PREFACE ...............................................................................................................................................1

IMAGINATION......................................................................................................................................1

HEART.................................................................................................................................................37

CHAPTER I. .........................................................................................................................................37

CHAPTER II .........................................................................................................................................43

CHAPTER III........................................................................................................................................51

CHAPTER IV........................................................................................................................................58

CHAPTER V........................................................................................................................................63

WHEN the author of these little tales commenced them, it was her intention to form a short series of such

stories as, it was hoped, might not be entirely without moral advantage; but unforeseen circumstances have

prevented their completion, and, unwilling to delay the publication any longer, she commits them to the

world in their present unfinished state, without any flattering anticipations of their reception. They are

intended for the perusal of young women, at that tender age when the feelings of their nature begin to act on

them most insidiously, and when their minds are least prepared by reason and experience to contend with

"Heart" was intended for a much longer tale, and is unavoidably incomplete; but it is unnecessary to point out

defects that even the juvenile reader will soon detect. The author only hopes that if they do no good, her tales

"DOwrite to me often, my dear Anna!" said the weeping Julia Warren, on parting, for the first time since

their acquaintance, with the young lady whom she had honoured with the highest place in her affections.

"Think how dreadfully solitary and miserable I shall be here, without a single companion, or a soul to

converse with, now you are to be removed two hundred miles into the wilderness."

"Oh! trust me, my love, I shall not forget you now or ever," replied her friend, embracing the other slightly,

and, perhaps, rather hastily for so tender an adieu; at the same time glancing her eye on the figure of a youth,

who stood in silent contemplation of the scene. "And doubt not but I shall soon tire you with my

correspondence, especially as I more than suspect it will be subjected to the criticisms of Mr. Charles

Weston." As she concluded, the young lady curtisied to the youth in a manner that contradicted, by its

"Never, my dear girl!" exclaimed Miss Warren with extreme fervour. "The confidence of our friendship is

sacred with me, and nothing, no, nothing, could ever tempt me to violate such a trust. Charles is very kind

and very indulgent to all my whims, but he never could obtain such an influence over me as to become the

depositary of my secrets. Nothing but a friend, like yourself, can do that, my dear Anna."

"Never! Miss Warren," said the youth with a lip that betrayed by its tremulous motion the interest he took in

her speech"never includes a long period of time. But," he added with a smile of goodhumoured

pleasantry, "if admitted to such a distinction, I should not feel myself competent to the task of commenting on

"Yes," said Anna, with a little of the energy of her friend's manner, "you may with truth say so, Mr. Weston.

The imagination of my Julia is as pure asas" but turning her eyes from the countenance of Julia to

that of the youth, rather suddenly, the animated pleasure she saw delineated in his expressive, though plain

The last adieus were hastily exchanged, and Anna Miller was handed into her father's gig by Charles Weston

in profound silence. Miss Emmerson, the maiden aunt of Julia, withdrew from the door, where she had been

conversing with Mr. Miller, and the travellers departed. Julia followed the vehicle with her eyes until it was

hid by the trees and shrubbery that covered the lawn, and then withdrew to her room to give vent to a sorrow

that had sensibly touched her affectionate heart, and in no trifling degree haunted her lively imagination.

As Miss Emmerson by no means held the good qualities of the guest, who had just left them, in so high an

estimation as did her niece, she proceeded quietly and with great composure in the exercise of her daily

duties; not in the least suspecting the real distress that, from a variety of causes, this sudden separation had

The only sister of this good lady had died in giving birth to a female infant, and the fever of 1805 had, within

a very few years of the death of the mother, deprived the youthful orphan of her remaining parent. Her father

was a merchant, just commencing the foundations of what would, in time, have been a large estate; and as

both Miss Emmerson and her sister were possessed of genteel independencies, and the aunt had long declared

her intention of remaining single, the fortune of Julia, if not brilliant, was thought rather large than otherwise.

