• 1 - 71-1-
11
1 11 7 Th
I 4,t
1
[v 4
osl
- .1- PP N A
_ L
! ; . 2 .
•
,
1
r
- -
DtbottU to erittrat kittelltacttrc, ant Mang, ;politico, Aitcratttrc, Itioratitg, arto, Acienteo, agriculture, Sinuotinent,. tic.
*Q7coll. El a li:Tco. €OBl3.
Pt'IILISIIED
THEODORE H. CREMER.
The "Jouurcu." will be published every Wed
nesday morning, at $2 00 a year, if paid in advance,
and if not paid within mix months, $2 50.
No subscription received for a shorter period than
six months, nor any paper discontinued till all ar
reamges are paid.
Advertisements not exceeding one square, will be
inserted three times for $1 00, and for every subse
quent insertion 25 cents. If no definite orders are
given as to the time an advertisement is to be continu
ed, it will be kept in till ordered out, and charged ac
cordingly.
MICKIMLLA.NMOTTEJ.
'From the Culambia Magazine.
VINCENT H ERVEY;
Oa Tim MAN or xrartrzam.
Br TILE AUTILOIL OF "A NEW HOME," &C.
A few months after I left college, I quitted my
native place with the intention of trying what could
be bought with a large fortune which had become
mine by the untimely death of a kind father and
uncle. My guardians had given up their charge,
and though I exulted in the thought of my own
competency to take care of myself. I was not in
sensible of an occasional totterishness, such as a
child may feel on first leaving off his go cart and
leading-strings. 'With that listlessness which is
sometimes the result of having plenty of money, I
sought amusement which should not interfere with
my love of reverie. I hated dissippation, and scor
ned many modes of killing time much in vogue
among young men of my own class. They voted
me an odd fellow, and left me to myself. My head
was full of romance, and yet when one of my
guardians advised me to fall in love, I determined
that should be the very last thing I would do. A
commonplace courtship and marriage, to set out in
life with, would be putting the denouement of a
novel on the first page. I resolved to see much of
this fair world, and study most narrowly the fairest
portion of its inhabitants, before I would hazard
my liberty by a particular interest in any one of
them.
I must remind the reader that I was not city bred,
to account for the fact that I was a devout believer
in friendship. Against this best solace of life I
had prepared no shield ; but rather sought an occa
sion when I might win some kindred soul to a bro
• -therhood with which the ties of blood could hear
no comparison. I felt ready to pour manly life for
such a Pylades, and) I did not doubt I should find
some one equally willing to be all in all to me. I
did not consult my guardians on this subject, for I
, had an intuitive premonition that they would not
,Ir
agree with me; but I was none the less resolved to
shape my course after my own views. I rather
avoided than sought society, sure that I should ne
ver meet, in that unmeaning sound, the friend whose
regard was to form the happiness of my life.
I was standing on the wharf one afternoon, just
as the steamboat was leaving for Albany. I enjoyed
, the animating bustle; I looked at the gay, busy,
146 ..jinxioua passengers, and left something like envy of
their happiness as I saw the boat in motion, and se
veral of the crowd on shore waving hats and hand-
kerchiefs in adieu. At this moment a young man
of most preposessing appearance came running
along Greenwich street with a valise in his hand.
When he reached the wharf he called anxiously for
a barge to take him to the steamer, and throwing
his valise into one which happened to be ready, ho
sprang in himself with an expression of satisfaction.
I could not resist a moment longer the desire I felt
• to go too, and I was on the deck of the steamer be
fore I recollected that I was wholly unprepared for
a journey. This, however, was a matter of small
moment, and I soon became interested in the busy
scene around me, and above all in the gentleman
whose countenance and manner had impressed me
so favorably. He appeared two or three years older
teen myself, and the few words which escaped him
Ave flew along in the barge satisfied me that. ho
as at least well bred. The rest I took for granted.
1 had one or two acquaintances on board, but they
liad never seen my hero before, and wondered at the
.....r
'interest which I expressed in him. I sat down on
deck in musing mood, hoping that some accidental
circumstance would serve to open some communi
cation with the stranger, when he approached, and
with some slight remark, seated himself near me.
