Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-04-26

his losses, be restored to his loflier place in
society and regain The vanished favor OF his
early love! Rudolph knew tie world WELL
and could skillfully read the heart Of woman.
He vas aware how lenien,ly she ever endeav-
ors 10 paliatc the defects of the one who had
been dear to her, in the romance of her prem
iere jeuuesse, and how difficult it is for her to
banish the beautiful harmonies that once made
her life so lovely with rapturous illusion. -
He felt as if he had every thing 10 hope, when
he recol eced Hester's gentle and unembar-
rassed friendness VIII they had last met at
Gertrude's home, and her apparent entire free
dom from all resentmen, at his deception. =
IIeedess, and half unconscious Of his COM
panion's open surprise at his sudden abstrac-
ton Rudolph hastily sought his own apart
ment, to resolve on the mode of procedure
most likely to appeal strongest to Hester's
sympathy and to awaken the fervor OF her
earlier feelings. He hestated whether to
write a plausible account of his motives and
conduct and lingering attachment, or to seek
an interview and boldly take her heart by
storm. With the thought of her presence.
all the past returned to him, the long dark in
ter.ude of his moral deprayiy seemed but a
hdeous dream and the visions of his spirit
returned to the purer days, when his footsteps
were still strangers in the fatal pathway OF
f,l la Enr uh hn
on the far-ofr starlight of their youth, through
the mis,s and shadows of life mis- spent -
Alas for the minds, whose noblest fountains
have run TO waste and waterej by the des.
ert =
At length his indecsion ended, and he de-
termincd to send Hester letter, and 10 trust
to the unexpected vicinity of her lover and the
strong rushing Of old memories, TO work in his
behalf. Long, and fraught with the impas-
stoned eloouence ola false and desperate man,
was the letter he wrote, and it was an appeal
anlully calculated to touch feelings of whose
deep natural Tenderness SIS he waswell awa'e.-
Re spoke Of Ger,.ude's simple loneliness OF
character, but painted his want Of sympathy y
in their married life, he ,oldof his own weary
wanderings since, of his mental loneliness, his
grea, and innume,able temptations. lie frank
ly acknowledged that his errors had been
many, but he pleaded the powerful influence
ofthe world on heart that had lost the cor
recting strength of its nearest ties, and he
promised to be, hereafter, whatever her will
might dictate,
You cannot know, Hester" he conclud-
ed, I" the effort, the sacrifice of pride it has
cost me to write to you thus candldly, but all
sacrifices appear possible to me, that could
recall for me the ecstacy Of your affection -
To another, | would shrink from thus lying
bare the fOies and faults Of my career, but
to you, wlo are so nobly superior to the
weaknesses of your sex, who lcok down with
an angels kindness on the imperiections yor
do not share, to you, dearest one, my SOU
turns, yearnngly and trus,lugy, as TO being
of hoier world. have fully confessed my
defects revealed my sorrows, and my fate liel
now in youi hand Oh for the sake Of al
the brightness the past, by every hope th'
future prohers, deal gently with my failings
for you dream not what you do, if you coldl,
reject the enduring tenderness offer you, i
you re-pungc into its deep gulf of moral error
nature tha, still retains something of pure
aspiration, spirit that may yet be restored tc
holiness by the guiding and the blessing of ;
love like yours ~
Hestor's reply
You will doubtless be somewhat surpris
ed, Rudolph, that shoul reply at all to you
mpassioncd letter, since | only do so to re
cct most positively and scornfully the selfsl
suit you so earnestly urge. ] have no Ian
guagc strong enough TO convey to you the
combined astonishmcnt and pity and contemp
with which have read your renewed profes
son, and can but smile at the strange vani
| ty that could prompt you for an instant {,
believe ! should do otherwise than de.pis
prote stations so false, and founded on sue
! apparent and unworthy motives. You ar
! deeply versed in the worlds wisdom, Ru
dolph, but you have yot ,c learn that ther
are hearts which can trample on falsehoo
even in those they hold dearest, and howeve
well they may have loved another, love trut
and purity better still. But with these harsh
er feelings, kinder ones are mingled, and
would most gladly awaken to a startling cor
viction Of its certain and impending ruin,
mind whose early promise was fraught wit
! nobler things. If,here be one faint Gimme,
| ing Of sincerity in the warm words Of devotion
! you have written, may hope that my en-
treaties will have power 70 influence YOU an
may appeal successfully to your fast fadlnl
sense of right. Iimplore you most ferventl
to turn aside from your present fatal cours
and to abandon your unworthy associates =
i They are tracing on your being character
that cannot be eifaced, lines that will dcba
you from happiness on earth, and shut yo
out from hope in Heaven. BY the pas, I