The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-10

tloh MOVING In the nrsl Circle Oh fashion, win |
beauty 10 grace any situation, habitua cheerfulness
strong colloquial powers and great versatility of Ia
lent, she esteemed and respected all who knew
her, and refused the addresses of more than one,
whose names are emblazoned in the galaxy of lie
rary tame. Still strong in the attachment to which |
she had early given promise, she never mentioned
her worshippers with too much Of not to feel
grateful for the opinion entertained Of her merit,
she cultivated their acquaintance while she careful
ly refused their lavish attentions. Nearly three
years had elapsed, when was preparing to return
TO the land ofmy nativity, whenI was drawn into |
most unhappy affair with young man whose hospi- |
tally and generosity me- had been neither stnted
by time nor misfortune.
Allan Cole, young man Of enthusiastic tempera- |
ment and high sense Of manly honor, but Of quick |
feelings and remarkable for the dsinteresedness Of
his private character, was unfortunately connect |
ed in a speculation, which completely ruined his
fortune and involved him in the shame but not the
guilt of his oldest companions in the affair, who by
knaveIy and cunning had wheedled from him his |
little allthe scanly ptance Of an immense fortune
which life spent in luxury and extravaganza by |
his father had scarcely bestowed him Not satisfied
with reducing him to penury they wished to silence
the voice of justice by casting upon him the oblo-
guy attendant upon their chicanery; but sympathy,
most powerful auxiliary, was enlisted in his ia
vor, and the only alternative left him. he said, was
10 fight. He called upon me to become his second;
exered myself to the utmost of my ability, for two
days, to prevent him from becoming the victim Of
an untimey grave, but my appeals to mercy, peace,
TO his humanity and justice alike Intellectual.
His justice, was what he fought for; educated 10
value his honor at the peril Of his life and to depend
upon his trusy weapon for the defence Of that honor
Had.
fancied irresistible. For nights slept not the
gnawing consciousness of guilt for having given
my countenance, so far, to such an affair." preyed
upon me-the image of Josephine ever presented
itself, and whispered /" caution-beware!" If l
moved it was the majesty Of her step that followed
if l raised my eyes, they met the calm, but express
sive forehead the full dark eye resting steadfastly
upon me-but who dare mention to friend such
illusions, such phantoms of the brain. No, these
feed nwardly and water slowly wears upon the
rock are sapping the life-bood Of the system. --
- Enough, they fought, his antagonist fell, and
(Great God forgive him. under an assumed name
had been spending years South AT his death, he
requested to speak with me, disclosed his name,
his home; -- He was the brother of Jose
phine-her only near relative-he OF whom she had
spoken to me, when grief refused her utterance, the
full language of the heart he of whose fate she had
forewarned me-he for whom, morning and evening,
| assembled her pure prisons to the throne of grace
And upon me, he devolved the painful duty of APP
prising her Of his guilt and fate. Imagine my stu
| alton A Hercules could not have gone through
the task with and strength Of mind, than
| summoned TO my aid wrote, long and fervent-
ly and Cole with all the kindness natural to great
and generous minds collected every valuable effect
OF his foes and returned them to his sister, not
retaining his rghtfu share. Iwroe, but was like
the shrek of the drowning man, who sees about him
no hope of escape. That remorse, which is atten-
| dant upon guilt "where we've involved the young,
the innocent" brooded in my sick chamber, and
aggravated the fever, which weary and restless days
had produced. Naturally of an active temperament,
Twas i'll prepared to be laid on the bed of despair
Josephines answer 10 my letter was not harsh, but
poignant. piercing even to the dividing of soul and
body, but throughout it bore the impress of calm
reasoning and noble forbearance; not one alluson
to SELF but the whole force of her reasoning and re-
gret thrown upon me and her lost brother 49,
| weep but these channels of grief have not been
closed upon me; and it will do good thus to
weep-nor is it the childish efusion Of tears that
should be suppressed feel that the lamp of life is
glimmering, and my feelings consonant TO my
situation. -- have done with time, and am |
about TO enter eternity and need not that spirit of
defiance, which the world calls magnanimity of soul
- have often thought with that great master
of the human passions Mackenzie that these feel
ings are called perhaps they are weaknesses here;
but if there be aught of mortality left u.s. in that world
to which we are fastening they will merit the name
Of rirtates there"
"But my story lags, and my pulse is feeble. Often
wrote her afterwards (and putting his hand again
to his bosom and drawing from it black morocco
caseO there Josephine are her answers, bequeath
them to thee when am in the cold grave, read them
they cannot fail to elevate humanity. She had in
her possession miniature likeness of me, it was
taken in extreme youth for my mother and by her
dying request, bestowed upon her who should be-
come my partner in life With these relics of hers,
il will be my only heirloom. Isuppose il is some
where reserved sacred in this orphans home p
In my possession, and 10 jewel OF great price,"
said the sobbing Josephine. "You are affected but
you are, trust loo like Josephine Savoyne, to sor-
row like those who have no hope but berefl of much
that was rendered dear, by the varied ties Of roa
ioushp, deprived or maternal soliciude, sisterly ad
vice, you have still hopes, and dear ones, which
minge in your cup of sorrow, and assuage its deep
bitterness The unremitting tenderness and atten-
ton of your sole earthly relative; your more
than maternal care for him; your mutual anxiety
for each others health and cheerfulness, are ndi
cations of that inward peace and quietude, which
hope may long avert the symptoms OF decline. They
bright stars, which shall shine forth with redou
bed glory in your peerless night; and the sedulous
cares imposed by love and fidelity, are power
full operatives than the skill and watchuness of the
best medical advisers Long may health invgorate
your frames, and hope, cheerfunesS, and sweet com
partnership, and innocent enjoyment, be inmates Of
Mont Azille. Then will you be perfectly prepared
for the important duties and responsibilities of your