Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-02-04
RAvENNA OHIo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1916

over my cheeks; tried to speak, but |
could not pronounce her name. 1t was
enough; she looked fixedly at me for a
lmoment, as if she would read my in.
Imost thoughts; then throwing herself
Unto my arms, she cried, 'He will re-
Hurn.' Oh, how l wept for her, and
blamed myself! Was it thus had per.
Horned a mothers duty? Young, mex
1pefienceds she had fallen heedlessly in
to the snare. But I-shouid not have
discovered beneath the dazzling quail
lies Of our: guest the heartIess world
INC sthe cold votary Of fashion? Regret
1pas useless now; the past could never
be recalled. I had nothing left but to
endeavor by caresses to soothe the
wounded feelings of the fragile being
who clung to me for support, and to en-.
deavor, if possible, 10 warn her Of the
precipice on which she stood. 1t was a
dreadful task; but l deserved that it
should fall on me, for my culpable neg
ligence.
When the first burst of grief had
somewhat subsidized, l drew her to me,
and, as gently as could, l entered on
my painful duty.
'Ada,' said, you love Arthur Her.
bert. Nay, do not speak, my child; | do
not blame you. could not have ex-
pected more judgment from you than |
have shewn. But, oh! foi your own sake,
listen to me, you have given your heart
to one who is utterly unworthy Of you.
Will you not endeavor to forget him,
now you know all his worthlesness-his
per6dy? He has proved himself a vii.
lain, without one spark ofhonor, without
one noble feeling
As ] spoke, she disengaged herself
from my arms, and standing proudly e.
rect before me, she exclaimed, moi one
word more. Mrs. Middleton! Is it to
me, whom he has honored with his love,
that you speak in such a strain? His
worthlesness-his peridy! Where is
your proof of either? Or do you think
am one of those mean pitiful spirits
who will desert friend or cast him
from my heart, because the envenomed
tongue of scandal has dared to tamper
with his name? Give me proof that he
is the villain that you term him: prove
all that you have advanced against his
honor, or be assured that his fame will
remain as unsullied in my eyes as il
does at this moment. I do love Arthur
Herbert and her voice faItered as she
continued. Il have given him a whole
and undivided heart; it is so filled with
his image, that no other passion can
harbor there. There is no room for
doubt
ADA cried, God grant may be
deceived. You are angry with me now,
dearest; but in your calmer moments
you will do mole justice to your friend.
Forgive me, my best and kindest
friend-forgive my petulance,' she cri.
ed, throwing herself at my feet, but
indeed you know not what you do,
when you bid me doubt his faith. have
worshipped him as the incarnation of all
that is great and noble. 1t was the lofty
mind, the generous heart, the noble
sentiments Of Arthur Herbert that gam
ed my love. Take from me my belief
in the existence Of these qualities, and
lose my confidence in all that is pure
and holy. O think, think we'll, ere you
root up all the flowers and leave my
heart barren wilderness
ltwas the most painful hour of my
life: but l resolved to perform my du'
ty. raised from the ground, and press,
ing her to my bosom, entreated her tc
listen to me calmly, and in silence; ano
then told her all my suspicious. re-
called to her memory the manner ir
which more than once Mr.. Herbert hae
] been alluded to in our presence. Hi.
male acquaintances spoke Of HIM as one
to whom woman's heart was mere
toy,--a thing which he might gain a
will, and cast aside when weary of the
bauble. demanded what proof she hae
that Mr.. Herbert possessed any of tht
high qualities with which her partia
affection had endowed him. True he
had ever appeared devoted to her, hung
on her every word and smile; but wha
had been the result of all? He had lef
her for months, perhaps forever, with
out being bound to her by any promise
by any tie. Was this, asked, the con
duct of an honorable man?
She heard me without interruption;
but when l ceased to speak, she took
my hand in hers, and looking impler'
ingly in my face, she said, Let us droE
this subject now, and forever, entreat
you. Time will prove all things
BE it so,' l said; 'and may He who
tempers the wind to the shorn lamt
watch over thee, my beloved child!
Agrecably to our compact, from this
day the name of Arthur Hurbert seem
ed 10 be a forgotten sound. Weeks pass
IL H., ~uI a. Ill o,,f,uord QnpnaVQ ncn