Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-17
T. s T Il l. l. r:
A THRILLING AND TRUE STORY OF
AMERICAN LIFE.


AMERICAN LIFE.
sEstelle, what can you be thinking about
you have sat full hour in the same posture,
with your head reclining on your hand, look
ing not at all like my jovia sister. Come,
now, think it will require no prophets vision
10 divine the current Of your thoughts. Tel
me, Estele, are you not this moment asking
your heart if it can yield its affection to Nor
ris?
Dear Lonise, em far from thinking yor
possessed of the power Of prescience, but fol
once you have suggested right
well, Estellc, what is the result Of vou'
meditations? for should think they had been
sufficiently lengthy to have terminated in re.
solves. Ihopc-'
may, Louise, no more lectures; am wea-
ried with your preaching. 1t is no more than
week since ! sat, with all due reverence, al
your ladyship's feet, and listened TO a dis
course full two hours long. You failed, then,
with all your logic to convince mo and
presume you have no more powerful or con.
vincing reasons to offer now. Indeed, Lon.
sc, am resolved at present not to discourage
the attentions of so accomplished man as
Morris so do dismiss tina. lengthy phiz, and
appear more cheerful
'This, then, is your conclusion. | had
hoped that my dear sister was beginning to
view this important subject in its true light
'Yes: in its true light do sis--for half
believe the old odagc, reformed rake makes
the best husband. The grand secret is how
to reform thcm and am willing to make the
experiment; for to tell you the truth, Louise,
Morris is coming this evening to receive his
answer whether your wayward sister will be-
come his bride or not; and he declares for
sooth, that if say to him nay, he will turn
rcclnse, and society will never know Fred
erick Morris again.
'Ah, Estelle-my sister, my companion
you will not sacrifice yourself! Have you
forgotten The engagements to Edward Barnes;
can You blot from your heart all rcmcm.
brance OF his devotedness Can you bestow
your hand upon another, when you are al
ready aflianced to him- Believe me, if you
do, you will never have peace Of mind again
Gods blessing will not rest upon YOU
'Oh. Louise, as to my engagements to Ed
ward B., You know it is mere child'S affair
] have always told him when he found any
one he could love better, | would release
him.
And did he allow you the same privilcge|
'Oh no, he is self confident, he supposes
my heart inaccessible to all mankind but his
own dear self. But to be serious, Louise,
wonder he could not have placed his atiec-
tiohs upon you instead of me. He is so
learned, so dignifed, and so moralizing, that
/ wonder he should fancy inc, who love moth
ing better than to "trip the light fantastic toe ,
in the 'morry dance,' or read the last novel.
But do not fear for him; he will soon find
another, better calculated than myself 10
make him happy, and it requires no prophets
vision TO divine who that one will be. ALI,
ha-that blush, Louise"
'Estellc, hush will not listen 10 your
levity any longer. You wrong yoursclf--
you wrong him to whom you have pghted
your love-
well, Louise, will be serious, and now
what is the sum total of your objections to
Morris You can't but acknowledge that he
is very accomplished, and a perfect Adonis.
There is not young lady OF all my acquain-
tanco who does not think herself fortunate
girl to be the object of his alfcctions-and
even you, my demure sister, half believe
pure jealousy to be the cause of your dislike.
But come-his faults what are they:
'Estclle, you know them have told you,
and others have warned you. Is he not n
professional gambler? and have not even
you, blinded as you are, seen him when there
was an unwonted flush upon his countenance,
and an unnatural excitement Of his spirits p
We'll, allowing all that to be true Though
the last charge do think is falscl think YOU
not his love for me will deter him from doing
any thing that will make me unhappy Loul-
Sc, you know little of his devotedness.'
'Estelle Estclle that is the fatal rock on
which thousands have split sbun it, be.
seech you. Oh could we call back the spirits
Of those who have been drawn into this
msclstroom by that delusive hope ;--could
we ask them what induced them so unworih.
" Ia give away their hearts, they would
answer, with the hope of reformation
well Louise, do not wish you TO conjure
up the spirits of The departed to favor your
cause. ! can support mine by living testmo-
ny, ] will refer you to our dear father. ]
have been told he was wild youth, and ad-
dicted to gambling, but You know, Louise,
he is one of the very best of fathers
'Estclle, it becomes me not to speak Of the
!aIlings of our father; but never, till the death
Of cur saiutcd mother, has our father been
what you now see him to be and sister, il
this evening is to decide your fate, have an
errand to you from our dying mother
From our mother? what can you mean !"
Listen and will tell you you know that
she was long l--ihnt she bore all her suf-
hnng wi'h mcekncss; and you must have
occn only a casual observer, il you h.vc not
witnessed her hours Of sadncss. even when
she was well. have secn her pazc on ne
with q look of untold affection, while the
tears sircamed down her pale checks. and
oiien wondered at her emotion. A few
weeks previous to her DEATH she called mc
10 her side md gave nae this mannscrip, =
She said IL had been her in,cnilon 10 carry
the secret Of her sorrows 10 the grave; bn,
with The hope that IL nigh, benefit Ne. shc
entrusted u To nie. as The oldest. with n strict
injunction not ~ rev,Snl II oven W yon. m
less J saw you about 10 take a st,piu ld,