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


ent joyoussess of heart, as though no thorn
vas attached to the roses that strewed her
bath and n week found her as pressed with
for all the balls of the evening
,s she had been, during the gayest part of
he winter season.
Among the late arrivals at Bedford, was
that of rich Southern Iplanter. As soon
ms 1t was fully nsccrtained that MIR. Will
hams was extremely wealthy he became a
mark for all the scheming mothers and
daughters around the country. He appear
ed mt first little disposed to cultivate the So
ciety of the ladies, gradually, however, he
began to take an interest in some of them,
and Isabelle Courtney soon became the OBJ
ject of his particular regard. Rumor with
her thousand tongues was busy, and it was
speedily and currently reported ,ho, Mr.
Williams and Miss Courtney were on the
eve of marriage. Isabelle heard tho ban
terings Of her friends, and tho whispers of
her enemies with the same apparent indifler
ence. 1t mattered little to her wha, disap-
pointed daughters, and man1uvering moth
ers might say of Mr.. Williams intentions
so long as he had not proposed in form, ano
she gave herself but little trouble as to hel
answer, until she should be usked for it,
The proposal however came at length. A
party had been formed to visit nsighbor-
ing spring, and Mr.. Williams requested the
honor Of driving Miss Courtney in his own
curricle. The day could not have been
more itly chosen for an excursion Of pleas
ure, and all agreed when they nsccnded
their vehicles to return in the afternoon that
their jaunt had been delightful.
To Isabelle however, the day had not
been one of such unmixcd pleasurc,- she
felt that this was a crisis in her fate TINT
would influence her destiny for life, and in
voluntarily she induced melancholy train
Of thought in which George Graham and
the hopes she had INDUCED Of his yet re-
turning to offer his hand, formed no incon-
siderable part. 1t was during this season
of moody reflection, whilst she contempla-
ted the crum5led ruins of all her air bnilt
fancies, that Mr.. Williams proposed and
was accepted.-The struggle must have
been one of intense agony, aud oil hope of
happiness in this world must have been re-
signed when Isabelle gave up her last hope
Of George Graham and contented to con-
slider herself the affianced wife Of another,
but this she concealed within the rccesses
of her own crushed heart /; to no one did
she ever admit that another had preceded
Mr., Williams in her affections. On reach
ing the hedge that enclosed the church
yard ia which Alice was buried, the sun be-
ing yet high, Isabelle requested her COM
pnnion to suffer her to aIight and pay vis-
it to her friends grave.-Imngining her dis
like to accompany him to the hotel, pro-
ceeded from the circumstances under which
they now stood towards each other Mr..
w. consented, and drove on alone. Isa-
belle opened the little gate, andin the tumult
of contending feeling ran, rather than walk
cd, to that part of the Iynrd in which the
grave was situated. At length she stood be-
side the last resting place of Alice Graham,
anil bcheld leaning on tho simple monu-
ment erected to her memory by her broth
er, that brother himself Surprised and e.
ven shocked she started back but CT orge
springing forward caught both her hnnds
In his and commenced husiy explanation
of the circumstances that led to his being
there
lie had arrived that day for the purpose
of offering his heart and hand, in the spot,
which had witnessed his foolish conduct
and boyish infatuation of the preceding
year. Hc explained the agony of his feel
ings when he thought Of the lonely death
bed of his sister and his determination not
10 see Isabelle until the first year of mourn
ing had expired. lie could call upon her
to be the guide Of one, who SO much re-
quired q Mentor.--This explanation which
has occupied us SO long, with him was the
work Of moment, and he paused for lsa-
bellies answer There was a strange wliirl
in her brain, n conflict Of contending emo
Of rcsigning oil she had hitherto relied on
to form the happiness Of her future liio,
should she reject him, there was bis SISTERS
DYING request that she would not act rashly
nj this momcnious crisis, but there was the
recollection Of the public manner ia which
he had sighted her, his preference Of Mary
Wcndnll, there was the opportunity OF max
inc him feel all That she had suffered, and
pride, indignant pride conquered.
Coldly aud calmly she explained to him
the posi,ion in viii cb she stood towards Mr..
Williams, aud signed the death warrant oi
her own happiness, by telling him that she
was AS much in want Of guide as ne could
possibly be, and had therefore accepted the
offer OF one in every way calculated to pro.
tect her.
We need no; repeat the many arguments
used by George to induce her to change
her resolution and dissolve the engagement
suffice il to say that he accompanied her to
the hotel, and bade hsr farewell with the
fixed determination never to see her again.
II we're vain to say, that Isabelle did not
sometimes reflect, upon her many chances
Of happiness with bin and regret the pre-
cipitancy with which she had acted, IN pos
itively refusing ever to consider upon his
proposal, but her womanly pride had been
100 deeply wounded to admi, Of her accept