Miss Emmerson had been educated immediately after the war of the revolution, and at a time when the

intellect of the women of this country by no means received that attention it is thought necessary to bestow

on the minds of the future mothers of our families at the present hour; and when, indeed, the country itself

required too much of the care of her rulers and patriots to admit of the consideration of lesser objects. With

the best of hearts and affections devoted to the welfare of her niece, Miss Emmerson had early discovered her

own incompetency to the labour of fitting Julia for the world in which she was to live, and shrunk with timid

modesty from the arduous task of preparing herself, by application and study, for this sacred duty. The

fashions of the day were rapidly running into the attainment of accomplishments among the young of her own

sex, and the piano forte was already sending forth its sonorous harmony from one end of the Union to the

other, while the glittering usefulness of the tambourframe was discarded for the pallet and brush. The walls

of our mansions were beginning to groan with the sickly green of imaginary fields, that caricatured the

beauties of nature; and skies of sunny brightness, that mocked the golden hues of even an American sun. The

experience of Miss Emmerson went no further than the simple evolutions of the country dance, or the

deliberate and dignified procession of the minuet. No wonder, therefore, that her faculties were bewildered by

the complex movements of the cotillion: and, in short, as the good lady daily contemplated the improvements

of the female youth around her, she became each hour more convinced of her own inability to control, or in

any manner to superintend, the education of her orphan niece. Julia was, consequently, entrusted to the

government of a select boardingschool; and, as even the morals of the day were, in some degree, tinctured

with the existing fashions, her mind as well as her manners were absolutely submitted to the discretion of an

hireling. Notwithstanding this willing concession of power on the part of Miss Emmerson, there was no

deficiency in ability to judge between right and wrong in her character; but the homely nature of her good

sense, unassisted by any confidence in her own powers, was unable to compete with the dazzling display of

accomplishments which met her in every house where she visited; and if she sometimes thought that she

could not always discover much of the useful amid this excess of the agreeable, she rather attributed the

deficiency to her own ignorance than to any error in the new system of instruction. From the age of six to that

of sixteen, Julia had no other communications with Miss Emmerson than those endearments which neither

could suppress, and a constant and assiduous attention on the part of the aunt to the health and attire of her

{fever of 1805 = New York City had suffered a major epidemic of yellow fever in the summer of 1805;

Miss Emmerson had a brother residing in the city of NewYork, who was a man of eminence at the bar, and

who, having been educated fifty years ago, was, from that circumstance, just so much superior to his

successors of his own sex by twenty years, as his sisters were the losers from the some cause. The family of

Mr. Emmerson was large, and, besides several sons, he had two daughters, one of whom remained still

unmarried in the house of her father. Katherine Emmerson was but eighteen months the senior of Julia

Warren; but her father had adopted a different course from that which was ordinarily pursued with girls of her

expectations. He had married a woman of sense, and now reaped the richest blessing of such a connexion in

her ability to superintend the education of her daughter. A mother's care was employed to correct errors that a

mother's tenderness could only discover; and in the place of general systems, and comprehensive theories,

was substituted the close and rigorous watchfulness which adapted the remedy to the disease; which studied

the disposition; and which knew the failings or merits of the pupil, and could best tell when to reward, and

how to punish. The consequences were easily to be seen in the manners and character of their daughter. Her

accomplishments, even where a master had been employed in their attainment, were naturally displayed, and

suited to her powers. Her manners, instead of the artificial movements of prescribed rules, exhibited the

chaste and delicate modesty of refinement, mingled with good principlessuch as were not worn in order to

be in character as a woman and a lady, but were deeply seated, and formed part, not only of her habits, but, if

we may use the expression, of her nature also. Miss Emmerson had good sense enough to perceive the value

of such an acquaintance for her ward; but, unfortunately for her wish to establish an intimacy between her

nieces, Julia had already formed a friendship at school, and did not conceive her heart was large enough to

admit two at the same time to its sanctuary. How much Julia was mistaken the sequel of our tale will show.