' This mode of making an acquaintance would no
i .. •
• i Yeti-, I believe, have occurred to my formal college
,brain ; but the ice once broken, I was more and
pow pleased with my new friend, who conversed
4 )titlf fluency, touching on a variety of subjects, and
land ling them well, taking care,however, to allow me
full share of the conversation with a polite de
uce• which was not a little flattering to my van
, .
' , he tea bell disturbed us, but an hour later found
y T
j its pacing the deck arm in arm, and until midnight
we continued to enjoy the moonlight together. It
',as late when I awoke the next morning, and the
L : , .mer was nearing the wharf at Albany. I sought
t my new friend, whose name on the card ho gave
i I . , me was Henry Errington, and we agreed to take
li lodgings together.
We landed and were making our muddy way up
Market street when a rough looking matt called my
c ompanion aside. In another moment I saw him
in the hands of a brace of constables, who expree.
'led no small exultation at having secured him. I
wildered ; but my consternation WWI complete
(_?„ UDaa..
when I felt myself arrested also in the character of
cite of the gang.' In vain I protested the inno
cence of both—introduced my companion as Mr.
Errington, and handed my own card to the men of
law; they laughed at all I could say, and insisted
on our going with them quietly. One of them, by
way of satisfying himself and the bystanders that
he was not mistaken, took a dirty paper from his
pocket, and read a description which he declared
fitted me to a hair.
'Six feet high,' said he, glancing up at me, for
he was a little, stunted figure of a man, 'rather
slightly made; hair dark brown, very handsome
teeth, and piercing black eyes; white slender hands,
and every appearance of a gentleman. He folded
up the paper and looked about him wills an air of
complacency, saying, ' I think I'm about right—go
it, my tine fellows! we'll have the rest pretty soon!'
MI situation was awkard enough. My own ac
quaintances had all left the steamer before us, and
there was no ono present who could identify me.—
I requested that Mr.-E., naming one of the first
men in the city, might be sent for.
A clear fetch,' said my tormentor, 'but it won't
do, Mr. Smoothlongue. If you want to see Mr. E.
he may come after we get you safe under lock and
key, so come along !'
I began myself to think this the wisest course,
for a crowd was gathering, and our situation was
becoming more conspicuous every moment. I wal
ked on quietly, therefore, and, as we turned a cor
ner, looked my companion in misfortune in the face
for the first time since this unpleasant scene com
menced. Our eyes met, and his were instantly cast
on the ground. My heart still yearned toward him,
and I was disposed to believe him as innocent as
myself, when we met Mr. E. and another friend of
my father's. They were passing mo without a re
cognition, but I stretched out my hand and arrested
their progress.
'Ala! Hervey ! how are you? then looking at
my companions, and noticing my agitated counte
nance—glow in the name of common sense came
you here, and in such company?
In spite of myself, tears of bitter mortification
sprang to my eyes, and my throat seemed to swell
almost to bursting, as I explained the circumstances
of my situation. And when I found myself at lib
erty, and quietly walking home with Mr. E. the re
collection that I had been taken in close compan
ionship with the notorious sharper S—, hum
bled me beyond measure. At least,' said I, in my
inmost soul, here is one lesson which will never
need to be repeated!'
I remained in Albany only long enough to pro
cure clothes and money from New York, and then
set out for Niagara, hoping to be able to leave my
mortified pride behind me. The charming aspect
of the country at the most delightful of all seasons,
and the many amusing incidents of a stage journey,
(for at that distant day railroads had not as yet
winged our flight to the Falls,) gradually dissipated
the vividness of my recollections, and I had regain
ed something of my natural cheerfulness when we
arrived at Buffalo.
