The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-11-09
NH i q & ell n nm e o IN 9.
From the Neio W0rtd.
TIL E B OK N He A r Il +,

STORY.
BY C. EDWARDS LEsrER-.4uthor of the "Glory
and Shame Of England,
IConcuded.l
The next evening the parting words had been
spoken and a fresh breeze soon took us away
from the land where
81 had seen the hopes that fed
My youthful spirit, withered, dead,
And watched the meteor flashing ray
That led me on recede away,
And felt the strength that nerved my heart
To deeds of daring, sink and die,
Till the last string seemed rent apart
Beneath my spirits agony
l wandered over Europe, and tried on the classic
shores of tho Mediterranean, among the tombs Of
old empires and their gray monuments, to contem,
plate my history | contemplated the ruins OF
beautiful Greece. 1 knew that could not forget
Fances, and this did not wish to do; only wan
ted to forget the dark and dreary disappointment
and worship her memory, it rose like some
classic form of antiquity. Time and distance had
now begun to mellow the rugged outline of those
dark days. But there were moments when the
past with all its painful rushed back vsi-
bly, upon my memory, that they were no longer
clothed in that soitened light which at other times
hallowed their remembrance: they stood before
me in the stern light of reality.
| had received letters from home in the mean
time, yet they were written soon after left Amer
ca, and they communicated no intelligence OF Fran
ces. For several weeks an impression which l
could not shake off had filled my mind with fear
that some dreadful evil had belallen her. For my
friends had felt no solicitude; but the image OF
that ioUely girl in distress haunted my vision day
and night ] went to Venice; and soon after my
arrival there called American gentleman &c
whom my letters to be directed, and found a
sma II packet from America. broke the seal will
a trembling hand, for dreaded the result. Beside
letters from my parents, found three from my sis
ter. opened the first, which was written only
three months after my departure, and glanced thro
it till came to the pos tcript 1t stated that she
had not seen Frances, but had alluded to my afec
ton in one of her letters, and that the only reply
she received was, GAS you love me, Mary, do no
mention that subject again-you will not, know,
willingly infct misery upon me-"
[ broke the seal of the second, which bore date
few weeks later. The first paragraph ran thus:
"Dear Edward--At the request of Frances n few
DAYS ago / came to visit her, and have been un
willing to leave her to return home. 1t is will
strange feelings that write to you now. kno"
not whether this letter will thrill your heart with
ioy or turn your brain to madness. Dear brother
l would give the world if you had never gone e
Europe. / will not deceive you. II is my duty tc
tell you much Of your strange fortune that you &c
not know. Since you left this quiet village where
we passed those days which to you were bright as
heaven, until few days ago, Frances has been de
cIining in health, and suffering the deepest gloom
You would hardly recognize in her faded counte
nance and slender form the same bright, joyous be
ing YOU once saw here. The night after my arri
val we slept together; when l entered our lodg
ing found her sitting by the window, alone WEEP
ing-l sat down by her and took her hand ane
said kindly, "Frances, let me know what grleve;
you; perhaps can make you happy
ooh! no, Mary, she answered, you can never
heal my heart-it's broken, and ! shall &c
down to the grave in the morning OF life, and nc
one will know why died.
Go sOh, Frances, don't say So replied 4 'hioh
know already the cause of all your misery. Is