Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-08-21

un IN moment !; it were, altogether vain, and
worse TO think of making successful resistance +;
Such, then, was the dilemma in which Hastings
found himself Nor was it any longer worth
while to deny it, an attachment, fostercd bv
every little kind office performed every glance
every word. by almost every circumstance of ev-
cry day life, was spfnging up-an incxorablc
duty.
At this juncturc, events which transpircd OPP
Grated to precipitate matters very considerably ;
nay bring them pretty decidedly to an issue
Hastings fell seriously ill., Now, OF all the pla-
ceS to be sick, the worst we arc told is on ship
board, where every lurch and leap of the reel
ing, staggering vessel wrings another pang from
the tortured victim, and where the constant mo-
uon affords never a respite for perfect and nat
ural reroSe. Thus circumStanced. haunted with
the loneliness Of his situation and rackcd with
pain, who, with all a mothers tenderness and
assiduity, administered to all his wants and ne
ccssities? Who, while others slept, through
the long wcarisomc watches of the night, watch
ed over him? Who. with her own hand, gave
HIM all ms medicines, smoothed his pillow, sup
ported his aching head, cooled his feversh brow
in the interims of his delirium, and counted as
days the doubtful moments of his recovery?-
Whose was this ever present sphit, this ever
constant heart, that thus so unexpectedly how
ers, Watches and waits about the sick bed of
this fricndless boy at sea Who would not love
1t, indeed Alas the power of kindness espec-
lally when its object is poor orphan boy, home
less and triendlesS, and the bcnciactor heauti-
ful woman. whose looks are full OF love. Ike
Marvel says, we can sometimes afford to be
sick, nay. covet it, for the very sympathy it
brings, especially when that sympathy was felt
and expressed i'll our behalf by the woman we
best love.
Ialn /. i
name Is indorsed in Heaven, while sick at Stoke
Newington. was not proof against the unrcmit-
ted kindness and devotion Of his landlady, Mrs.
Loidorci but long before fully restored to
health, had not only confessed his sincere at
tachment OF her. but though she was wcntv-fve
years his senior, offered her his hand as well as
his heart, and was accepted nor was it ever
known that he had the first occasion to repent
of the step he had taken We certainly, then.
shall not wonder to learn that long before the
Duke Of Grafton arrived at Madras, Hastings
was ayowcdly in love.
But this love, while it was strong. earnest
and deep, was not impetuous. Intent now.
since his heart was altogether engaged and as
he then felt. his happiness for life was at stake,
on realizing at any expense. or whatever sacri-
fee, the fruilion of his desires, he set about ma
turing scheme for the accomplishment, of this
object, with as calculating a mind and cool con-
sideraton OF ways and mcans as he had prcvi-
ously done for the REDEMPTION of his paiernal
estates The plan he in connection with his
mistress finally adopted was as follows -
lie would proceed immedia,elvto IN Bengal and
get re-establishcd in business while she wos to
institute a suit for divorce in some the courts
of Franconia. While thi, matter was nending
(which in all probability would be dprirg ~
or six vcarsl She wonld remain with bnr bus
band. as usual: but as soon as the morriogo
was dissolved. ne would make her his wife and
adopt the children which she had borne to her
husband.
Whatever view, in u strietl, moral sruse. We
may take Of these amours of Hastings. or hi,
mode Of working out his purpose. we can vet
but admire if not applaud the singular fidelity
with which he lived to fulfill all his vows. fulfil
TO letter this contract, the offer at once of pas
sion. yet of mature doliberation.
Fired nov with double ambition. to redeem
the home Of his fathers, and spend there, with
her whom he now loved better than his own
life his declining years, the evening of life he
now procecdedTt once TO engage himself in the
service of the East India Company, and applied
himself t. his pursuits with a devotion and de-
ciSion Of purpose that promised some success.
Nor was il long dcllvcd: commencing "a. frst