So long as Anna Miller was the inmate of the school, Julia was satisfied to remain also, but the father of Anna

having determined to remove to an estate in the interior of the country, his daughter was taken from school;

and while the arrangements were making for the reception of the family on the banks of the Gennessee, Anna

was permitted to taste, for a short time, the pleasures of the world, at the residence of Miss Emmerson on the

{Gennessee = Genesee River, which flows north through central New York State to Lake Ontarioat the

Charles Weston was a distant relative of the good aunt, and was, like Julia, an orphan, who was moderately

endowed with the goods of fortune. He was a student in the office of her uncle, and being a great favourite

with Miss Emmerson, spent many of his leisure hours, during the heats of the summer, in the retirement of

Whatever might be the composure of the maiden aunt, while Julia was weeping in her chamber over the long

separation that was now to exist between herself and her friend, young Weston by no means displayed the

same philosophic indifference. He paced the hall of the building with rapid steps, cast many a longing glance

at the door of his cousin's room, and then rested himself with an apparent intention to read the volume he held

in his hands; nor did he in any degree recover his composure until Julia reappeared on the landing of the

stairs, moving slowly towards their bottom, when, taking one long look at her lovely face, which was

glowing with youthful beauty, and if possible more charming from the traces of tears in her eyes, he coolly

pursued his studies. Julia had recovered her composure, and Charles Weston felt satisfied. Miss Emmerson

and her niece took their seats quietly with their work at an open window of the parlour, and order appeared to

be restored in some measure to the mansion. After pursuing their several occupations for some minutes with a

"You appear to have something new in hand, my love. Surely you must abound with trimmings, and yet you

"I was in hopes you would perform your promise to your cousin Katherine, now Miss Miller is gone, and

make your portion of the garments for the Orphan Asylum," returned Miss Emmerson gravely.

"Oh! cousin Katherine must wait. I promised this trimming to Anna to remember me by, and I would not

"It is not your cousin Katherine, but the Orphans, who will have to wait; and surely a promise to a relation is

"Acquaintance, aunt!" echoed the niece with displeasure. "Do not, I entreat you, call Anna an acquaintance

"Oh! I mean nothing disrespectful to yourself, dear aunt," continued Julia. "You know how much I owe to

"Surely not in respect, in gratitude, in obedience; but still I may love her, you know. Indeed, the feelings are

so very different, that they do not at all interfere with each otherin my heart at least."

"No!" said Miss Emmerson, with a little curiosity"I wish you would try and explain this difference to me,

"Why, nothing is easier, dear aunt!" said Julia with animation. "You I love because you are kind to me,

attentive to my wants, considerate for my good; affectionate, andandfrom habitand you are my aunt,

"Admirable reasons!" exclaimed Charles Weston, who had laid aside his book to listen to this conversation.

"They are forcible ones I must admit," said Miss Emmerson, smiling affectionately on her niece; "but now for

"Why, Anna is my friend, you know," cried Julia, with eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I love her, because

she has feelings congenial with my own; she has so much wit, is so amusing, so frank, so like a girl of

"It is a pity that one so highly gifted cannot furnish herself with frocks," said the aunt, with a little more than

her ordinary dryness of manner, "and suffer you to work for those who want them more."

"You forget it is in order to remember me," said Julia, in a manner that spoke her own ideas of the value of

"One would think such a friendship would not require any thing to remind one of its existence," returned the

"Why! it is not that she will forget me without it, but that she may have something by her to remind her of

"I understand you perfectly, my child," interrupted the aunt, "merely as an unnecessary security, you mean."

"Oh! you laugh, Mr. Weston," said Julia with a little anger; "but I have often said, you were incapable of

"Can girls then only feel friendship?" inquired Charles, taking the seat which Miss Emmerson had

"I sometimes think so," said Julia, with her own goodhumoured smile. "You are too grosstoo

enviousin short, you never see such friendships between men as exist between women."

"Between girls, I will readily admit," returned the youth. "But let us examine this question after the manner of

"Certainly one so learned in the subject need not dread a crossexamination," cried the youth, in her own

"Well, proceed," cried the lady. "I have driven aunt Margaret from the field, and you will fare no better, I can

"Men, you say, are too gross to feel a pure friendship; in the first place, please to explain yourself on this

"Why I mean, that your friendships are generally interested; that it requires services and good offices to

"Then you think Miss Miller has more good qualities than Katherine Emmerson," said Weston.

