Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-06

great effect upon him. He staggered to
a seat, and covering his face with his
hands; for some moments he appeared
lost in thought. Then suddenly he said.
"Heaven knows I am guiltless p
"That's enough" I said. will be-
lieve you. And now it is strange thing
to ask, but will you take me into your
confidence ?"
"I will"
"Agreed. I viii 60 and calm the
fears of Mary, and return to you imme-
diately."
I accordingly went back to the Damp
sey house, and said, aloud.
"I have seen Mr.. Sinclair, and a cir
cumstance which he will write an explain
alton of to Miss Dampsey, forces the
putting off of the marriage for short
time. He is well, and the circumstance
cannot be explained without prejudice te
him.
1 perhaps really did go little too fal
in saying this much, but somehow / had
faith in the man, and I was amply re.
warded by the look of gratitude that was
cast upon me by Miss Dampsey, who i'm.
mediately said,
81 am quite satisfied"
The guests were rather wonder-stricker
at this state of things, and some of them
put on such stupid looks of wonder, thai
it seemed doubtful whether they were
awake or not.
The ladies were of course indignant
for they had dressed themselves all fol
the occasion, and now for there to be nc
wedding at all, was too provoking.
How they settled it among them after
l left, I do not know, for I got away a:
quickly as could, and hurried back tc
Sinclair's chambers, who seemed won.
derfully calmed by the assurance ]
brought him, that even what had jus
happened had not shaken the confidence
which Mary had in him; and then hi
cried,
"Oh, can ever be worthy of such /:
creature p
eyes," said I, "you certainly can b'
worthy of her if you choose"
"I cannot" he replied; c" 1 cannot
How am to do so, when you have heard
which you shall hear, the melancholy cir
cumstances by which I am surrounded
you will admit that I no louger ought +
think of Mary Dampsey as wife,"
And yet you say that you are guilt
less"
I AMI am. But know you not
have seen enough of this world to know
that, in order to preserve fair fame, it
not enough to be innocent, but you mus
manage to seem so likewise, or you vii
not escape the very worst of censures.
81 certainly know that the world is
censorious world, but I know likewis
that we are always the worst judges c
what affects ourselves, and that, let thos
circumstances be what they may, our i'm
agination is apt to dress them up in falls
colors, giving an Importance to ther
which they do not deserve"
He looked at me with something hk
hopefulness in his countenance, land pre-
ceeded.
"Mr. Sinclair, it strikes me strongl
that you are allowing your imaginatio
to get the better of your reason, and SUI
posing yourself to be involved in some a
fair, from which extrication would be eas
with a little more resolution than you pos
sess."
"Think you SO? But you cannot judg
until you know all, and all you shall kno,
if you will do me the favor of listening t
my recital"
Isignifed I my assent, and at the sam
time expressed what pleasure it would a
fordme to be ofservice to him after whic
he began as follows; and I can only il
form my readers that the tale is mo
strictly true.
Sir" he said, about ten years ago
was in a far more precarious situatio
than l am now, for l was too young the
to have found out my real powers, an
was, as it were, foundering about witt
out a profession, and being first one thin
and then anther, in the hope of making
respectable livelihood"
81 was unfortunately situated in N
bringing up, for I had an ignorant mott
er, and a father, who, although a man
considerable abstract attachments, had n
one particle of knowledge calculated
be useful to himself or his children. Hoy
ever, he had constitutionally such an
ritable temper, that at the age of sixt
when he died, he had not friend in IL
world to follow him to the grave, with
, sigh or regret.