I was waiting for the carriage which was to con
vey me to the Falls, when I saw alighting from
another, which had just driven up, a lady and gen
tleman. The lady was, as I decided at once,young
probably, from her form ; beautiful, certainly, from
the thickness of her veil; as certainly contme it
foot from the delicacy of her foot and ankle and
the faultless chaussure. The gentleman was forty,
perhaps; possibly her father--more probably her
uncle—this was quite settled in my mind before
they were fairly seated in the private parlor to
which they were ushurcd with obsequious civility
by the lacqueys of the establishment. I longed for
a peep at the face, merely for curiosity's sake, to
see if my sagacious prognosis had been correct; but
I watched in vain. My carriage drove up, and my
baggage was strapped behind it, when the lady and
her companion came out as if for a - walk through
the town. Take off the trunks,' said Ito the ser
vant; I have changed my mind. Ish not go
to Niagara to-night.'
Yerywell, sir!' said the man, tryin,„ ok as
if it was all very natural, though, automaton as lie
was, that seemed difficult.
Go in the morning, sir?'
'Yes—no--I don't know,'—l said, following
with my eyes the retreating forms of the objects of
my new mania. The waiter's eyes followed mine.
'They're going back, sir: they've been to the
Falls a whole week. Queer to stop—and he dis
appeared, leaving me to walk up the street after the
lady and gentleman.
I had not walked far when I met them returning.
I The veil was now thrown back, and I saw a coun
tenance beautiful even beyond any romantic imagi
nings. As they passed I heard the sweet tones
which should ever belong to such a face saying—
' We must travel very dilligently to reach N. York
before the sailing of the packet. This is the third,
and wo ought to be in town a day or two before wo
sail.
That I heard all this in the legitimate way, that
one catches a word or two in the street, I dare not
affirm. I believe my pace must have been slack
ened as I passed those blue eyes, at least as much
as politeness warranted.
But what will the reader think of the idea that
planted itself in my own brain on hearing those few
words I I believe my Albany resolutions must
have slipped my memory at the moment, for I hes.
hated not an instant to resolve upon a voyage to
England.
Now as I could not conveniently cross tho ocean
without some slight preparation, my resolution was
no sooner taken than I prepared to set out on any
return to the city. A stage going eastward was at
the door of the hotel when I returned, and without
waiting for another look at the fair face which had
so stricken me, I caused my luggage to be put on,
and placed myself on the only vacant scat. As we
were about to start, the face came to a window al
most level with that of the stage.
A good looking girl, that !' said a poesy old fel
low at my side, as he was putting a great woollen
shawl about his neck.
I looked at him witheringly, and before I could
turn my head again we were olt
I scarcely spoke during the journey to Albany;
and, while waiting there for the departure of the
steamer, I carefully avoided the sight of my friends
whose questions and remarks I dreaded. I had
reasoned myself into a full conviction that there
could be no imprudence in my present course. I
was old enough to travel: I had nothing to prevent
me; why should I not go in the next packet as well
as any other? Yet I did not quite like the idea of
discussing the matter with those prudent old gen
tlemen who felt an interest in me for my father's
sake.
As to the lady, I did not mean to seek her ac
quaintance without first ascertaining who she was,
and I was quite sure that I could accomplish this
before the sailing of the packet. All this I had
said over to myself a thousand times during my si
lent transit between Buffalo and Albany, though I
cannot deny that I had some doubts as to my pru
dence being as evident to other people as I tried to
make it to myself.
My first night on board the steamer was not a very
tranquil one. The hurry of my spirits kept me
walking the deck until very late, and bforc daylight
I was awakened by the noise and trampling upon
deck occasioned by the boat's having grounded in a
part of the river which was then moro subject to
such casualties titan at present. We were near
Hudson, and most of the passengers were put on
shore, anxious to reach the city and soon filling
every conveyance then procurable.
I had, through some accident, been among the
last to quit the steamer, and when I came on shore,
it was only to find that there was no carriage of any
description to be had, so that I was obliged to return
to the water and wait till fate should stir our vessel
or send us another.
