The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-30

There was an ndescribable something in
his letter which grated rather harshly on
the intensely strung feelings of Alice f; but
she complied with his request, and prom
ised to be at the spot indicated that same
night, at the only time at which she could
escape the many eyes to which she was
exposed, after the household of the Hall
should have retired to rest. Attended by
her maid, supported by her own noble
ness of spirit, and fearless in her inno-
cence and loving trust, she kept the pro-
mise; and gliding noseessly forth, stole
like the ray of moonlight through the
deep shadows of the stately avenues of the
park, till she stood at the spot appointed,
and was folded in that lender clasp of her
lover, now as it seemed to her hundred
fold dearer than he had ever been before.
The Muse that invented history never
meant it for such interviews. | coniine
my narrative to its results. In about a
month George was to become Of age, and
great family festival was to commence
rate the event; after which, on the easu-
ing day, it had been planned that they
were to leave the Hall, for visit to town
and continental tour-designed chiefly
for the purpose of Withdrawing Alice from
the scene Of so much painful association,
and of celebrating the impression of
which they were as much ashamed as
grieved that any trace should remain.
She now consented that she would on
that day become Edwards wife. She
was half terrified still by something IN
her lovers manner. Though vehement
in his language and lavish in every en-
dearment of tenderness, there seemed on
the whole want of living warmth and
truth, dark shadow rested still evidently
on his spirit; and occasional! unguarded
expressions half beiray ed the fires of pride,
revenge and hatred, still pent up in his
heart, aud still burning to embrace the au.
thOrs of his recent outrage, though they
were her father and her brother, i'll some
| fierce and consuming vengeance. The
fear more than once crossed her, like
cold shadow Of death, that there was more
OF pride than love in the passion he plead
ed,--lhat his heart was mole earnestly
bent on the punishment and humiliation
Of her house through her means, than on
the possession of herself for herself alone.
| His prOlestations, however, treasured
her, aided as they were by the trusting
impulses ot her own sweet and generou'
nature; and they at length parted, not to
meet again till the appointed hour on the
morning of the day when she was TO be
received in chalsc which should await
her in this very spot, and convey them TO
church in parish about twenty miles
distant, where he would have every ar
rangement complete to take her, by the
! highest law of God and man, under the
protection of that relation paramount to
any RICH, or claim of parent and kindred
| In the meantime, he was to absent himself
| from the country, both to avoid the chance
of any recounler with Sir Wilmot or
George, and also to preclude the iOrma-
ton of any suspicion, and to FAVOR the
course she herself pursued at the Hall, of
simple silence in relation TO him. And SO
they parted. She was wrong perhaps;
but if so, she was, or at least believed
heasclf to be, generously and magnani-
mously wrong.
hurry over the concluding incidents of
my story. The appointed time came
round, and grand preparations were made
at the Hall for It's celebration by all the
tenaniry. All was in readiness also for
The intended departure of the family on
the following ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in which
Alice, silent and passive, had borne no
personal part, every thing being conduc-
ted by Aunt Edith. She had requested
that she nigh! not be disturbed in her
room, before the hour at which her pres
ence would be required to greet the gath
ering of the guests Of the day. Unob
served amidst the general confusion and
excitement, she left the Hall, in her SIM
pie bonnet and shawl, accompanied by her
maid; and making her way quickly
through the park, was in season to meet
the chaise which drew up at the spot of
her former meeting at the exact hour Of
; the appointments, ten in the morning.
Startled and distressed not to find her
lover in it, she would have hastily with
l drawn had not a note been handed her by
the driver, in Edwards handwriting
\ stating that cause which need not then
be explained, cOmpeled him 70 send Tie