"I infer it from your loving her better, merely," returned the young man with a little of Miss Emmerson's

"It would be difficult to compare them," said Julia after a moment's pause. "Katherine is in the world, and has

had an opportunity of showing her merit; that Anna has never enjoyed. Katherine is certainly a most excellent

girl, and I like her very much; but there is no reason to think that Anna will not prove as fine a young woman

"Pray," said the young lawyer with great gravity, "how many of these bosom, these confidential friends can a

"Why then did you find it necessary to take that one from a set, that was untried in the practice of welldoing,

"But Anna I know, I feel, is every thing that is good and sincere, and our sympathies drew us together.

"Surely, Charles Weston, you think me a simpleton. Does not every parent love its child by natural instinct?"

"No: no more than you love any of your amusements from instinct. If the parent was present with a child that

he did not know to be his own, would instinct, think you, discover their vicinity?"

"Certainly not, if they had never met before; but then, as soon as he knew it to be his, he would love it from

"It is a complicated question, and one that involves a thousand connected feelings," said Charles. "But all

love, at least all love of the heart, springs from the causes you mentioned to your auntgood offices, a

"Yes, and nature too," said the young lady rather positively; "and I contend, that natural lore, and love from

"Very different, I allow," said Charles; "only I very much doubt the durability of that affection which has no

"You use such queer terms, Charles, that you do not treat the subject fairly. Calling innate evidence of worth

"Now, indeed, your own terms puzzle me," said Charles, smiling. "What is innate evidence of worth?"

"Why, a conviction that another possesses all that you esteem yourself, and is discovered by congenial

"Upon my word, Julia, you are quite a casuist on this subject. Does love, then, between the sexes depend on

"Now you talk on a subject that I do not understand," said Julia, blushing; and, catching up the highly prized

work, she ran to her own room, leaving the young man in a state of mingled admiration and pity.

AN anxious fortnight was passed by Julia Warren, after this conversation, without bringing any tidings from

her friend. She watched, with feverish restlessness, each steamboat that passed the door on its busy way

towards the metropolis, and met the servant each day at the gate of the lawn on his return from the city; but it

was only to receive added disappointments. At length Charles Weston goodnaturedly offered his own

services, laughingly declaring, that his luck was never known to fail. Julia herself had written several long

epistles to Anna, and it was now the proper time that some of these should be answered, independently of the

thousand promises from her friend of writing regularly from every postoffice that she might pass on her

route to the Gennessee. But the happy moment had arrived when disappointments were to cease.

As usual, Julia was waiting with eager impatience at the gate, her lovely form occasionally gliding from the

shrubbery to catch a glimpse of the passengers on the highway, when Charles appeared riding at a full gallop

towards the house; his whole manner announced success, and Julia sprang into the middle of the road to take

"I knew I should be successful, and it gives me almost as much pleasure as yourself that I have been so," said

the youth, dismounting from his horse and opening the gate that his companion might pass.

"Thank youthank you, dear Charles," said Julia kindly. "I never can forget how good you are to mehow

much you love to oblige not only me, but every one around. Excuse me now, I have this dear letter to read

So saying, Julia ran into the summerhouse, and fastening its door, gave herself up to the pleasure of reading

a first letter. Notes and short epistles from her aunt, with divers letters from Anna written slyly in the

schoolroom and slipped into her lap, she was already well acquainted with; but of real, genuine letters,

stamped by the postoffice, rumpled by the mailbags, consecrated by the steamboat, this was certainly the

first. This, indeed, was a real letter: rivers rolled, and vast tracts of country lay, between herself and its writer,

and that writer was a friend selected on the testimony of innate evidence. It was necessary for Julia to pause

and breathe before she could open her letter; and by the time this was done, her busy fancy had clothed both

epistle and writer with so much excellence, that she was prepared to peruse the contents with a respect

bordering on enthusiasm: every word must be trueevery idea purity itself. That our readers may know how

accurately sixteen and a brilliant fancy had qualified her to judge, we shall give them the letter entire.

