The herald., 1837-03-11
lFiom the Female Robinson Crasoe.l
Imlac and Clara--Or, the two Suicides.

u
Imlac and Clara the two Suicides
Coacludei from yes'erdayl
Imlac and Clara were one fatal evening tricked out
in all the fnery of London-lmlac was welcoming
into his hOspltabe manslon the guests VINO were 10
pass evening of hanty in his richly furnished
apartments. Clara had also arrived and was wei
coined in with the rest. 1t had been the custom Oh
Clara send all persons who called on her upon Pc
cuniary matters, TO the house of lmlac, as he was
considered by the world TO be her destined husband.
The guests crowded in. The great and rich were
there The noble and tire high ranked hero Of the ar
N.Y. and the choice spirits OF the navy. Suddenly
disturbance was heard in the hall, o. persons conle
ding with loud voice and NOISY movements Oh ieet anu
hands ,
We must go in we must 60 in, were words nearo
% be uttered; "We have warrant to seze all the
furniture for Mr. Mcrccrs silk BILL and he VIII not be
put off any longer"
The awful danger rushed upon the mind of Imlac
Mr. Mercer had large claim for goods solo, ana mo
news advanced TOO, against Imlac tie had frequent
ly called upon Imlacs steward, and unable to obtain
payment had applied as frequently to lmlac himself
llac spoke of the claims to the steward, enreated
thatit might be paid and settled. The unworthy and
fraudulent steward had postponed the payment under
frivolous preence after another as the debt was
very considerable and the steward wished TO
much for himself The steward had fled, and now
Mr.. Mercer and his officers of justice had come 10
seek property to dcfray the heavy charges, which
there appeared to be no other prospect OF having qu
dated than by means OF an execution upon the splen-
did furniture
Amh all the gaiey of the festive throng and the
widest of the hearty cheer, the officers, with Mr.
Mercer the nfuriated tradesman at their head, enter
cd the apartment. Dismay and modification OF pride
seem to rule for the next moment. Some OF ths
guests started to their feet, hastily seized their hats
and cloaks, and disappeared Others endeavored TO
prevent the officers from removing the furniture, and
Clara horror struck threw her lovely SELF trembling
and agated to the EXTREMIST degree into the arms Of
her beloved and now afflicted Imlac.
In an hour, by aid of the servants, whose assist
ance the officers commanded the costly hangngs were
torn from the windows bedsteads and walls. The
tasteful carpets were pulled up The tables, chairs,
pocelain plate, cuery-all-al the beautiful decora-
the apartments and halls and nothing left behind but
naked walls and a weeping couple-Cara and imac.
All the guests were gone before the last chair had
been taken.
A number of servants were instantly despatched to
Clara's house. Alas! the fangs of the law had been
there too The house was wilderness. The willy
steward had managed matters so nicely for his own
safety, that he had delayed his departure until his
flight became absolutely essential, and there
thing 10 be gained to his interest by further dla-
toriness. The tragedy was finished at both houses
on the same evening.
Ne tongue can describe, pen pencil can depict
the dreadful feelings OF Clara and lmac, when the
returning menials, abruptly broke upon the startled
of the two lovers, the awful tidngs of their utter
and mutual ruin. They knew that all the harpics of
the law would be let loose upon their houses and
lands and other personal property the next day. by
host OF clamorous greedy, avaricous creditors, 10
whom immense amounts were due, which the stew
great state of more than the wealth of the two suff
ced TO 'defray.
Together they walked the floor all night arm in
arm, prey to the most horrid thoughts anxietles,
and agltating hopes and fears.
The ensuing day had not passed over, when they
already found themselves without home, without a
shelter from the night air or the coming storm, the
insolant stare of the passers by.
Their whole property was seized. They had no.
thing in the wide world which they could call their
own, but the gay festive garments IN which their per-
81. .,nb hactt
concealed about their habimens, and about thirty
guneas which was in Imlac's purse.
Arm in arm they went TO a hotel They spoke 10
the host OF the hotel They said nought about their
connection two lovers, betrothcd and TO be we'd
ded-nor hncd at the truth. They merely applied
for an apartment
The hotel was in Of the retired streets of Lon
don, and they resolved TO remain there as q married
couple. A comfortable room was assigned to them,
anc money paid in advance fer a months residence
and provision from the stores of the well supplied lar
der of the hotel
They passed here the first awful night in the same
chamber. Neither Of them slept until near morning
when nature, exhausted by the previous nights wake
fulness added 10 this and the fatigue OF body, and
distraction of mind they had undergone, could not
have her Immutable and universal laws frustrated and
despiscd Entirely overcome and exhausted they
slept and thus were temporarily relieved from state
of mind which would soon have deprived them Of rea
SON leaving them TO be a melancholy spectacle Of in
sanity brought on by nordInate grief and depression
of spirits.
They Were considered husband and wife, and
were addressed by the host as Mr.. and Mrs. Clare
mont They did not visit. They were not visited
They conversed with in the house except the
host and such menals IL became necessary for
their csmfort to procure the services OF.
Only one day they went out in the street. That
was for the purpose OF procuring more proper gar
ments than their fnery which had been put for an
occasion of estivIty.
Most of their money expended for this cloth
ing. As the month for which they had paid eight
9ulneas IN advance expiring, they knew
that more money would be expected by the host from
them, they confined over the expiration OF that pc
rod. Their money gone save few shillIngs,
and they did not know which way 10 procure more.
At last they concluded to visit the shop of pawnbro-
ker pledge their whole remaining wardrobe Of costly
stutis and substitute cheaper and coarser wear, and
retire to some more humble and secluded lodgings
better bettns their poverty and consider what next
was to be done.
Gracious God! what awful consequences attend
upon n life Of extravarance and profIson Reduced
take refuge in garret, clad in the meanest attire
behold this former heir and heiress. But one little
moth previous TO this, they both rolling in
wealth and enjoying every pleasure Of high life He
in his palace-sse in hers. Now see them living mn
a pallet of straw, side by side in a gloomy garret
the abode of poverty and want the scene Of heart
lsckening wretchcdness
Here they remained until the pawnbroker's supply
10 their finances drained TO the last penny. Des-
par and starvation stared them in the face.
Ii was n4ldnght. There was tempest abroad