This occasioned a delay of some hours, during
which my impatient soul threatened to make its es
cape from my body, so much did I fear this unto
ward accident might hinder my departure in the
packet. At length another boat took us off, and I
trod the deck with a feeling of happiness which is
worth something in this dull world, delighted with
having found a speedy conveyance to the city.—
But how was this feeling heightened whets I saw,
standing at the door of the ladies cabin the very
people who were uppermost in my thoughts. I
could scarcely restrain my feet from springing to
ward them, and the start of surprise which I could
not repress would scarcely have passed unnoticed
anywhere but in that crowd.
The next moment the bright vision disappeared,
and neither the lady or,her father came out to tea.
One of the maids came out for a cup of tea, and I
watched for the name which she might mention to
the captain, but it escaped me. I asked the captain
as soon as I could find un opportunity.
' Tea !' said he, ' I forget—oh ! it was Mrs. Pot
finger, an old lady that I'-but I did not listen any
longer.
Sleep was banished from my eyes that night, and
the next morning, when I had seen the lady and
her attendant get into a plain private carriage,l
proceeded to my guardian's, he was struck with the
paleness of my countenance.
, You seem really ill, Vincent,' said ho, you must
take something and go to bed at once.'
His surprise, when I expressed my intention of
sanity for England in the next packet, was indee
cribee. He tried to argue me into waiting a fort
night or so, but finding this in vain, ho made no
serioytt objection, but quietly and kindly sat about
expediting my preparations. With all the aid I
nd, however, it proved somewhat of an un
and I had not a moment to spare when I
d a steamer which was to take the packet's
passengert down the bay. Once on her deck, I
awaited TIM unspeakable anxiety the arrival of
my fair incognita. She came not, and I began to
feel that if she should not come at all my faith in
the wisdom of my course would be considerably
diminished. But at the last moment a carriage
drove furiously down the street, and from it alighted
the objects of my solicitude. They were accompa
nied by a lady and gentleman whom I knew very
well, but alas ! they took leave of their friends on
the wharf, so that there was no opportunity for the
introduction Iso ardently desired. This was soon
forgotten, however; in a packet ono gets along with
, nut these formalities. Our run down the bay was
delightful, and I felt supremely happy. Smile not,
reader, if I confess that for a few delicious hours I
felt as if an introduction--a chance—was all that
was necessary. After all ray misgivings to be so
completely secure of the society of this lovely being
for weeks—to be, as it were, domesticated with her
—it was intoxicating! I felt as if site were already
all my own.
When we reached the vessel, amid all the hustle
and confusion—shaking bends and promising to
write—counting trunks and scolding porters—l
alone was calm and unmoved. One idea was
enough for toe. I stood with folded arms looking
over the vessel's side, leaving the care of everything
to a servant whom I had engaged the day before.
We were under way—we sat down to dinner,
and my heart was beating a not very comfortable
tattoo as the passengers, singly or in parties appear
ed and took their seats. By and by the gentleman
appeared but not the lady. As the scats for the
whole voyage were then drawn for, one wan reser
ved next her protector. I listened for the name,
but the distance and confusion were too much even
for my quickened hearing. I swallowed some jin
ner and went to my berth, needing repose as much
as ever man did. Nature took her revenge and I
awoke not until near breakfast time next morning.
Nearly all the passengers were seated nt the table,
when the pale, sickly looking, companion of the blue
eyed beauty made his appearaee. I was passing
near the captain when I heard him say to this gen
tleman 'Will ^.ot Mrs. Russell breakfast with us
sir V
If on avalanche had descended upon me I could
scarcely have been more completely crushed. I
recollect distinctly the first shock—the instant the
conviction that the object of my mad pursuit
was n wire—and the effort on my part to
step forward to my scat at the table—but that's
all. The exhaustion consequent upon the ex
citement of the last few days made me powerless
under the blow, and I fell on the floor senseless.
When I recovered I was on deck—all were gath
ered around mound the hand of my beautiful destroy
er held the vinaigrette which had been the means of
recalling my sent ei. At sight of her the blood
rushed to my face. Ah he revives !' said the sweet
voice which had once and only once before met my
ear.
