The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-04-12

Isabel should accompany him SOUTH aud
she left the Springs to prepare for her
marriage, which took place in the later
part of the summer Poor Isabelle, had she
known what heart burnlngs, and envy, and
Jealousy the magnificent presents showered
upon her by her wealthy husband, occa..
stoned her numerous acquuintances, how
she would have sighed over the mistaken
idea, that they could add to her happiness.
or deduct from her misery-but she remain.
in ignorance of them, rs Likewise of the
charitable remarks made by the world at
large upon the age of her husband and her
motives in murrying him. As was origin
ally Intended she left the city early ia The
Fall, with her mother and husband, and af-.
ter a few months her name ceased to be
mentioned, in the circles in which sho had
moved, excepting when some southern trav-.
eller, would tell marvellous tales of the re-
spect in which she was held, aud the splen.
dor in which she lived. As little was said
or indeed known Of George Graham, saving
that he had left for Europe on the plea os
i'll health.
Two years passed, nnd once morn tho
gossipping world was nstonished by the,
news of Isabelle Williams return a rich
widow, intending TO reside in her native
city. Many were the surmises MS to the
way in which she would display her wealth.
Some were ofopinion that she would speed
lly marry some gay young man, TO atone for
the time she had spent in humorng tho
whims of an old one; others predicted that,
she would be greater coquette than ever,
but Isabelle disappointed the expectations
of all by setting down with her mother, 'in
the most quiet and unostentatious manner
possible. The few who were admitted as.
visiters, reported her rs much the same ms
ever, saving paler and less gay, and her
friends pronounced her quite as agreeable
and attractive in her manners. She rctuTn--
ed thc visits of her acquain,ances, aud lis
tened to the family details and entered into
their pains aud pleasures, with as much in.
terest as though she had been still the sim
pie Isabelle Courtney, instead Of the rich.
widow.
monotonous round until her comparative
solitude Of mind and body, were broken in
upon by the information that George Gra-.
ham had returned from abroad
We will not pretend to say that IssbelIes
heart did not beat wildly, n, the mention of
him she was human creature, subject 10
human weaknesses, this was the only name.
that could have made her heart strings
thrill Shall we wonder then that she be-
traysd some symptoms of emotion, when,
she Heard Of his being in the sume city !
she did betray visible signs of feeling, and
still more apparent ones when once again
in this weary world they met, once again
she encountered him, at the house of COM
mon friend, she looked upon that cherished
form, but oh, ahow altered. Disease aud
sorrow had done their work fearfJiy y.-Ev-
cry vein was marked like pencil tracery in
that transparent forehead, over which the
dark hair hung in damp and heavy masses.
The beautiful hectic flush of that disease
which had laid his sister low, was visible in
his hollow cheeks, and the supernatural
briliancy of consumption shone in his speak
ing dark eye. With the increduIity peeu-
liar to his situation he spoke Of his condit-
ion as far from hopeless, and expatiated up
on the benefit he had derived from The sun
ny skies Of Italy and the south Of France,
as though they had renewed his laaso OF
life But one glance was sufficient for lsa-
belle; she rccollected too well the appcar-
ance of lis sister for some months previous
to her death, to indulge hope of his ulti-
mate recovery, and sighed as she reflected
upon the utter loneliness of his situation.
| Again and again they met, and at length
the world speculated upon her madncs, IN
marrying a man who was evidently dying.
Many recollected however the attachment
that had formerly subsistcd between them,
and forctold the Issue of his present visits
They were right. The world was not as
tonished by the splendor Of the second bri-
dals of the rich widow, but calmly and dis
passionately, with the firm conviction that
she was marrying him but TO soothc The lone
illness and sufFerings Of his dying pillow, Is
abellc accepted George Grabam's second
proposal Ia the hay day Of youth and
health. when he had made his first offer,
she considered herself TOO much insulted by
his attentions to Mary WeDdaIl to admit Of
her accepting il, now however when sick
ness and death had marked him for their
prev, when the desolation Of his situation
would be do, bly, felt, and the kindness Of
friends wearied out by a long and protrac-
ted illness, she stepped forward and accept
ed the place Of his nurse in sicknes, COM
panion in sorrow, and guide to turn his
thoughts to that world to which he was has
tening. For mother or sister, this would
have proved task Of bitter affection, but
how immensurabIy greater was Isabelle's
trials. To look upon that being, in whom
The freshest feelings Of her young life had
centered, to whose image she had chung
With all woman's devotion, throughout
the most trying aud evcntful period Of tina,
life, and the remembrance Of whose love
had been the only green spot, the oasis IN
the desert Of memory, through her dssoia,c
widowhood /; to look upon the decay Of the
principle Of life, and contemplate her stu
alton, when he should be taken from her.