The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-07-09

| LuW diu 10 So vel hiiscidDlc, NOulu
entreat one word, Major Lee. No parti-
culars--only say, you understand me
that my trust is not mlsplaced-one word
any thing--for Edwards sake"
Sand not yours ?" said Lee, half arcl'-
ly, but deeply interested by her hurried,
agilatcd, intensely anxious manner, and
varying countCnance.
"For mine let it be, them" she faulter-
ed, scarcely able to draw her breath.
Emma" said Major Lee with much
perturbation, "whatevcr you suspect, you
must be silent; yes, even to your brother.
Remember" he added in tone Of solemn
authority, "even to him you must breathe
no word, no hint. Life, many lives, and
one you highly value, depends upon pro-
found secrecy. And my honor, too, hea-
vens - muttered he, "all in the power OF
a woman"
"All, all are safe, believe me-" she re-
piled, placing her hand on her heart.
Better affect to think him traitorous,"
whispered Lee. Her eye said. she could
not do that, but the officer, all sceptlcal as
he was of the truth of woman, could scarce
~ look on face where, at that moment,
mind and heart were both SO legible, and
doubt, or fear to trust her.
From that hour, Emma Courtney spoke
no more of the young deserter. Adelaide
believed her convinced Of his UnwortEi-
ness by Major Lee, and told Beauclerk so
to encourage his hopes, for she knew her
brother had not been free from jealousy
Of the handsome Fitz-Roy. Emma's con-
tinued cheerful attention to her daily du-
ties, seemed to confirm his sister, swords,
and BeaucleTk began to picture happy
future with Emma for his bride. Ed
ward ceased to name Fitz-Roy, but the
memory Of their former friendship was
kept green within his breast, and many
kindly gush of feeling towards his fellow
men was driven back to lis source,
and frozen there, by the recollection of
his misplaced confdence.-By a letter
from Colonel Courtney, they heard that
Fitz-Roy had been sent 10 New York, TO
join Sir Henry Clinton. The fate of An
Dire yet undetermined, excited deep SYM
pathy in both the British and American
army, and efforts were made by the COM
mander-m-chef of the latter to procure an
exchange for Arnold. These endeavors
were vain: time passed on, and the
young English officer was executed.
Some months after the deserton of Fitz-
Roy, Aubrey Bcauclerk, encouraged by
his sister, though gathering little hope
from the uniformly kind, but unembar-
rassed manner she manifested towards
him, offered his heart and hand to Emma.
She gently but firmly rejected him. Ed
ward still condemning himself for his con-
duct relative to FitzRoy, and believing
.hal the happiness Of Emma would he bet
ter ensured in union with one so noble
aud so ardcntly attached to her as Beau
clerk, than in brooding over bitter memo
rics, cspoused his cause. Her father and
Mrs. Murray, both advocated his suit 1t
cost our young heroine a severe struggle
to cross the wishes of all those she most
valued when the cause, too, Of her IN
| llexibiIity was to remain unrevealed, but
she was rcsolutc i'll her first decision.
Edward venlured, in private CONVERSE
ton with her.. to introduce the subject
which weighed so heavily on his heart,
urging her for his sake TO accept Beau
clerk. She assured him that he was mis-
taken relative to her unhappincss, and
with deep blush, but earnest tone, de-
cared that she had never entertained a
feeling towards her former friend, with
which she wished to part.
"Yct | was sure you admired him,
Emma :"
$50 did; he was worthy Of admira-
ton" she hesiiated.
"And you excuse him now :" he said
inluirngly.
"We are all liable to deception-may
he no, think himself right - she asked
(aulteringly. "Bctter that she should thus
bl,ndly trus, and be happy, than see clear
Iy and be as misanthropic as J." though,
Edward. He could not bid Beauclerk
hope, but he did not say depair' for he
. felt that his sisters very indulgence tc
human frailty rendered her more likely tt
: return Aubrey's attachment, than ifshe hat
: sympathized more with his chilled feel
: ings. "Woman's heart" said he to him
self, sis different from mans. She calls
G change wha, he knows to be deceit, and
: accommodating herself TO circumstances
|, secures her own felicity. lie, once dis
C appointed, trusts no more: his emotion
: harden. Was he right! The truth
l. his theory could not be tested by Beau
J. clerk, for short time after that youn
officer was slain in tho service Of hi
ID country. Emma wept his early fate wit
g sincere regret, but not the regret oil love
lo After his decease his sister took the fir:
A. opportunity the state of the war permitted