The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-06-03
f.o,r,,yrp FROM FIRST PAGE.

frosrINUED FROM FIRST PAeE'l
l;,an... .f manner tswsrds himself He laid
:, III 70 tbe account OF nerves. and the weak
mes, resulting from illness, and finally resolved
ON a Journey 10 London, trusting that change
Of scene and society might be beneficial to Mrs
ST. Auhya.
Majsr Willersley was not in town when the
General and his lady first took up their abode
there, but he arrived shortly after; and, though
seldom a visitor at their house, Mrs. ST. Aubyn
and he frequently met in general society. Be-
fore he came, Agnes had declined almost every
invitation, but now she eagerly caught at every
one that offered the smallest hope Of a meeting
with Willersley. II was this sudden change
in Acnes's mode Of life which first awakened
in General ST. Aubyns mind suspicion Of the
truth, and far moro than the truth. II was
case in which to suspect was to be convinced,
there were many circumstances, trining IN
themselves, which, taken altog ether, formed an
overwhelming mass OF evidence.
The remembrance Of the wish no had ex-
pressed respecting the future union Of his
widow with Willersley. when he believed him
seft dying, now caused him bitter self upbraid-
ing. He felt as the scales had suddenly fallen
from his eyes, and the whole dreadful truth
glarsd upon him at once.
Agnes was certainly innocent. in the common
aeceptstiou Of the term; but can any woman
be entirely innocent, who, knowing the weak
ness Of her own heart does not use every
means in her power 10 avoid the presence Of
the object whose influence is most to be dread
ed Mrs. ST. Aubyn took an extnely false
view Of her position. She considered herself
as tho victim Of her elder sisters tyranny
aud srtifce, and conceived that there WAS n
sort Of virtue in adhering firmly TO her early at
iachmept, through all the sulferngs it might
bring upon her She did not see that il was
her duty to strive for resignation aud cheerful
ness in the path which Providence had assigned
her. She Was much, very much to be pitied,
but she was not utterly free from blame. The
wrongs she had received from her sister were
irrepsrabls aud, perhaps, the greatest was in
that early training to entire subsection which
had ef, her so little Independence Of character
or strength of purpose-mcst dangerous cir
cumstaacss fer one placed as she WAS.
Cloud after cloud gathered over the Gener-
ais mind surmises assumed the ait Of facts.
Mrs. ST. Aubyn's motions were strictly watch
ed; servants were examined and what is so
likely to nhame the mind Of jealous man as
the evidence Of ssrvan,.l When did they ever
tell less than the truth
Finally, General ST. Aubyn commenced pro
ceedings asaiDs, his once loved friend and sued
for a divorce from his beloved Agnes. He
was unsuccessful in both Instances Even the
testimony Of malicious demsstics was unable
TO establish any charge against poor Mrs. St.
Aubyn, but there acre suspicious circumstances
in her conduct, and the world locked upon her
as guilty woman. A separation from her
husband was, of course, inevitable and she
retired 10 hide her broken heart 10 sonle re-
mote corner Of her native land.
In lonely village, on the southern coast, the
unhappy Mrs. St. Aubyn took up her abode
or 10 maintain any incogni.o. This the
first manifestation OF strength Of resolution she
had, perhaps, ever displayed in her life. Left
to herself, aud obliged to exert herself, the hid
den energies Of her mind, SO long subdued, and
unsuspscted, even by herself, began TO bud
forth. She felt that she had been more sinned
against than sinain:; but she allowed that she
had acted, at least, unwiseIy.
She had not long entered on her new resi-
dencs when she received letter which almost
overlhrsw her newly acquired strength. ltwas
from Wsllcrsley; the pouring forth oil a mind
full of love and agony. He declared tha, Gen
eral ST. Aubyn had most unjustIy divorced and
disowned her; that he no longer had any caim
upon her, either by the laws of God or man :;
and he entrsated her, in the most passionate
terms, 10 place herself under his caro-, and hy
with him to some far land, whore happiness
might yet be their portion.
Shall IT be owned tha, there was struggle,
deep. aGonizins struggle, in the bosom Of Mrs
81. Aubyn, ere she could bring herself to an
swsr that letter, as she felt that il must be an.
swersd
Peculiarly placed as We are it said, E | can.
not bear 10 blame you for making the proposal
yeu do. know there is much Kindness iuten.
ded t" me in the step you have taken; but ir
your calmer moments, you will see the inpss
sbill'y of my acesdiug to it and the sophis,ry
OF your own arguments. Since the fatal day
on which We, unfortunately owned our mutual
attachment, We have never met. and in thi,
world we must never meet more. If cannot
entirely remove the cloud that has darkeued nv
fair fame. will never allow any act Of mine to
add to its blacknes,.'
Years passed BY, and Mrs. ST. Aubyn was a
widow. The news OF the General's death csu,.
ed no throb Of sadusss, no feeling of release q,
her heart; for she had grown calm, and even