The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-02


armed for the warfare it must perform in
the grea, ile-strugsle.
Anne Morelle had been lessoned in
school tina, had cultivated, not true self
help, bu, stern and vindiclive sense of
injury, and an uncompromising resolve
to compel justice, or avenge disgrace.
She was naturally vain and lhoughtless
with strong, ill-regulated feelings, yet
with much that was noble and beautiful
in her character. William Clayton, years
before, had been her acknowledged lover.
lie was no, handsome, unless head Of
grea, intellectual and moral development
could be so considered, and his manners
were quiet and reserved. Anne Morelle
loved attention, was not entirely indiller-
ent to him, and so allowed his admiration
to declare itself. There were, as yet,
none who pleased her better.
But the fascinating Col. Brudcnell was
thrown in her way, and then a shadow
fell upon the heart of Clayton. Anne
was evidently taken with his handsome
person and snowy manners. He follow
ed her footsteps, watched her wishes, and
showcied adulation upon her. Anne was
warned of his character but when was
love willing 10 listen to reason! Alas,
for that blindness. The path of Human
Life is strewed with the wrecks, in con-
sequence.
Anne was told that he was heartless,
and fa,hess with women, but he had
never met her; might not she touch his
callousness, and reform him! II was a
triumph to throw chain over the tickle,
gay, Col. Brudenell, and though false 10
others, he might be made true to her.
She reasoned as woman too often reason {;
she met the result, that acting upon such
reasoning must always bring. The moth
never plays unscathed around the taper
the heart that throws itself within the
outer edge of moral MUlslorm, is lost.
So found Anne Morelle, as happiness,
reputation, and almost life itself, were
swallowed in the terrible vortex. What
to her was the future, when she saw him,
who should have been bound to her for
ever by every principle OF morality, and
Justice. growing cold and stunning the
home Of her widowed mother' Pride
a. first, kept her silent; but despair came.
and then she implcred him, for reparation
to her injured honor. But her pleadings
fell on Geaf ear. and a stony heart. His
cold, cutting words told her there was
nothing to hope. And worse, tales came
to her of light jesls coupled by him with
her name. The cup was then full. She
stunned all society, and took no interest
in life. The future, as the past, was
dark. There was gloom on every pros
pect, but that Of the grave. She spen
most Of her time in rooms whence the
daylight was excluded, communing only
with her own morbid thoughts. Even
her mother might speak to her withou,
winning any reply. What wonder if a
strong, relentless hate should be born Of
such lonely misery!
But Clay ton-he loved with strange,
romantic love, the fallen and unhappy
girl. He whom she had deserted for her
bc,rayer, still kept for her an undated
affection. Uhy he did so. was mystic
ry. An observer of the human heart has
we'll said, that the power of loving is not
in proportion to the merits of the object
beloved, bu, according 10 our own capac-
iiy for loving, and this alone could ac-
count for the answering attachment oil
VIM. Clayton. 1t is hard for an eleva.
ted and generous mind to detach itself
from one it has once loved, especially
when it believes that one to be in need
of its sympathy and support. William
Clayton had left the village when he first
knew her preference for Col. Brudenell,
but returned when rumor told him of the
mournful end of her misplaced affection
and confidence. He had wept in secre,
as none but tgue-teared man can weep,
over her ruined name, and hlighted life,
and he fastened 10 offer her the consola
lions of the kindest sympathy.
For time, Anne refused to see ever
him, but his unwearied attentions a
length won her from her seclusion, ant
she consented.
HIS delicate benevolencc touched her
and his vows Of love thrilled the hear
she had thought too deeply wounded ev
err again TO bea! to human affection. II
his presence, she forgot, for time, the
wre,chedncss that was eating away her
life. But il was only in his presence
When he was away, her mind returned
again to the one absorbing thought, ant
The first smile that lighted her counte
nance since her las, terrible interview
with Brudenell. was when her hand grasp