I was carried to my berth, where I suirered from
the violence of contending feelings more than can pos
sibly be conceived by those whose feelings are under
reasonable control. In addition to all came sea
sickness—alike intolerable to the fool and philoso
pher. I wished for death a thousand times, but
death would not come ; and after a week or ten
days I was able to walk on deck again, although
still very weak.
I was thrown continually into the society of Mr.
and Mrs. Russell, and every day felt my danger
more and more forcibly. I, with my principles in
love with a mauled woman! the thought filled
me with horror. Yet the delirium had gone too
far to be lightly cured.
Oh ! how bitterly did I then regret my wild lire
cipitancy ! yet my principles had not forsaken me.
I had the fortitude to shun the civility of the inno
cent creature and her unsuspecting husband. I
declined many kindly meant invitations from them,
prompted no doubt by their pity fix the invalid, to a
game of chess or a walk on tho deck. They tees
red me as a sick man, and that I hail really become.
My spirits and appetite were gone—the violence of
unschooled feeling were destroying me. My most
constant wish was that I might fly from associations
so fatal to my peace.
Mr. Russell had been constantly unwell, and
seemed declining. Ono day its coming up stairs
rather too quickly, he was seized with a violent fit
of coughing which ended in the breaking of a blood
vessel. At the alarm which was instantly given,
Mrs. Russell tlew to the spot; and at the sight of
her husband covered with blood, also fainted, and
would have fallen if I had not received her to my
arms. For ono moment I held her there, the very
next I placed her in those of the person who stood
next me, and rushed down into the solitary cabin,
where I endeavored to subdue the strange agitation
of my mind. Mr. Russell was brought down and
laid on a mattress, the surgeon insisting upon abso
lute silence, and leading away the weeping wife
lest the sight of her distress should agitate duo suf
ferer. In a short time she returned, and seating
herself by the side of her husband's couch watched
Ihim with immoveable eyes and a calmness which
was evidently the ellbct of the most determined self
command. I felt that I could have exchanged
places with the dying Russell to appropriate that
gaze
. . . _
not inclined to add myself to their number. FeCI-
A few days relieved our apprehensions of present dog my situation unpleasant, I had resolved upon
I changing my quarters, when seine symptoms of the
clanger, but it was evident to all that Russell could
never recover. Ho wasted doe by day, and con- thickening of the plot induced me to wait a little, in
'
stant watchfulness and anxiety produced a scarcely 1 merepity for the poor widowed mother, whose
less obvious change in his wife's appearance. she blind ambition was about to be rewarded by the
was pale and feeble; her once clear voice, tremu-
utter ruin of her only child.
lous, and her eyes sad and sunken, retained scarce 1 Things were in thin state when I was awakened
a trace of their natural lustre. When we landed ,at three o'cock in the morning by a noise in the pae
at Liverpool where I ascertained that the Russell's ,sage. There was no lodger beside myself, and the
were entire strangers, I began to persuade my eon- , house was usually very quiet. Mndarne Lauvergue
science that it would ho inhuman to leave them I had spent the evening before with Miss Enfield, and
without a friend on whom to depend for those ser- , I had observed that they retired for the night to
vices which money cannot buy. But I could not I eether, instead of Madame returning to her todg
allow the sophistry of love to vanquish my better ' ings as usual. I :lad been convinced that some
judgment. Whatever aid they might require ought I thing was in contemplation, and the moment I was
to be rendered by any ens rather than myself; tine, , awakened by the sound near my chamber door, I
this conviction was so strong upon are that as soon , arose, and dressing myself as speedily as possible.
n . I h a d scan them es t a bli,h e d i n comfortable guar- , issued forth with is determination to ascertain
tern I tore myselfaway. 1 whether common robbers only were concerned, or
Mrs. Russell's marriage with a man so much 01-that far more cruel wretch whose movements I had
i been watching for some time.
der than herself was one of those things which
, naturally excite some remark, and it was net long Three were whispers on the stairs above me—a
after our partirig at Liverpool that it happened to bo 1 consultation, probably, as to the very slight sound
the subject of conversation in a company of amen- , ...I. in opening my door ; but the debate seethed
cans whom I met in London. There I learned that , satisfactory, for in a few moments two men, bearing
disparity in ago was not so great as it appeared,
I a heavy trunk, and with thcin the noble Baron ho!-
Mr. Russell having become prematurely old through ! ding it lantern, appeared at the turtling of the stairs.
