Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-01-01


more startled afterwards something was
cone ealed in this mysterious little recess
With trembling hand she opened a small
paper packet II contained lock OF
hair, and destruction To her mental
peace y auburn hair--not the Jet black
lock she IN a moment of romantic folly
gave TO her husband during his lover
hood But lest that should fail To make
her wrelched, there was another evi:
dence of more than equivoccl import. -
She had read the Bride of !.ammermuir,
aud knew the full meaning aud intent OF
that severed bal-sovereign She had
"A rival Some iair-haired Lucy Ash
ton
In the midst Of her distress, Major
Burton returned, bringing news that lie
had met with Waierion, who promised to
come in to take his negus, and be intro.
duced 10 the BRIDE. She received the
information with greater indifference
than pleased her husband. She looked
pale and agiaied. lle asked her the
cause. Mrs. Burton said nothing, but
with dumb though effective eloQSence,
displayed the IocG Of hair and 10 love
| token. 1t was nov the majors turn to
| turn pale and become agitaicd. For II
! time he could not reply and when he
made the attempt, mutlered something
about former engagement, youthful
! folly, and the other excuses always up
! peIlnost on such occasions.
Il cor coursr," said the lady, in a tone
! of piGue, 81 cun have no right 10 inquire
into circumstances which happened be-
fore we met. But you have deceived
! me !"
/ "Deceived you, NliIicenr :--I am in
capable Of"
Il may, do not sink deeper into false
/ hood You have deceived me. When
We formed our solemn engagement, ]
was made TO believe that no former one
| existed"
!, Major Burton stood ll;le abashed,
and wisely thought that the best way was
! To own his fault, and sue for forgiveness.
| This he did, but the lady appeared mex
orabe. "Come, dearest" he said be-
| seechingly, "bo Il little charitable. Al
all events, whatever feeling you may
/ have to eXpend on the affair, let me en-
/ list il in favor Of the unhappy girl 10
whom your irresistible attractions have
made me false. own that the hopeless
misery she must have felt on hearing
! had become the husband of another has
indeed cost me many pang, and formed
bitter drop in the cup OF happiness you,
dear Miliceni, have filed" The ma
| lor said this with so much emotion ana
earnestness, that his wife could scarcely
help being affected. She demanded to
know the whole of the circumstances. -
| lie told her honestly and without reser-
| valion. I}e did not concea al the pledge
! of eternal fidelity he and Maria Panson
| had exchanged at the ruin in the garden
"a pledge the token OF which was now
i lying before them.
\ Next to love, pity is the strongest pas
| sion which warns the breast of woman !,
! and if any resentment lurked in Aliiii
cent Burion's heait against her husSan
it was now turned to pity for the wreiehed
ness into which she was unwittingly the
cause Of plunging q coniding and per.
haps amiablc girl "For her suke," she
said, "I cannot forgive you. AT leasl
you might have written TO break off the
eng agement before proposing to me-"
II "But we were strictly prohibited from
corresponding Poor girl l must own
dread to inquire after her. | feel
acuieIy the wrong | have done it is
| IIirreparable."
Il 81 fear she will prove a dangerous
rival to me ~ replied Mrs. Burton, in a
tone meant to be jocnlar, but in reality
not much pleased with the deep remorse
| her husband professed.
H "No, no, Milly let the honesty with
which have confded TO you every title
Of that unhappy affair, Danish so unworthy
thought nothing but full confidence
\ in the strength Of my own and your allec-
ton would have wrung The painful dis;
closure from me. No, il we should
meet-ir, by the Interference Of friends,
aud by the exercise Of that strength OF
mind which ! know Miss Panson TO
possess, she can endure to behold me the
. husband of another, be it yours TO pour
the balm of friendship into the wounds ]
have made. You wW be her friend,
'iillf WIS tbi'A'b plu'Np ''' ''''
in that of her husband, and said with a
sigh she would
At this moment Nr. Watcrt0n was
announced. The Introduction to Mrs.
l Major Button was soon made, and the
two friends were speedily engaged in an
interesting conversation concerning the
fate and fortunes Of several OF their old
Crones. Nothing however, could exceed
the caution with which Burton avoided
the smallest alusion to the Parsons -
And WateIton, though he named several
Of their acquaintanccs, never once men
toned them; refrainlug perhaps on ac-
count of the delicacy Of the subject in the
presence Of the majors wife. When
therefore, the lady rose to retire, upon
the plea Of fatigue, Burtou's heart beat
fast with apprehension He dreaded to
hear the truth which he feared would
come out in his wile's absence. How
could he Justify his falschood, the effect
Of which he did not doubt had been dIsas-
irous ? Perhaps the victim Of his faith.
essness was -. But he dared not
anticipate the truth. He would know II