The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-07-10
VOL. TX.


what say. In less than quarter of an hour
you will forsake poor Genevieve. You will
not acknowledge your love for her in the pres
ence Of my mistress"
Gomez cried Hartland ,seizing her hand,
"lead me at once to your mistress, and put
ne TO the test.'
Genevieve did not reply, but led him into
a capacious apartment whose windows reach
ing to the f1oor,opened on a terrace overlook
ing little river that skirted green lawn, as
it c0ursed its way TO eternal oblivion in the
bosom of the great father of waters. No ons
was there to receive him, and Genevieve i'm
mediately left the room, merely saying, 81
will tell my mistress you are here" He re-
manned few minutes looking out on the
scene before him, but unconscious of its love-
illness, when he was reused by the opening of
a door, and turning round perceived a female
advancing with hesitating steps and head in
clining towards the earth. Her face was en-
tirely hid by thick black veil, which descen-
ded below her waist, and prevented the con-
tour of her figure from being seen.
Hartland advanced 10 pay his compliments
and express his Acknowledgements, which he
did with his usual grace and fuency. But
the lady made no reply, and for a few mo-
ments seemed greatly agitated. At length
she slowly put aside her veil, at once disclos-
ed the face of Genevieve, glowing with blush
es Of modest apprehensive delicacy, her eyes
cast down and her bosom swelling with emo
ton. In an instant he comprehended all.
Genevieve !"-he exclaimed-"I Is it pos
sible 2"
"Yes," answered the aforementioned,
persuasive, gentle voice which had so often
soothed his pains, and quoted his impotence
in the hours of sickness. "Yes, once, poor
Genevieve, your nurse-now rich and happy
Genevieve, for now she has found in the man
she would have selected in all the world, one
who loves her for herself alone. Hartland,
will you forgive me 1t is the last time will
ever deceive YOU"
ITartand was not obdurate, and the forgive
ness was accorded by folding Genevieve in
his arms, and imprinting on her lips the first,
sweetest kiss of love.
allow can ] ever repay you for your gen.
tie cares and noble generosity to stranger ?"
at length he said.
"By always remembering and loving poor
Genevieve. But you are not so much stran-
ger as you think. No one in this wide land is
ignorant of your name; But II am an old
acquaintance"
"You, Genevievel'
"Yes. see must humble my vanity by
introducing myself to your notice. Do you
remember travelling North about ten years ago
and accidentally falling in company with the
family of Mr. M, a Creole gentleman,
consisting of his wife and his neice, a little
girl scarcely eleven, and very small for that
| hat mt
you know it is the fashion among us to con-
slider tiny women like me not as angels, but
nobodies. ] was not named to you, nor do /
know that you ever heard me called by any
other name but Jenny. At all events, you
took no other notice of Inc than sometimes
TO pat my head in passing, and once-I shall
never forget it-yOu stopped down and gave
me kiss, in sport. had often heard you
spoken of in terms that called forth my admir-
alton, and that kiss was never forgotten. You
don't know how early the flower begins to
bud in our spring. We parted, you to forget,
to remember you forever. | knew you that
moment you were brought hither; and now
You have my history. This humble person
and all that inherit is yours, and be assured,
| will forgive your infidelity should you for
sake your humble nurse, poor Genevieve, for
her Mistress
"Forsake poor Genevieve!'' cried Hart
land. "When do may my tongue become
mute, and my mind a desert. Mo- dearest
girl, must be without memory and without
gratitude when forget her who lowered, and
watched and sometimes wept-was it not so,
sweet Genevieve lover the dark days and
nights of my pain and weakness, and whom
more than once imagined / must have known
in some previous state of existence, for | could
not dvest myself at times of tie impression
that had somewhere seen you before. No,
my beloved one, should you ever in our jour-
ney through life, perceive, or fancy you per-
ceived, any diminution OF my love, you have
only TO dress and look as you did at my bed
side, and become poor Genevieve again, to re-
trieve my heart once more and forever"
"Ah me ~ exclaimed she, 81 see I must
make up my mind to always having formi-
dable rival. But will try to reconcile myself
TO the calamity, and be content to share your
heart with poor Genevieve."
Just at this moment the doctor came in,
and seeing how matters stood, at the fist
glance began good-humoredly to banter his
friend.
"WeIl, Hartland, the mystery was disclos-
ed L perceive. GU nrst Tell In love with the
nurse, and have deserted her for the mistress.
The exchange is very sensible, judicious, and
prudent"
"It is no exchange, doctor. She shall
always be poor Genevieve to me-the OBJ
ject of my unchanging love and eternal graft
tude"
Genevieve looked at the doctor with smile
of proud consciousness, which he returned
with one of approving affection. The good
doctor passed from this world but little
while ago, and when he died, the suffering
victims of poverty, disease and sorrow, lost
their most benevolent friend-his country one
of her most noble citizens. He united the
courage of a hero with the softness of wo-
man, and Joined the most devoted attachment
to his native land, with a generous enlarged
philanthropy that comprehended all mankind.
He was the friend of the human race, but his
countrymen were his brothers.
Genevieve and Hartland still survive. The
former has never had any cause to regret her
experiment on the disinterestedness of man.
kind; and the latter, while steadily pursuing