Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-06
THE FALLEN ONE.
by MRS. CRAWFORD.

VI MY young bcHOOl-lclloW, tdtHeTlnc NJ
was both beautiful and unfortunate; two strong
| links in the chain Of sympathy Her counte-
nance was what might be termed richly beauti-
full dark eyed and etty-haired, with that full
luxuriance of health, that gives such light
to the eye and bloom to the cheek, as throws
| everything beside them into shade Such
| face, under the bright blue bonnet she used to
/ wear, was not likely IT, escape notice: and
! when We went two by two, in prime order, TO
| take our customary walk under the rocks at
the Hot wells or on the Clifton down the beau
! ty of Catherine attracted the eyes of the gen
tlemen SO much, (partlcuaTly the military that
| II was great annoyance to our worthy gov
erness, who watched, like a Spanish duenna,
the motions Of her fair pupil, while the latter
seemed no way offended at the homage paid to
her charms. One gentleman, Captain Fi,z-
/ lamcs, Of the - regiment, became 50 deeply
enamoured, that he never rested TIL he got him
self introduced to her, at the house OF her cous-
in, Mrs. c., of Clifton Wood. And if he
! had been struck with GATHERINGS person in her
walking dress, how much greater was the dan
ger of seeing her with her beautiful head uncov-
cred, all It's rich rlnglets clustering her temples
and throat, like young Hebe and then her
expression, full Of variety, and charming in all
its variations, was sometimes "suit as Il doves
gaety;-and her countenance, when seated at
the instrument, would look like ST. Cecilia ;,
the very soul ofharmony. When she danced, it
was considered treat TO watch her graceful
evolu,ons in that most graceful Of all dances.
the minute: and for no other purpose than to
witness it, came many ladies and gentleman, on
those days which were appropriated to visitors.
Catherine had seen Captain fltzames many
, times before they had become lovers, and had
private meetings in the garden at night; SO early
does the youthful heart, learn to wander from
| the right path into what may appear at first
merely pleasant ways. But | ought to have
mentioned that the beautiful Catherine was
! rich, endowed by fortune, as well as by nature;
deceased uncle having left her forty thousand
| On her coming of age, and independent Of her
father, control, who lived abroad. Her trustee
and guardian in this country, Mr.. Blake, was
worthy man; but he had a strong rooted OBJ
lection to all red-coats, considering them 10 be
NO better than sdvenurcrs in affairs of this kind
and he therefore refused to sanction the address
SIS Of Captain Fitzjames. This, of course,
! TO one 80 little learned in the art Of selfcontro
as Catherine, only served to fan the fame
! into warmer glow. Caiherine's father was
mere man of the world, and had dissipated a
large fortune in following his own propensites
for gaming, and other vices equally nmcal to
his character and interest. Residing in dis
tant country, he troubled himselfbut little about
his daughter, though an only child, except in
looking forward to the period when she would
be her own mistress, and perform the promise
she had made him, to pay all his debts, and
make handsome provision for his future wants
| That Captain Fitzjames thought nothing of
Catherncs fortune, will no. undertake TO
affirm, but the first impression was certainly
made by her extreme beauty, and while ho was
ignorant of those other advantages which his
fair mistress possessed. The time Of the noe
turnal trystes was on the usual hafhoIidav.
when the girls wandered &" at their own sweet
will" pairing off with the companion each
liked best, to read some story together, or open
their youthful hearts upon sundry matters, Of
course important to themselves. AT the side
Of the garden, which was large one, was 2
narrow winding walk, leading TO n small shed,
where the gardener kept his tools. The garden
wall behind this shed was sufficiently low for
person to leap over 1t with ease; and the
laurels grew 30 thckly around, as to furnish
convenient hiding place for meetings, that to
romantic minds, (and most in their teens are
romantic form half the charm oflove. What
mutual vows of fondness and fidelity did this
youthful pair exchange How soon to be for
will prove, ] TO whose presence, al the age of
nine years, they paid no more attention than TO
that of the laurel bushes, have frequently heard
those ardent vows, (whlle Keeping watch for
them on the stone steps of the shed,) and have,
since more recently learned the lamentable
conclusion OfCathorlne' S history, reflected often
on their vanity and folly.
/ The time at last came, when Catherine WAS
TO leave school. toleave" &" old guardy. - (as she
called Mr. Blake, her guardian, and To seek
her NAIVE home beyond the wave. Her father,
on the representations which Mr. Blake had
made To him, had given his PERMISSION to her
union with fiizlamcs, who was To sail with her
IN the same vessel for jamaica; and Catherine
had promised that on their arrival there she
would become his bride. All the school were
sorry To separate from their beautiful companion
who departed from among them with hopes
warm hight playing round her heart, aud making
q rainbow of her very tears. Alas she was
then happy, and good-happy because innocent,
and good because unirlcd. | soon afterwards
returned home, aud thus lost all trace of her
for many years.
She had almost vanished from nv rcmcm-
brancc, or If in after life any passing event
brought back To my mind the vision OF my
school days aud school companions, and amongs.
Nltln lHt NounH' dIlu gay, anu O'du'lUl ! dtl'-
rinc, thought of them all as of a dream that
had passed away. thought (whcn 10y any
chance ! did tAmk) as they formerly were when
| had known them, and not rs they might after
wards have bCcOmc-some gone To the grave
some experiencing the smiles, and some the
irowns Of fortune, all even probably 50 changed
by the mere lapse OF time, that we might have
met aud passed each other, without any sign
of mutual recognition. had spent but very
short period at school, having left II a, the age
sf ten years, ~ that had the more complete
y lost all trace of my young companions And
to certainty, all had soput oil, ~ their, alas
inevitable contact with the world, the guIlelcss-
pcss aud the simplicity Of childhood, that the
chance of recognition IN tins respect would
have been equally remote
II II was after q lapse Of many years from the
time of quitting school, that became acqualni-
cd with Mrs ". the mother of physician
Of high promise, who filled the chici medical
appointment in one Of the public lnsiiisilons of
flthe metropolis, and whose early and almost
sudden death. about six years ato, plunged hls
mothcr and mos, interesting family r,O ih.