Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-05-14
WILMINGTON. N. c.. FRIDAY. MAY II, 1s47.

urgency OF my business, l should have returned
with some feigned excuse, and made one more
effort to heal that wounded heart; that bleeding
bosom in the JOY of which once existed the very
life of my delight.
But it was too late, and the probability was that
| should naver see her again, uoless speed could
bring me once more in her presence / accor-
dinghy determined to hasten and despatch my bu-
siness with all possible aacrity.
During my absence she occupied nv whole
thought, and my solictude for her welfare, con-
splred to make my journey one unbroken contin-
uity ofwretched contemplation.
The period of eleven days found ne again near
the place of the long wished for interview, for |
had determined to expose to her the folly of her
grief and retrieve her. if possible from this strange
spell of wretchedness; but one turn more of the
road and the white dwelling would break like a
spectre before me-
The sudden gathering Of horses hoofs. aroused
me from the deep revery into which had fallen
moment past, and my hand met the warm grasp
of an old friend, and an inmate of the family be.
fore mentioned.
Our conversation was upon every topic save
that have been describing; that I evaded, for |
was afraid to ask Of Julia. 1t was, Indeed. my
desire, but my beating heart proved fathless to my
will. l endeavored to find the language of mel
ancoily, in his words, his actions, and his outward
demHanor; but there was mirth in all that bid
me hope. Though he was one not easily affec-
ted, yet he had generous nature
Poor Julia, | at length, with gree of firm.
ness, broke forth; it would indeed be idle to ask if
she has recovered, but is she better His response
was solemn and heartwthering it is all that is
left, and can be told ill few al d simple words.
The day after my departure she fell into sud-
den decline. Her reason, he continued, did not
t'rsake her unto the last, though at times she
would seat herself at one ofthe front windows and
would gaze long and silently upon the wild scene
ry without, appearing to be wrapt in profound
thought She would then seem to awake as if
from dream, and would walk listlessly across the
room backward and forth, humming a plaintive
little air, the simplicity of which was enough to
melt the heart of adamant into sympathy.
GA the following morning she did not leave her
chamber; the debility consequent upon her grow
ing malady, had gained the mastery, and she
sank mildly into lis grasp with the conscious limo.
cence of the lamb into the hungry power Of the
ravenous wolf.
Her mother did not until then, learn of previ-
Gus indisposition which she had ingeniously mall
aged to conceal, not with the veil of her once
modest affection, but with desire to hold from
her painful truth, the darkness of which would
change her very life into bitterness.
"She Guild have known it." ifeelingly Interrupt
ted !" and should know farther, that her own un-
generous nfexibiity is the original cause of all'
Here my friend undeceived me, perceiving through
this loud invective, the error into which I had
fallen.
"The mother" said he, "would have given her all,
could she have been allowed the favor of granting
her concurrence but it is the fruit of the foul and
fendish conduct of her vile and faithess lover"
"Pause, for mercy's sake if that: your meaning,
now I know it all. Heaven forgive the wretch %
was all that could utter, for it broke like an lev
bath upon me, and convinced me of the truth of
my conjecture, that notwithstanding her seeming
dif1idence, it was still her desire to make to me
some disclosure before my departure.
"Her rapid decine,' he continued, "increased a.
larm, and in the evening ply sician was called.
Ho hor Al. II
aid, and acknowledged his own inability to dis
cover the mysterious cause of so scalhing maIa-
dy"
Late in the evening she desired the lattice to
be thrown open, that the view upon the road might
be unobstructed, and would lie silently, and gaze
long and earnestly up the avenue repeating at in
tervals, in almost inaudibe accents, for her voice
too, was rapidly sinking, Il shall never sic
him again." 1t drove dagger to my soul, for
knew that was the one to whom she alluded,
and it told me in tones that rung upon my ear like
peals of thunder, that it was even her last desire
10 disclose to me something, knew not what,
and that my own useless reserve had conspired to
her misery
Was it her desire to impart to me the sad, and as
yet hidden re-lity. with the desperate hope, that i.
was in my power alone to recall her monster lover
to sense of truth and virtue to renewal of the
love he had prostituted, and of those vows he had
broken The question is asked, but alas, too late,
for there is now no one to respond.
Her mott ers growing alarmed, forced upon her
the painful necessity of disclosing to the Doctor
what she had discovered, and knew to be the cause
of her daughters illness. His astonishmcnt ard
regret may be easily imagined without the assis-
lance of description. :" am more firmly convinced
now, he said, Of the fallacy of hope her disease
will rremediably prove fatal; her strength is rapid
ly declining, and she can survive but short time"
"She att length" my friend continued, "turned her
head from the window, arousing as iffrom trance,
calling for her work basket, pen, ink and paper
The Doctor asked her if his pencil would not an
swer." She nodded her head in silent assent.
He gave it to her with half sheet of paper !;
she wrote but few words, and seemed to have
accomplished her desire. She enclosed something
in the note that she had taken from her basket,
sealed, directed, and de ivered it with her own
hand TO her mother.
sudden change came over her. The organs
of speech seemed to have forsaken their Office,
though she retained degree of physical power. .
About this time light tap was heard at the
door, servant boy delivered note ; i. was direc-
ted to Julia. She gazed upon it as though she