Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-05
EVENING STAR.
A TALE OF TRUE LOVE,

Jane Harwood was the Youngest, and un-
questionably the prettiest of three sisters, who
all had considerable pretensions to beauty. A
| peculiar charm, of truly feminine character,
| presided over her features, and more especial
ly In her dark eyes,
'tThatseemed to love whatever theylooked upon >,
We were cousins we might have been con.
nected by nearer tie, but did not think so
then. At the period TO which am alluding,
Jane was almost eighteen. Business had de-
| tanned me tor several months at Edingburg
and 1 knew nothing of what was passing in
London, except through the medium of the
post; and every body knows.how little infor-
nation an occasional letter affords. My sur.
| prise, therefore, may be cOnjectured, when on
calling tiny Aunt Harwood's, g, the morning af-
ter my return to London learned that Jane
was just of on a continentaltcur. Her mother
Informed me "that aunt Mary was going to
travel on the continent, and had kindly re-
quested Jane to accompany her" al sup
pose Jane is delighted at the invitation -
why, no" replied my aunt, " cannot say
she is she is not at all in the spirits you i'm
agine." In few minutes aunt Mary's car
| rage drove to the door, the only one by the way
in the family, and after a few minutes had
elapsed, occupied by my aunt Mary's express
slons ofpleasure at seeing me, and my regrets
at our being 30 soon TO seperate poor Jane en-
tered the apartment She indeed did not ap-
pear in the spirits had imagined; her face
was pale, her air detected, and her eyes bore
the evident testimony of much weeping
For an instant a smile played on her beautiful
features, as sprung to salute her but it was
merely for an instant, and then she looked
more like an exile about to take her last fare
\ well of her kindred, then young and beau
tlful girl just commencing a tour Of pleasure
| From the observations m ade, was perfectly
| convinced that my two aunts were as anxious
for this journey, as Jane was reluctant,-all
this was perfect mystery, and so il rem aimed;
tor my aunt contrived some pretence for cal
| ling Jane away, Just as L was on the point of
| questioning her on the subject.
When everything was adjusted for their
| departure, and Jane had kissed her mother
and sisters, l approached 10 take my farewell
| salutation. The poor girl burst into tears and
hid her face on my shoulder; / felt strong
| inclination myself to she'd tear. After
catching the last glimpse of the carriage, as it
rooled rapidly away, returned 10 my lodg-
| ings, out of spirits, and very much disposed 10
| quarrel with the first person who should speak
| to me.
Jane had promised 20 write to me, but more
than two months elapsed ere L received a let
| ter. 1t was dated from Paris, and contained
some general observations On the country,
| with slight intimation that she was indis-
posed. But 1t was not this intim alton that so
1 LAuSu dc ZIG tone Oh uelecIlOn
visible in every line, and | instantly resolved
| to follow them, and ascertain from James own
| lips what thus could oppress her natural buoy
ant spirit. An engagement of some import
ance detained me for several days; indeed, il
| was more than fortnight ere quilted Lon
don. On enquiring at the Hotel from which
the letter was dated, L was disappointed; they
had left Paris few days previous. After
ascertaining their route, 1 Immediately COM
| menced pursuit, and sometimes sleeping a.
the inn at which they had rested, and some
times losing all trace Of them, 1 entered
Brussels.
AS it was late in the afternoon, and knew
no one to whom / could apply for information,
/ though it as well to defer my random search
till the following day After dinner strOlled
out, unconscously, in the direction IF the thea
ire. entered it; the performance was going
on, and after gazing at the stage till the act
was concluded, proceeded to survey the au-
dience. My attention was Immediately direct
ed by beholding my Aunt Mary in the next box
=" Surely that is not Jane by her side :" Be-
fore my sentence was finished had discovered
that it was indeed Jane, but so altered 1 had
heard that sorrow or continued excitement of
any kind has tendency to change the COM
plexiOn, but L never saw it illustrated till then
What an altered being was my sweet cousin
her person was attenuated, her skin darkened
her eyes hollow though bright, and her face
looked healthy, though there was a faint tinge
on the cheek. The surprise and sorrow ex-
pressed evidently dipleased my aunt; and
when hinted that a theatre was an improper
place for an invalid / was informed by her that
an eminent ply sician had advised j ane TO take
as much exercise and amusement as possible L
attended them to their Hotel, and took my
leave, with the promise to call the next morn
ing, did so, and found my aunt breakfastiug
alone, Jane not having yet risen. Ihad been
conversing about an hour with my aunt, when
her attended entered with a message from
Jane, requesting permission to remain in her
apartment, as she felt much indisposed. My
aunt declared she could not comply with her
request, and rising, left the room with the SER
want In about half an hour she returned,
leading the poor invalid. Her face was pale,
very pale; but her eyes still retained daz-
zling brightness; she slightly pressed my
hand as led her to the sofa on which she
sunk quite exhausted. A gentleman to whom
my aunt had recommendatory letter was
announced and as Jane was unable to bear
the presence, my aunt was compelled to leave
US, and receive the gentleman in another
apartment. The instant my aunt left the room
poor Jane seemed as it were e-animated Size
rose from her reclining posture, and L was
foolish enough to imagine she was better, |
when 1 saw a bright flush suffuse her deathly |
countenance. "Oh, no." said she, as 1 ven- |
euiOu " GA PiSeS hVPSoJ Loj sudhA
never be better; but, my dear Charles 1 have |
a favor to ask, and feel confident you will |
grant it"-she hesitated-''I wish you to de |
liver this," said, drawing wedding ring from |
her bosom, and placing it in my hand, "tOithe |
person who L shall name;-had l bad the |
slightest idea of seeing you, 1 would have en- |
deavOred to have explained everything by
writing but L know not how it would have |
been possible, for / never have been an in /
slant alone This morning endeavored with /
pencil to write his name on leaf of pocket |
book, but could nOt-my hand so trembled. /
Charles" said she, grasping my hand with a |
force of which thought her incapable, 4" l /
shall never return to England, / shall never /
see him myself, but 1 cOnjure you to tell him |
l was not unfaith ful-tell him that / was /
kept prisoner in my room from the moment |
of my entering it after our last meeting till | 1
was compelled to accompany my aunt; that l
was denied the means Of writing, and had not /
a creature in whom / could cOnfide; do con-
vince him Charles, that / was not faithless-
the idea that he would so think Of me, has |
continually prayed on me, and has broken my |
heart; tell him not soon to forget, and to re
hes affactions HavO-