"Oh, Julia! here I am, and such a place!no town, no churches, no Broadway, nothing that can make life

desirable; and, I may add, no friendnobody to see and talk with, but papa and mamma, and a house full of

brothers and sisters. You can't think how I miss you, every minute more and more; but I am not without

hopes of persuading pa to let me spend the winter with your aunt in town. I declare it makes me sick every

time I think of her sweet house in Parkplace. If ever I marry, and be sure I will, it shall be a man who lives

in the city, and next door to my Julia. Oh! how charming that would be. Each of us to have one of those

delightful new houses, with the newfashioned basement stories; we would run in and out at all hours of the

day, and it would be so convenient to lend and borrow each other's things. I do think there is no pleasure

under heaven equal to that of wearing things that belong to your friend. Don't you remember how fond I was

of wearing your clothes at school, though you were not so fond of changing as myself; but that was no

wonder, for pa's stinginess kept me so shabbily dressed, that I was ashamed to let you be seen in them. Oh,

Julia! I shall never forget those happy hours; nor you neither. AproposI hope you have not forgot the frock

you promised to work for me, to remember you by. I long for it dreadfully, and hope you will send it before

the river shuts. I suppose you and Charles Weston do nothing but ride round among those beautiful villas on

the island, and take comfort. I do envy you your happiness, I can tell you; for I think any beau better than

none, though Mr. Weston is not to my taste. I am going to write you six sheets of paper, for there is nothing

that I so delight in as communing with a friend at a distance, especially situated as I am without a soul to say

a word to, unless it be my own sisters. Adieu, my ever, ever beloved Juliabe to me as I am to you, a friend

"P. S. June 25th. Not having yet sent my letter, although I am sure you must be dying with anxiety to hear

how we get on, I must add, that we have a companion here that would delight youa Mr. Edward Stanley.

What a delightful name! and he is as delightful as his name: his eye, his nose, his whole countenance, are

perfect. In short, Julia, he is just such a man as we used to draw in our conversation at school. He is rich, and

brave, and sensible, and I do nothing but talk to him of you. He says, he longs to see you; knows you must be

handsome; is sure you are sensible; and feels that you are good. Oh! he is worth a dozen Charles Westons.

But you may give my compliments to Mr. Weston, though I don't suppose he ever thinks it worth his while to

remember such a chick as me. I should like to hear what he says about me, and I will tell you all Edward

Stanley says of you. Once more, adieu. Your letters got here safe and in due season. I let Edward take a peep

The first time Julia read this letter she was certainly disappointed. It contained no descriptions of the lovely

scenery of the west. The moon had risen and the sun had set on the lakes of the interior, and Anna had said

not one word of either. But the third and fourth time of reading began to afford more pleasure, and at the

thirteenth perusal she pronounced it charming. There was evidently much to be understood; vacuums that the

fancy could easily fill; and, before Julia had left the summerhouse, the letter was extended, in her

imagination, to the promised six sheets. She walked slowly through the shrubbery towards the house, musing

on the contents of her letter, or rather what it might be supposed to contain, and unconsciously repeating to

"Young, handsome, rich, and sensiblejust as we used to paint in our conversation. Oh, how delightful!"

"Delightful indeed, to possess all those fine qualities; and who is the happy individual that is so blessed?"

asked Charles Weston, who had been lingering in the walks with an umbrella to shield her on her return from

"Oh!" said Julia, starting, "I did not know you were near me. I have been reading Anna's sweet letter,"

"Doubtless you must be done by this time, Julia, and," pointing to the clouds, "you had better hasten to the

house. I knew you would be terrified at the lightning all alone by yourself in that summerhouse, so I came to

"You are very good, Charles, but does it lighten?" said Julia in terror, and hastening her retreat to the

"Your letter must have interested you deeply not to have noticed the thunderyou, who are so timid and

"Foolishly fearful, you would say, if you were not afraid of hurting my feelings, I know," said Julia.

