Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-01-20
THE BELLOWS. MEMBER.
ay MISS HELEN MARIA WILLIAMS.
Gcnnc.uded.1

lCnncuded.
How shall describe 10 you the horrible
ni,h, which passed Fallen a, once, from
n situation the most splendid IN mlsera.
BILE village. which afforded no kind of re-
source. and N possession only OF few
louis: while nv adored wife. III the morn.
inu of HE. accustomed 20 constitute. as
well as share the pleasures ut s"c'eiy. had
been lead by an internal plot TO the cabin
uf an old man-respeclsb.e indeed. but 10
n state OF wrp,ched Indulgence. ard | had
heen the chet instrument OF her mlsfur-
Times. the accn,npllcc Of the slrocliy with
winch she had been treated WHAT would
have become OF her? In what manner
could | ac' that might least wound her
terIiros ,-Wonld she lh'uk herself sutii-
c,eo,ly y,ch ~ NV attachment and tender
r.s., Oh. no! i felt all the hnrrors ul
her destiny. sud my own-yes my own'-
I had indeed no reverse Of fortune To un.
derpo: |. WIN, was born to wre'chedness,
and nur,ured IN want; yet my egonised
henr,. but TOO susceptible, told the that
had a sorrow tn sustain. perhaps the most
c,u.l in the sad catalogue Of hcman evils
I ind no, merely 10 bear Indifference from
Ina, obiec, IN whom | had placed every
,ope of happiness; to see that heart allie
mated hose tenderness was necessary I"
nv ex,.terce; to read GOODNESS ~ tina, eye
on whose look my pence dcpended--l re-
collected, with distraction, that It mnst be
nv doom, not meselv to support lndi!tcr-
ence but aversion! was not merely Ia
feel the bitterness Of beng hat efuI In her
loved, b"i to know that | deserved h"I
hatred; to find that the shape Of all my
sorrow was the poignapcv OF r"m"rsc. -
Had moi been the fatal cause OF all she
sufrred' 49,,
Had no, darsened all he fair prospect
of her life, and overwhelmed her with IN
,olerablc ancnlsh!'. Had not |, wreIci
tina, was. planted dagger in her heart
Perhaps she would find refuge from me If
The grave; perhaps her last breath w"no
curse me or. # she pi'led and i"rgavt
me-. could endure her cruel mercy'-
Would not her pity and forgiveness be
more barharous than reproach; more ter
rihle than her curse?
Such were the reflections which absor
he'd nv mind, and made he'll of the bed
on winch had thrown myself TO pass the
r,pht. The horror of my situation was
increased by n continuance OF violent ram,
which laid under water the cross road lead
,np to Mon,clmat, aud rendered II IN.
n,ss,hlc for seveal days. ThlS circum-
stance prevented me from sending 'olown
aa m,ended, for n carriage, 10 convey An
rora to lodging less fitted to morllfy her
pride.
You will easily imagine that sent eve.
~ minute TO inquire respecting the silna-
ton of nv unfortunate bride. The an
swers were satisfactory: my attention was
received with gratitude was repeatedly
told that the next day should be admitted
TO see her; that she had made up her
mind; tina, she should display firmness
of character which. in the cruel circum-
stances in winch she was placed, would a.
tonlsh and confound her vile enemies AL
these things, which were repeated TO me
with on affect alton of secrecy. did not lul
me into perfect security. That terrible
tomorrow affnghtened my soul; dreaded
the fatal interview more than death ! wa
medua,lng how to elude II, under different
nre,ences, when the door opened, and dis
covered to me my interesting BRIDE
threw myself at her feet, and seizing one
OF her hands bathed it IN my tears. Sht
looked at the in this Illuminating posture
for some time in silence then raising mt
up, addressed me with all the dignity o
pride, which nothing could vanqulsh--
You have deceived me. said she; 1t Il
on YOUR future conduct that my forgiveness
shall depend, IL any generous sentiment
remains at the bottom OF your heats # yol
are DESTROYS of not making ne altogethe
miserable, do not take advantage of thu
authority you have usurped. Mademois
ellie offers me decent retirement at he
uncles house-I have accepted 1t, because
it accords both with my situation an
my duties. You may visit me there when
ever you please. We will concert, to
eether, the means of exlricatlng ourselve
from this horrible situation, and providing
for our future support. Rely on my mono
for tho care of defending your own
Man is . cou6dlng creature--A kin
word from the woman we love, is stuff
Gent to soften all the misery she occasion'