Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-11-26

new acquaintance though did not at all wonder
at this, for who could help admiring one noble
and highly gifted as Walter Clayton For months
after that night he was constant yister at -FOUR
house, and at length you surprised me with the n-
formation that you we're engaged to him. scarce
ly knew how replied to you-but for that night
and many succeeding ones | never closed my eyes
in slumber. And 1t was during these hours Of
sleepess anguish that formed the determination
Of separating you from him-for was then quite
that he was not necessary TO your happiness
as to my own though now confess have since
then discovered that in this was mistaken.
But how my resolve was TO be accomplished
knew not and months again passed OH ere had
opportunity Of putting any plan into execution.
AT length an incident occurred which seemed
favorable TO my determination. had been spend
ing the day with YOU and toward Dusk when [
was preparing TO return home, instead Of going as
was my intention, yielded TO your persuasions and
resolved to remain with you ill next morning
Quite early that evening Walter Clayton was an
nounced, aud pretending to be very much inter
esed in a tale | was reading resisted your pres
sing entreaties 10 accompany you to the parlor,
preferrng from reasons Of my own, to remain
where was About an hour alerward you re-
entered the room where was sitting, aud without
speaking word threw yourself into a chair, and
buried your face in your hands Much astonish.
ed, | watched you ia silence deeming it best to
say nothing, for felt convinced that you would
soon confde to me the cause Of your dependency.
At length, you raised your head, saw that the
expression Of sadness had left your countenance,
and in its place there haughtness that had
never behed there before. In few words you
then related to me all that had passed between
yourself and Clayton, and sympathized with you,
exulting all the while that chance was thus Of
lered for ensurng success to my resolve. So ]
urged you to return to the parlor, meanwhile ac-
companying my solicitations with certain insnua.
tons concerning Clayton, which while they onl y
incensed you the more against him. could attach
no blame to myself the author of them | now
requested you TO tell me the history Of the emerald
ring-but you besought me not 70 ask it, and when
| again urged you, positively refused to satisfy my
curiosity, though you confessed the ring to have
been the gift Of gentleman This raised my sus.
pcions, and imagined that ring to have been pre-.
scented to you by another who occupied a place in
your affections, though from motives known only
to YOURSELF suspected you had discarded him, and
perhaps a(terward in fit Of pipue accepted the al
tenons Of Walter Clayton was CONVINCED you
did not love the lalter-else how could you have
treated him with such mingled pride aud cold
ness judged your feelings from my own-for
would never have looked upon his face and heard
those tones pleading for that which had power 10
accord, and have turned away you did coldly.-
You did not return to Clayton that evening-he
deserved to be punished, You thought. for his
doubts adding that you might be induced to forget
the wrong did he come the next morning to ask
forgiveness. This conclusion was exactly what
desired had now formed plan, and for its sue
cess it was only necessary that that evening should
pass without interview between Clayton and
yourself We both retired TO rest soon after.
1.-THE following day awoke quite early, yet yor
were already up aud seated by the window. Fol
some moments watched you unobserved You
appeared to have been weeping, for your eyes were
red and swollen, and in your hand you held The
ring that had been the cause of so much curiosity
and trouble Again were my suspicious awaken
| ed, and became assured that the gver Of tina
! Jewel was regarded with love by you. Aud thi
little incident only served to make me firner il
my determination wrest from your possession
the treasure deemed you prize SO lightly bu
which to me was far more precious than the lar
gest diamond-the love of Walter Clayton. Hat
he never met you felt perfectly sure that shon
have been his chosen one-for we had known eac
other from childhood and Walter had Away
evinced preference for my society.
Notwithstanding your enlreales that wou
stay till the morning meal was over, returned i'm
medately home, and in half an hour after my re
turn equipped in the attire of servant, with
thick veil drawn closely over my face, again saIli
ed forth from my residence and directed my step
towards the dwelling Of Walter Clayton.
ooh Edith-but for the action Of that hour yo
would never have suffered so much misery-ior tn
object Of that journey was to leave note for Clay
ton written in your name, and in which all iurthe
intercourse with him declined, while he wa
also requested not to endeayor 10 obtain an expanc
ton, as such an attempt would be both unnece:
sary and useless. knew him well enough to b
quite certain that his pride would forbid disobed
ence to your command. The result you know TO
well Ediih-and rejoiced in the success Of IN
scheme After had thus far accomplished m
purpose, the thought for the FIRST time entered m
head of how should justify myself in your sigl
did | succeed III winning Claytons Affections
But soon made the resolution Of never margin
him till you were united to another and conclude
TO rely upon my own powers oil invention to iorI
plausible excuse for encouraging one whom 20
I had once looked upon with favor. And II 20
eyinced any signs of disapprobation, | resolved
brave your dispIeasure-p referrng love to rien,
I ship. But | now seldom behed Clayton. He Al
I parenty mixed little with society, but allowing hi
time to recover from the effects of The blow he ha
received, did not despair Of ultimately altainn
y the desired end.
I, "But the events of single night destroyed fore
e er the hopes that for months had been lostert
. within my heart. My intimacy with you was ST
0 unbroken, and we were ever together One nigh
= just week since, when as you will remember
a consented as was often my custom, to remain wi
S you till the following day. incident transpirt
; that filled my soul with both disappointment AZ
; remorse.
y eve had retired 10 rest at later hour thu
o usual. and much weared on account of long wa
II taken that afternoon, you soon fell into peacef
y slumber For a long time I lay awake musin
d when suddenly my meditations were disturbed
] some words that burst from your lips You we
o still sleePing-but with agony understandable j
4