American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-11-18
[From the Pennsylvania Inquirer.]
EMMA MASON.
A TALE OF LIGHTED HOPE.
By Lucy Hamilton.
CONCLUDED.

II (CoNcLuDED)
| Mrs. Thornton, after this had continued for
some months, came to- see me, and expostulat ed
N with all the tenderness of u mother, upon the
lsimproprety of the life | was leading, and in
formed me of the reports that were slanderous-
| ly in circulation in urous to my honor. This
! filled me with alarm and Indignation. / could
bear any thing else. Dear Kate was indignant.
She threw her arms around my neck, fell upon
her knees, and implored me, by the most heart
moving appeals, to save myself.
at is not meet" she concluded, f'that the
lovely. the talented, the wealthy, the admired
Emma Mason should sacrifice herself to the
selfishness of one whose conduct has proved
himself unworthy of her.
Her appeals had weight and excited indig-
nation against Tracey And when next he
came ! informed him of what had been said
and told him that we must part. | had resolv-
4 ed on it. He replied that all was false that
had been reported to me, and vowed that he
would shield me from dshonor at the risk of
. his life.
"Then why do you not make one fate, one
| future ours" | rejoined-resolved now boldly
to put HIM to the test He turned pale, arose,
and paced the floor for some time in silence;
then suddenly stopping, he turned to me, and
said:
because | love you too much to deceive
you. Oh, Emma, dear Emma" he continued
falling upon his knees before me, sdare pre-
sumo on your love, to tell you truth that it
maddens my brain to think of for an instant
Swear to forgive and pity me, and you shall
then know the whole of my wretchedness.
gave the promise required, and he contnu-
ed:
"You ask me why do not make you mine?
| answer that it is the only hope upon which
4 al Al 4
make you my wife because | am bound to an
other"
"You, Henry. you, the husband of another!''
| exclaimed, gazing wildly at him. "Good
God, then, what have you sought to make
me?n
"Listen to me!' he said: s'The wife whom |
detest has long been in ill-health ! thought
that death would soon absolve me from my
ties. I never loved her, and to save my father
NfEom dishonor consented to marry her. | lived
with her for six months, then fled in disquet,
TO this country, leaving her under the protec-
zion of my father, who now enjoys the wealth
Z sacrificed myself for We had one son.
hurry over this history, for must not allude to
it again. The mother is quiet, gentle crea-
,ture, but every way distastefu to me. You
are the only woman who has ever inspired me
with love "
+ felt myself fainting. He sprang towards
,me, and when | recovered, found myself lying
on sofa and he chafing my hands. lay mo-
tionless some moments, endeavoripg to collect
lmy thoughts. There was but one course for
.me to pursue, and that was determined upon at
sonce. | arose, sat upright on the sofa, and mo-
ltioned Tracey to be seated. Then calmly
thanking him for the sincerity he had, for the
first time, manifested, told him that would
never see him again; that he must leave me in
stantly; and if he did not wish my scorn and
dctestaton, he must forever avoid my presence,
but that he must first return every note he
had ever received from me.
] arose, uttered an eternal FAREWELL and held
BUT my hand to him. He seized it, pressed it
10 his heart and to his lips, then rushed, in his
mpetuous manner, from the house.
stood, firmly erect, in the presence of the
servant summoned to receive my commands,
Ind it was not until found myself in my own
chamber that allowed myself to give way to
my emotions. Great Heaven! What desola-
ton was mine; the idol whom / had worship
ped for years was discarded, and the horrible
teality was before me. An image of vice and
aeformity must dispace the sweet fancies that
had long made my happiness. "Man" | ex-
elaimed, "what have done that thou shouldst
20 curse me!'' The more | reflected on all, the
less excuse could find for the conduct that had
been pursued. He might, | thought, have
ought my friendship, and the knowledge of
his ties would have protected me from danger
But, it was plain that he had sought my honor,
Ind it was not until he felt his victim secure
hat he hazarded the disclosure of the truth,
The excitement underwent made me i'll,
Ind it was we'll that it did, or reason would
have been forever destroyed. For weeks | raw
I'd in wild delirium, and life was despaired of
put naturally good constitution, triumphed
liver disease, at last; and slowly recovered my
mental and bodily health.
But another change had taken place in ray
haracter. My former weakness seemed to
ave been violently uprooted from my bosom,
I'D although happiness had gone along with
ie rest-tranqulity and resignation to the will
Ef God, were left in their stead.
Mrs Thernton and her neice were near me
lways, and their warm and delicate sympathy
reserved me from despair. The first use
hade Of my returning consciousness was to ar
hpge, with the assistance of my lawyers, my
fairs, and to settle a sufficiency upon Mrs
'hornton and Kate to enable them to live in
ependently, and to give up for charitable pur-
oses large portion of my fortune. | would
enceforward live to make others happy, to full
the requirements of religion and virtue; and
tire as much from the frivolously busy world
possible
The resolution / had taken, not to see Ira
", was unalterable He sent to inquire after