ill health. He had been the guerdimr of Flo-
i The moment the light flashed upon my free, the
rence Ainslie, and although while he had charge of
I Baron, with u deep curse, tired his ready pistol.—
her fortune he had lost his own by the dishonesty
1 the window which opened on the street and had
The ball missed me, and in another instant I was at
1
of a partner, he not only preserved . hers, but mane -
god to increase it materially. H given the alarm. It was scarcely rive minutes from
and great kindness to herself so won upon her is noble character I
gen . ! the time when I hail the satisfaction of seeing not only
titude, that when she perceived his health to be the inferio ragents, but the Baron himself in the
sinking under the influence of disappointment and , charge of the police.
vexation, she offered herself and her fortune at his To deacrihi , the home scene, however, is beyond
seaplane& Mr. Buren refused to avail himself of my power. At the sound of the pistol, the tidal,
her generosity until after a year spent by Florence
in society suited to her youth and her fortune. At
the end of that time they were married ; and it was
on their wedding tour that I had first seen them.--
I remained but a few days in London, for the feel
ing that I was waiting to hear of the death of poor
Russell, a man whom I highly esteemed, weighed
heavily upon my sense of right, and I feared that
from waiting I should ere long fall into wishing.—
So I set out for the continent, resolved to fly, if pos
sible, from my former ungoverned self, and hope
from time the wisdom which I had as yet failed to
gather from experience. My tour of Europe was a
mere ramble. Forsaking the beaten track, I so
journed wherever a wayward fancy could find a
momentary interest. I roamed_ through Syrian
forests, peeped at the seraglio, danced wills a Rus
sian belle at an imperial fete at St. Petersburg!),
spent a whole summer among the hills of Sweden,
and, at the end of all, found myself once more in
Paris, the centre of the travelling world. Here hay
ing no intention of mingling in gay society, I took
private lodgings in the family of an English lady of
I reduced fortune, who was obliged to eke out a slen
der income by the only means in her power.
In the course. of a quiet winter which I spent
here I had frequent opporturities to befriend my
hostess Mrs. Enfield in matters connected with her
pecuniary atiiiirs; and this naturally excited a feel
ing of mutual interest. This lady had one daugh
ter, a young girl who was ut a convent in Paris for
her education. While I remained at Mrs. Enfield's
the daughter came home thoroughly accomplished
in all that Paris thinks neceseary for a young lady,
and endowed besides with a handsome face, and
such grcce of manner as is sure to be found attractive
to most men whose hearts are not pre-occupied us
mine was. Upon this girl, her sole pride and hope,
Mrs. Enfield had lavished every thing she could
command, and far more than she could afford ; and
from the extreme attention and expense bestowed
upon Miss Adelaide's dress it was evidently inten
' ded that she should make her fortune by marriage.
Those things aro well understood in Paris and Lon
don whatever may be the case nearer home.
It was not long before Miss Enfield Kogan to be
surrounded by admirers, and among them I obser
ved very frequently a person whom I had met at the
German baths—a man who had made the worst
possible impression upon me, and between whom
and myself there had seemed front the first to be a
natural repulsion. He was handsome and fash
ionable, and moved in the society of people of rank ;
but there are black-lees even among princes, and it
Was among the nobility (l) of this character that I
lied seen Baron Von Kohl. He became very earn
eat in his pursuit of Miss Enfield, and else seemed
as much flattered by his attentions that I began se
riously to fear for her welfare. I felt thoroughly
convinced of the unworthiness of the man, and yet
when I began to search my recollections, for speci
fic facto, I found myself utterly at a loss for any
thing which I could properly bring forward in or
der to put Mrs. Enfield on her grand. There was
a French woman too who professed great friendship
for the family, who was evidently in Von Kohl's
interest; au that I felt obliged to proceed very cau
tiously, enough determined riot to see the poor girl
sacrificed without at least an efihrt to save her.
