet those were
tears of mingled JOY and sorrow.
Mr.. Letere took fine establishment
in Chesnut-street, and lived in splendid
style. Emma used to ride out daily in
an elegant carriage, with her infant
family; and as had long been her prac-
tice, she carefully sought out such OBJ
Jects of distress, as she deemed it would
be charitable to relieve. One day rid.
ing in the suburbs ofthe city, she saw
a poor, halt-clothed man, lying on the
ground, and tattered child CRYING
bitterly by his side, to which he paid no
attention. She directed the coachman
to stop, and calling to the man. enquir-
ed why he disregarded the child, and
whose it was! at is my own, said he;
81 came out, hoping to get a place for
it in yonder house, and could MOTT
is almost starved, and | have not the
means to produce food for myselfor the
child" She gave him a small sum
and directed him to call at her house
the next day. He promised comph-
ance.
At the hour appointed, the poor man,
with his helpless child, awaited in the
kitchen for the call of his benefactress.
Mrs. Lefere sent for them, and desired
to know by what means he had brought
himsclfto poverty and want. The man
spoke out honestly. Intemperance, he
sad was the cause, but his troubles had
driven him to that. 81 once saw bet
ter days, said he; 81 was a partner
IN mercantile concern-I married.
was decelved-the mother of this poor
child, after involving me in ruinous
debts, left me with a hbertine, whose
addresses she had long received; |