Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-06


\ hers to desperation II has, il has, know II
has :" and the unhappy woman fell at ASH
Ia igh's feet, in paroxysm OF distress.
Il Ashleigh paused Tor an instant, then raised
\ the terrified, consciencc-sircken woman, and
II placed her in chair. Emily" he said,
IL YOU have told me that which, even in this
hour Of terrible suspense, has flooded my whole
being with happiness, but II What you have
.old me is true, YOU have betrayed the mosi
sacred f,ollngs of high-minded, delicate wo-
man, and now owe II to Sophy, as well as to
inys ,lf not 10 leave my own sentiments an IN
slant unexplained. You have misled your SIS |,
tier. Your motives ia dong 80, | leave 10
your own conscience. do love but II Is So !
phy herself who has engrossed every feeling oi
my nature. respected her character, even
as n child. She has since embodied tO me cN-
cry quality that is lovely and cndearng in wo-
man Since my return home, my sole object
has been to recommend myself 10 her. know
that my past career has not been such as toI
elevate ne IN her opinion but II steadiaslness
of purpose--if the truest respect and admlra-
i.on--ihe deepest and most teryent love ,ha
ever mnn fell, ayailed TO win gentle-hcarted.
altctionatc woman, these had l 10 base my
hopes ppon and with these did mean to per
severe. When, if the events Gf is day had
hot transpircd, should have had courage 20
tell her all this, know not; but If she is re-
stored To us, and is not indifferent 10 me, as
YOU assert, then my whole life shall have bLl
one purpose. to prove to her how high, how
pure, how exalted beyond all her SEX, she Is
7 in my eyes. The suspicious which you con-
iess, do not share. know Sophy too well
TO believe her capable of 81 sinful, 50 desperate
an act. Some dreadful accident may have be-
flllcn her nay, has, fear; but / shall ever
think Of her. be her fate What il may, as in
Eocent, spotlcss-an angel in Heaven" and,
overcome by the painful image he had called
up, Asheigh rushed from the room and sought
refuge in the open air.
\ IL was a cloudy night. and only at intervals
did the ftfully cleaning stars light AshIcigL
on his way, as with rapid steps he sought the,
most LAIeqLented parts of the grounds.
Emily suggestion, Though lie had repealed II e.
haunted his Imagination, and he bent his way
to the banks Of the creek, which he pursued
for some distance, stralnlng his eyes, and az
moments, III the desperation of his mood call
ing upon Sophy's name. He reached,a ,at length
a scquestcred spot, where the creek, making o.
sudden bend, widcned considerable. forming,
IN It's rapid course, several small Islands over
grown with tall shrubbery Suddenly, as if III
reply TO his call, Ashegh thought he disin.
Crished the sound of a hLm!n voice. He
called again, and again was the cry repeated.
/ This was no deuson, and the cries appeared
TO come from the water. Breaking through
the thick and tangled masses of shrubbery that
lined the shore, he stood upon the water 81
edge and cried alond. This time it was he
yond all doubt voice answering him from one
of the little isets in the stream. Frantic with
IL L., l,ll, E,,,
lie The wind to the spot where the boats wcr,
mo, .~ed. he was in a short tine pulling with ali
his str,u.-th towards the spot whence the
sounds PROCEEDED. lie nearsd, and a white
form became visible lie called, and Oh JOY,
unspeakablc! Sophy's wc,.-kno"n voice an
swered him another moment, Sld t''c oo"'
was run ashore. and Ashlelgh, Speeches.
with emotion, clasped to his bosom the trcn.-
bling, agtaled form Of Sophy.
Several minutes elapsed in the silent ecstasy
Of joy. Beloved :" was the first word tina,
gushed like music. soft and low, from his full !
heart. rs, utterly unconscious, in the strong
mastery of his feelings, Of all else beside, he
tenderly, as fond mother, smoothed down
her sllken hair, and pressed his lips over and
over again upon that dear head.
Come, let Us 90, - murmured Sophy, ras-
after her.
Ashleieh lifted her into the boat, and cover
ed her damp dress as best he could, with his
coat the boat was pushed off, and they made
their way rapidly to the shore, and then Sophy
in vIice still broken by agitation, explained
how all had happened. She had been seeking
Gr " atcr lilies, and with the daring which her
early habits had fostered, she padded herself,
across. in a small boat TO the isles, where she
knew she should iud them. Alter obtaining |,
what she sought. To her dismay, when about
10 return. she found that the beat, which she |
had forgotten 10 secure. had been carried away
and was now almost out of sight, in lis rapid
progress down the stream. For some hours
sh1 waited latenuy, knowing that she would
be sought for, and trusting, alsD. for rescue TO
some ch nee passenger ulon the creek. AS,
evening drew on, anl her f,ars were aroused.
she screamed and cllsI aoud for help, bui
though she frequently heard Voices in the dis
ttnce, non3 cane near enough to hear her
cries. When nlght came on, and the prospect
Of passing II in this desO!ate spot, exposed tcl
the chilling dumps from III. wuar aud perhaps
to reptl Is, hluntel b; the fears ola tInd help.
less woman, she described e-seli rs ready iCl
sink under her aprrtaenslons. Her lov, her
ia nftuir ss IN b,lng r:s,ned, she could even
less calmly express, and tears were the only
reply winch she would give to Ashleigh :.
rapid account Of the dreadful suffering they
had all end.reI, that miserable day.
Th3y landed, and a few inmates rapid walk
!ng bg0"ght them to th} hJ4sa.
No one hid gon. % h'I, AL in a shor
time tha ioyltl nDws spread through the hULsa.
and 5oI hG WAS surrounded Ivy eager, ioyi,Il
tIc,s. VI : Glyihorn, when she beheld her
stcr rrslurcd as IL seemed to her from the
dead, fell into violent MYSTERIES. and WIS car
ricI to her chltnblr While Mrs Ellis though
assured of Sophy's safety by AshIcgh would
not be satisfied ot her return I'll she saw hen
h rssif Ashegh, led the exhausted girl (,
th bJls,d. OF his aunt, but WAS sUun obhgec
to bear her iorcibly away, 10 prevent Ii,
further indu,geLce Of an excitement 50 l.nprol.
or for both.
+" You must change your clothes Immediate
", SoPhy," he sald " take some reircshmcni &.
and go quickly TO bed; aud be led h,r tow arcs
her chamber. They reached the door, and h,
stood lrrcsoutc, claspug the hand which sh,
had extended to hiIn. Like mlsrr, he cuul, !
not bear to lose sight of his new inlLd treas.
ure. Suddgnli. as If with IA mJ..sa "a |
strong 10 resist, lac drcwthe agit4ted glri to H., f.
heart, again murmured that tender c,ithy. /