I had an acquaintance at Baden who was one
of the know4veryliorly-thet-is anahodll sort of peri
-1 plc, and to hint I resolved to apply for some in-sight
into the history of our Baron—asking first about all
the rest attic world, and bringing Monsieur le Bar
on in with en apropos at the close. In reply to this
epistle I received rifler some two or three weeks
delay, a weighty hacquet giving a year's tittle-tattle
of Baden, and a full length portrait of the Baron,
drawn in darker colors than even my prejudices had
employed. 'lle has at least three wives; conclu
ded my informant, but his barronesses gave hen
no sort of trouble, since lie understands the matter
too well ever to endow one of them with a legal
hold on !dm.'
With this Authority in my hand I went to Mrs.
Enfield, and, with as much delicacy and caution as
possible, gave her what I had gathered respecting a
pewit who woe evidently in determined pursuit of
her daughter. If I had expected gratitude for my
interference. I should pare been sadly disappointed.
Sic received my comniunicationwith a Fort offoreed
politeness, and in reply to my protestations of friend
ship (of the truth of which rho had received some
substantiel testimonials) she coolly insinuated that
young gentlemen sometimes thought themselves ve
ry dwinterested,when in fact they were far otherwiqe.
The truth was, the good lady's pride, a prominent
or rather leading trait in her character, had been
gratified with the eclat a the Baron's attentions ;
and she had such an unbounded opinion of her
daughter's attractions that she could not believe it
possible they could be viewed with indifference.
The Baron visited Miss Enfield as before, but
saw that I had made enemies of not only the scoun
drel himself; but of Madame Lauvergue, ramie de
la maim, and even of the fair Adelaide, who had
been taught to look upon me as a more of a dog in
the manger, bent upon keeping off suitors, though
WLRaQ)Ueti)
tunate Adelaide, dressed as for a journey, had flown
to the apot, and although the whole incident occur
red with such suddenness that it seemed, a moment
after, as if nothing had happened, the effect was
dreadful. While Adelaide lay on the floor in stong
hysterics, a loud scream from the attendant in her
mother's room announced that Mrs. Enfield had
been seized with a fit. Medical attendance was
procured instantly, and Miss Enfield was recalled
to herself by the shock of her mother's danger; but
it soon becsme evident that to Mrs. Enfield the
event was about to prove fatal. She recovered only
far enough to make the most agonizing attempt to
speak, and before noon the next day breathed her
last, leaving her unhappy daughter as desolate a
creature as the sun ever shone upon.
Throughout this whole scene Madame 'Auverg
ne had taken a very activo part, and poor Adelaide
appeared to be completely under her influence.—
In spite of my conviction that I had done the best
that circumstances permitted, my position was a
very painful one, and Madame ("Auvergne took
care to heighten the impression by various hints
and regrets as to my unfortunate inteference.—
She said that the Baron would have been very
soon at liderty to acknowledge the marriage, and
that he had reason to depend on gaining Mrs. En
field's forgiveness for the step he was about to
take. I bore all, however, resolved to leave noth
ing undone which kindness could demand; and
after the funeral of Mrs. Enfield I attended to the
settlement of her affairs as if she had been my own
mother. In the course of this I discovered that af
ter all debts were paid, Adelaide would be without
a sous, and also that she had not a relative in the
world to whom to look fur aid or countenance.
I shall not dwell upon this part of my history.—
The issue of the affair was my offering marriage to
Adelaide Enfield though on looking back I could
scarcely tell how even the finesse of Madame
Lauvergue brought thin about. I must do poor
Adelaide the justice to say, however, that she was
not easily persuaded to accept me. She became
fully convinced . of the unworthiness of Von Kohl,
but she did not conceal that the utter loneliness of
her situation and the helpless delicacy which had
been the result of her education, influenced her in
receiving my proposals. So that my marriage was
arranged with a rational coolness which was the
very last thing to have been anticipated for the ro
mantic and passionate boy who had crossed tho
ocean in a love•dream only two years before.