"It is a natural dread, and therefore not to be laughed at," answered Charles mildly.

"Then there is natural fear, but no natural love, Mr. Charles; now you are finely caught," cried Julia

"Well, be it so. With me fear is very natural, and I can almost persuade myself love also."

"I hope you are not a coward, Charles Weston. A cowardly man is very despicable. I could never love a

"I don't know whether I am what you call a coward," said Charles gravely; "but when in danger I am always

The words were hardly uttered before a flash of lightning, followed instantly by a tremendously heavy clap of

thunder, nearly stupified them both. The suddenness of the shock had, for a moment, paralyzed the energy of

the youth, while Julia was nearly insensible. Soon recovering himself, however, Charles drew her after him

into the house, in time to escape a torrent of rain. The storm was soon over, and their natural fear and surprise

were a source of mirth for Julia. Women are seldom ashamed of their fears, for their fright is thought to be

feminine end attractive; but men are less easy under the imputation of terror, as it is thought to indicate an

"Oh! you will never make a hero, Charles," cried Julia, laughing heartily. "It is well you chose the law instead

"I don't know," said the youth, a little nettled," I think I could muster courage to face a bullet."

"But remember, that you shut your eyes, and bent nearly double at the flashnow you owned all this

"At least he was candid, and acknowledged his infirmities," said Miss Emmerson, who had been listening.

"I think most men would have done as I did, at so heavy and so sudden a clap of thunder, and so very near

"When apprehension for Julia must have increased your terror," said the aunt kindly.

"Why, noI rather believe I thought only of myself at the moment," returned Charles; "but then, Julia, you

must do me the justice to say, that instantly I thought of the danger of your taking cold and drew you into the

"Oh! you ran from another clap," said Julia, laughing till her dark eyes flashed with pleasure, and shaking her

head until her glossy hair fell in ringlets over her shoulders; "you will never make a hero, Charles."

"Do you know any one who would have behaved better, Miss Warren?" said the young man angrily.

"YeswhyI don't know. Yes, I have heard of one, I think," answered Julia, slightly colouring; "but, dear

Charles, excuse my laughter," she continued, holding out her hand; "if you are not a hero, you are very, very,

But Charles Weston, at the moment, would rather be thought a hero than very, very, good; he, therefore, rose,

"You have mortified Charles," said Miss Emmerson, so soon as he was out of hearing.

"I am sure I hope not," said Julia, with a good deal of anxiety; "he is the last person I would wish to offend,

"No young man of twenty is pleased with being thought no hero," returned the aunt.

"And yet all are not so," said Julia, "I hardly know what you mean by a hero; if you mean such men as

Washington, Greene, or Warren, all are surely not so. These were heroes in deeds, but others may be equally

{Greene = Nathanael Greene (17421786), Revolutionary General; Warren = Joseph Warren (17411775),

"I mean by a hero, a man whose character is unstained by any low or degenerate vices, or even feelings," said

Julia, with a little more than her ordinary enthusiasm; "whose courage is as natural as it is daring; who is

above fear, except of doing wrong; whose person is an index of his mind, and whose mind is filled with

"Then he must be handsome as well as valiant," said Miss Emmerson, with a smile that was hardly

"Why that isisnot absolutely material," replied Julia, blushing; "but one would wish to have him

"Oh! by all means; it would render his virtues more striking. But I think you intimated that you knew such a

being," returned Miss Emmerson, fixing her mild eyes on Julia in a manner that denoted great interest.

"Did I," said Julia, colouring scarlet; "I am sureI have forgottenit must be a mistake, surely, dear aunt."

"Very possibly I misunderstood you, my dear," said Miss Emmerson, rising and withdrawing from the room,

Julia continued musing on the dialogue which had passed, and soon had recourse to the letter of her friend,

the postscript of which was all, however, that she thought necessary to read: on this she dwelt until the

periods were lengthened into paragraphs, each syllable into words, and each letter into syllables. Anna Miller

had furnished the outlines of a picture, that the imagination of Julia had completed. The name of Edward

Stanley was repeated internally so often that she thought it the sweetest name she had ever heard. His eyes,

his nose, his countenance, were avowed to be handsome; and her fancy soon gave a colour and form to each.

