The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-05-16

she became interested in Robert, she wholly forgot
her former lover; but few weeks after she was be-
trothed, he suddenly appeared in the city They
accidentally at evening party where he recognized
her, and in such way as induced Robert to asdk if
she had been intimate with him. The dread of dis
covcry, and of her lovers dspleasure If the truth
was known, induced her to deny the acquaintance of
Mr. Warren, saying he only gentleman who
had paid her civities in stage-coach and that
he presumed too much in claiming friendship with
her. The answer satisfied Robert but il did not sat-
isfy her OWE heart From that evening she had been
tortured with fears lest her fasehood should be dis
covered; and often had she blushed scarlet, even in
the solitude Of her chamber when she thought Of her
dupcity.
With an anxious heart, Lucy awaited the reappear-
ance of her lover. The hour passed away, then an
other, and still another, yet he came not. The poor
girl was now dreadfuy alarmed, and not until mid
night would she yield to Ellens enreaties retire.
Something dreadful she knew must have happened,
since R ebert never before had thus disappointed her.
Ellen strove to quiet her fears in vain. At length,
just as they were retiring, came hasty note from
Robert, apologizng for his absence the ground Of
unavoidable business He would cal, how eve, ear
ly in the morning 7 here something oninous in
this; and Lucy spent the night in tears.
With morning came Robert, and, when his card
sent up with request for a private interview
with Lucy, the alarmed girl could scarcely compose
herself sufficiently TO 60 down. Her first glance
sured her that all known for instead Of greeting
her as he wont cold bow his only salu-
tation. Lucy sank trembling into a chair; and Rob-
er without seeming to notice her, walked with fold
ed arms gloomiy up and down the room. AT length
he paused sternly before her.
Miss Thornton, he began, and oh! how this for
NAL mode of address cut Lucy's heart you seem
not unaware Of the bject of my visit, and indeed
see, in your face the evidence, of that guilt which
iondy hoped you had not committed. But to my
tale. Know then that yesterday received note
from MIR Warren, requesting to me at his hotel
last evening for half an hour. The strange
to me, but going to his room, recognized gen.
teman who addressed you Familiarity land whose
acquaintance you denied To me he revealed all
how gracously yol received his attentions; low you
led him by various signs to believe that his suit would
prosper, and how at length you renounced him with
selfish heartessness. mightnot have believed him,
had he not placedsin my hands these notes. They
were written 10 him at Saratoga, and though not
plicit, show how you triAed with him. You turn
pale-you recognize your hand writing. 1t is enough.
Hitherto Robert had spoken with breathless rapid
y, evidently in high emotion. He now paused, for
at these last WORDS Lucy burst into tears. Regard
ing her sorrowfuly mnute he took his hat and turn
ed to leave the The poor girl, forgetting every
feeling of pride in her despair, caught HIM by the
arm, and sobbed
Il acknowledge all, but had excuse, and
have long ago seen my error. Since l have known
you, have ever trfled with any one ? Oh! think Of
this and forgive me-
lucy, said he, dsengaging her hold Il could
have forgotten your trfing with this young man. but
can forget your fasehood to me? 1t is not month
since this last Had you this time, frankly told
all, weud have taken you to my breast land for
given you freely; what guarantee have l that you
will not deceive me again. No-you have invited
your own late-from this moment shall forget you.
And breaking from her, he left the room. The poor
girl STOOD like stricken, in the very spot where
he dsensaged himself from her despairing grasp,
til she heard the front door close when she fell
less to the floor.
The next day Lucy in high fever; and Ellen.
who suspected the truth from the incoherent rawlings
Of the invalid and whose heart bed for her cousin,
despatched an urgent note to Robert, begging to
him, il only for Moment when she hoped to alter
boarding house with the Information that he had left
the city that morning. and it was uncertain when he
would return.
What sufferings endured by Lucy on that
bed of sickness She continually raved at her last in
terview with Robert, his lrowning look and stern
words seeming TO be present to her Imagination.
Her friends at length began to despair Of her life, and
when the physician pronounced that the crisis had
come, they watched teariuy at her bedside through
the long night, dreadng every moment to see the aw
full change begin. But, almost against hope, she fell
toward morning into gentle sleep, and when she a.
woke in her right mind, they saw that The danger
was past. Kneeling by her bedside they poured ont
their gratitude amid grateful sobs and tears.
To Lucy, perhaps death would have been as vel
come as life; for what had she live for now that
all her fond hopes of happiness were destroyed?--
Thus she thought, in the first week OF her GONZALES
cence All expectation of her lovers return was now
given over for Immediately on his quarrel with Lucy
10 hod denarted for Washington, and accepted the