hives my wish to return at once to America,
and to this my wife did not object ; but she made
it a point that Madame /Auvergne should be in
vited to accompany her. To this, in on evil hour
I consented, moved by pity for the sadness which
seemed fixed upon the once gay Adelaide. This
woman, all smiles and smoothness, proved an ab
solute thorn in my side. Her ascendency over my
wife increased every day ; her voice decided every
question, and if I ventured to demur, a hint from
Madame Lauvergue that it would be necessary for her
to return to France was always sufficient to throw
Adelaide into the depths of depression for dap! to
gether. My wife win a thorough Parisian, and she
clung to Nladawe Lauvergue as the only relic left
to her of Paradise.
Ti do W. a sort of bondage that I could not
bear any longer. Though willing to go to the
last extreme required by kindness, I was not dis
posed to submit to absolute imposition, and I re
solved, at the risk of a scene, even a 'succession of
scenes, to take su early opportunity of signifying
to Madame Lauvergke that I was prepared to find
an escort for her in the next Havre pocket.
I had not long to wait. It was but a few days
after the formation of my resolution that Madame
undertook the otlice of arguing with one, very pa
thetically, on the cruelty of having grieved Ade
laide by omitting something which Madame Lau
vergue had decided to be necessary. I avoided
getting angry by having made up my mind before
hand ; but the decision with which I insisted upon
Madame Lauvergue's departure seemed to give
a new view of my character toboth my wife and
her friend. Adelaide. awed by my determined
firmness, submitted almost without resistance; and
th is tameness on her part was highly resented by
Madame Lativergn e, who exhibited on the occasion
of her dismissal. all the malice of her intriguing
character. The steamer which conveyed her to
the ship brought me buck a letter, in which Mad
ame Lauvergue assured me that my wife had never
ceased to love Von Kohl, and concluded with an
insinuation that the infant to whose birth I was
looking forward with so much interest would
probably have a claim only upon my charity.
Thts envenomed scrawl I determined to treat
with the contempt which I was convinced it mer
ited, and full of thisidea I put it at once into my
wife's hands, in order to show her how utterly des
picsble I considered it. But I was doomed, as it
would seem, to be misunderstood, for poor Ade
laide had no sootier glanced her eye over it than she
burst out into mourning and lamentation of her
wretched fate ; insisted that I suspected her, and so
agitated and distressed herself that she was taken
ill in a few hours, and in spite of all that could be
done by human skill and attention she lived only
a week after the departure of the ill-omened Mad
; ame Lauvergue.
! I passed a time of almost unmingled wretched
' ncss after this loss. In reviewing the past, the
consciousness of right intentions could not wipe
sway the feeling's of self-reproach. I perceived
that many things might have been better done ;
. . • . .
. _
I charged mvsdf with omissions, with mistakes',
bat above all , with my old besetting sin of impul
sive precipitancy. I saw that I had been wrong at
the very outset; asking only gratifiication when I
should have sought out duty. A sadder man I
certainly was, and I hope a wiser and better one, fur
thvsetrials and disappointments. The world no longer
scented to lOC like a garden laid out for my amuse
ment, but as a scene of serious effort, of self.diseip
lino, of .I:sacrifice, through which duty alone
opened a path to happiness.
It was long after this dark season that loncemom
met with Mr,. Russell. Shelves living quietly with
the aunt under whose care her early years had been
passed; and although : , he was no longer mourning
as a wider, she had let:tined the subdued and
I thoughtful character which best befits ono who
has tact with the greatest of all tones. To me,
1 with my changed views, this was a charm which
t more than compensated tor the absence of the daz
cling we,uu that first caught my boyish fancy : and
I congratulated myself that the lessons of life had
in seine measure fitted too to appreciate the excel
lence nhi ch had formerly been thrown Into the
shade by mere outward grace. I need not say that
I sought and won the hand of Florence Russell, for
all novel readers known full well that I should never
have thought my story worth the telling if I had
not been able to give it the crowning grace of a
supremely happy marriage.