The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-11-02

when l thought of the many hours had passed
with her. and the parting scene, and that iaiing
tear, could not but hope that she would suffer
me to minister to her life, and spend my own in
making hers huppy. These reflections determined
me TO write to her again. ] ent,cated her to an.
swcr me if she said but one word and that word
were fatal to my hopes. In few days received
her reply, and when read it the charm OF life fled
forever She stated that she had received both Of
my letters, and now wrote TO me for the first and
last time. She had passed many pleasant hours in
| my society, and at one time thought she loved me;
but she now regretted that she had even on one
occasion discovered an affection which only
transient; she could not love except as friend
and must dream of marriage.
now felt that should be fool to dream an
| hour longer. ! woke to the task of crushing the
edfce that hope had reared-of forgetting the only
| being had ever loved-of bIotting out the fairest
| star that shone in my armament. l plunged into
the busy world, but her image followed me there.
fought against my passion in solitude, but the eff
fort to destroy it only increased its power. A deep
gloom settled upon my spirit, and had | not dread
ed the thought Of presenting my soul before the
throne of God before He summoned it away, |
would have ended a life which had become wretch
ed beyond description This life misery, and
tho future was shrouded in thick gloom. My
health, which had been firm, began TO yield.
/ expected to die in few months-oh how glad
! Iy would have fastened the hour of my deliver
ance. Perhaps might live to another spring
smile over the landscape and bring hope TO me;
! but cont emplaied the future with fixed despair
Sometimes a momentary CLEAN of hope would shoot
up before my vision and make my pulses thrill for
an instant, but it as soon vanished, leaving me in
deeper detection.
! had always found it quito impossible
cie Frances's letter with my former views of her
1harsc Ter. l thought sho possessed too well-bal.
anced mind to she appeared TO. Was it
possible that letter had been written by another
hand? l obtained one Other la,ters TO my sister,
for they often corresponded and compared them
| together. There was general resemblance in the
writing, but still the contrast was sufficient to adj
nit the hope, faint as it was, that the latter bat
been forged. L seized the first ray that broke
through the darkness, as drowning man grasps
| the straw which floats around his sinking body.
determined no longer to inrust interests upon
| which my existence itself seemed suspended, to
| letters. would see Frances myself, and receive
my sentence from her. If rejected, il must be
from those lips where once thought had sealed
our mutual love for
The ne KIT morning took the western coach and
resolved before closed my eyes in sleep to know
what my destiny to be- walked from. the
! hotel to her farlhers house, and, with emotions
which only such circumstances can inspire, pulled
| the bell. was now standing on that spot where,
in the enthusiasm of first love, but few months
before, had held that beautiful child of fioaven
in my arms. hoared no sound in the hall and
rang again and listened with painful anxiety for
tn door to be opened. AT last it was opened.
inquired for Frances. The family had the day
before gone TO Boston! Fate was arrayed against
me- On inquiry, learned that Frances had gone
on long journey to tho west,and the housckeeper
only knew that they designed to proceed tn New
York and then 10 Cincinnati. l ascermined her
fathers address in Now-York and travelled across
the country, by day and by night, until reached
the city. L called at the house where they had
taken lodgings, and the answer was that they had
that morning left, but could tell wherc
When threw myself down upou my bed that
night l prayed that I might die. With despair
deeper and darker than ever thought could settle
upon the human heart in world where mercy
flashes from every sunbeam returned to my home.
What change had come few short
months
resolved to Struggle no longer against my love,
but resign myselfto its power, and let the star of
hope shine the cherries path that led TO the
grave. The dream made me happy. was dc.
termined to indulge it 10 the last. believed she
would never be mine, but loved fondy TO nger
around the RUNS OF that splendid castle which time
had almost destroyed. knew that none of my
friends were of the extent ,possibly net oftbe
of my unhappiness; but they were alarmed for
nv health, and advised to go to the south OF
Europe for tune. rejoiced when the suggestion
was made, for Ionged TO be far, far away from
any thing which could remind me of the wreck OF
my hopes Possibly might in the whirl and ex-
element of the world, forget.m unbappness.
made preparations for the voyage The evening
before sailed went to my sisters room and re-
vealed to her tho whole history of my love. She
was deeply affected, and hung upon my neck and
wept as none but sister can weep upona brothers
heart Dear Mary! Sac is now in heaven. Oh! it
is glorious reflection. is it not, that there is a
world where no sigh anguish shall ever be heard
where no tear shall fall Mary promised al.
iva 10 sneak of Frances in her letters. ' (