The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-10
WESTERLY, Z. l., THURSDY, JANUARY 10, 1856.


| can deceive myself and you no longer.
| sought you last night with the deter
to tell you all, but l could not
utter the words that would, l felt, give
you so much pain. But l must do it.
What my tongue refused to tell, | must
intrust to my pen. 1t is useless to hes
itate tho sooner all is known the bet
ter for US both. Beatrice, j find that |
have mistaken the nature of my feelings
towards you. AS God is my witness,
when wo were betrothcd l thought
loved you. l still appreciate your rare
lovslincss, and, better still, your many
excellencics of mind and heart but our
affections are beyond our control; and, =,
much as there is admirable about you,
l no longer love you. At first l deter
mined never to acquaint you with the
change in my sentiments, but I shrank
from lifetime of deceit. l could not
at the altar perjure myself by taking
those solemn vows, and | knew, too,
that you would spurn the offered hand
without tho heart accompanied it. ]
have done very wrong in hastily enter
ing upon our engagement without :
proper knowledge of my own true feel
ings towards you. was charmed b,
your beauty, dazzled BY your wit, anc
attracted by your virtue l mistook th'
whirl of emotions l felt for love. Blu
it is better for me to acknowledge m,
fault, than to commit q sin in leadin,
you to the altar while my heart is an
others. Forgive mo and forget me-
Farewell, and may you soon find SOM
one more worthy of your love than you
friend, (if you will still allow me t.
claim that titls,)
Louis MEREDITH
Every particle of color forsook Bea
trioe's cheeks as she read-her lips wer
white, her hands trembled 50 yiolentl
she could scarcely hold the letter,
death like faintness stole over her, ant
she sank into chair and buried her fac
in her hands.
Not tear, not moan escaped her
she sat there in silence, motionlsss as
statue, but in her heart what whirl
wind of emotions was raging! How
long she sat thsrs she hardly knew =
when at last she looked up, the twiligh
was deepening, and she rose with star
from her seat. Her countenance wOr
the traces Of her suffering she looks'
haggard and wan; the agony Of thos
few hours had changed her fcarfully, bu
her eyes flashed with all their usual fire
and her lips were firmly compressed to
gsthcr. She drew herself up proudly
as if she dispissd herself for her weak
ness, crushed tho letter, which had fall
en- from her trembling fingers, contemp,
; uously under foot, and then picked
, up with look of disgust, as if it ha
: been some loathsome thing, and putin
on her hat and shawl, she walked 6rml
out of the room.
She went rapidly on till she reache
, low, white cottage; she entered j
: and passed quickly through the itt
i, sitting room to her own apartment
Here she took from an inlaid box pacl
r ago of letters, and adding that she ha
Q last received to the number, she hasti
r collected every memento, however trii
: ing, which had been the gift of Lou
: Meredith, and placed them securely t
: gether in readiness to return to him.
: Then carefully arranging her toilet, 81
s returned to the sitting room. An o
d lady dressed with scrupulous nicsty, "
= its only occupant she was quietly kni
= ting. The table was spread for Il
evenings meal, and she had evident
% been waiting for her daughters return
d You are late tonight, Beatric,
|, she said, but l suppose Louis can
n for you to 90 to walk. 1t is so fooli
e to take such unreasonable hours for
d walks. Tea has been waiting this hi
a hour
m Il am sorry to have kept you waiti
J; mother returned her daughters silvc
voice but those long walks willItrou
ye le you no longer. Louis Meredith al
I, l are parted forever
1 The old lady dropped her knittil
ut work in her lap, and looked at b