He was sensible; how sensible, her friend had not expressly stated; but then the powers of Anna, great as they

undoubtedly were, could not compass the mighty extent of so gigantic a mind. Brave, too, Anna had called

him. This she must have learnt from acts of desperate courage that he had performed in the war which had so

recently terminated; or perhaps he might have even distinguished himself in the presence of Anna, by some

exploit of cool and determined daring. Her heart burned to know all the particulars, but how was she to

inquire them. Anna, dear, indiscreet girl, had already shown her letters, and her delicacy shrunk from the

exposure of her curiosity to its object. After a multitude of expedients had been adopted and rejected as

impracticable, Julia resorted to the course of committing her inquiries to paper, most solemnly enjoining her

friend never to expose her weakness to Mr. Stanley. This, thought Julia, she never could do; it would be

unjust to me, and indelicate in her. So Julia wrote as follows, first seeking her own apartment, and carefully

locking the door, that she might devote her whole attention to friendship, and her letter.

"Your kind letter reach'd me after many an anxious hour spent in expectation, and repays me tenfold for all

my uneasiness. Surely, Anna, there is no one that can write half so agreeably as yourself. I know there must

be a longlongepistle for me on the road, containing those descriptions and incidents you promised to

favour me with: how I long to read them, and to show them to my aunt Margaret, who, I believe, does not

suspect you to be capable of doing that which I know, or rather feel, you can. Knowing from any thing but

feeling and the innate evidence of our sympathies, seems to me something like heresy in friendship. Oh,

Anna! how could you be so cruel as to show my letters to any one, and that to a gentleman and a stranger? I

never would have served you so, not even to good Charles Weston, whom I esteem so highly, and who really

wants neither judgment nor good nature, though he is dreadfully deficient in fancy. Yet Charles is a most

excellent young man, and I gave him the compliments you desired; he was so much flattered by your notice

that he could make no reply, though I doubt not he prized the honour as he ought. We are all very happy here,

only for the absence of my Anna; but so long as miles of weary roads and endless rivers run between us,

perfect happiness can never reign in the breast of your Julia. Anna, I conjure you by all the sacred delicacy

that consecrates our friendship, never to show this letter, unless you would break my heart: you never will, I

am certain, and therefore I will write to my Anna in the unreserved manner in which we conversed, when

fate, less cruel than at present, suffered us to live in the sunshine of each other's smiles. You speak of a

certain person in your letter, whom, for obvious reasons, I will in future call Antonio. You describe him with

the partiality of a friend; but how can I doubt his being worthy of all that you say, and moresensible, brave,

rich, and handsome. From his name, I suppose, of course, he is well connected. What a constellation of

attractions to centre in one man! But you have not told me allhis age, his family, his profession; though I

presume he has borne arms in the service of his country, and that his manly breast is already covered with the

scars of honour. Ah! Anna, "he jests at scars who never felt a wound." But, my dear creature, you say that he

talks of me: what under the sun can you find to say of such a poor girl as myself? Though I suppose you

have, in the fondness of affection, described my person to him already. I wonder if he likes black eyes and

fair complexion. You can't conceive what a bloom the country has given me; I really begin to look more like

a milkmaid than a lady. Dear, good aunt Margaret has been quite sick since you left us, and for two days I

was hardly out of her room; this has put me back a little in colour, or I should be as ruddy as the morn. But

nothing ought ever to tempt me to neglect my aunt, and I hope nothing ever will. Be assured that I shall beg

her to write you to spend the winter with us, for I feel already that without you life is a perfect blank. You

indeed must have something to enliven it with a little in your new companions, but here is nobody, just now,

but Charles Weston. Yet he is an excellent companion, and does every thing he can to make us all happy and

comfortable. Heigho! how I do wish I could see you, my Anna, and spend one sweet half hour in the dear

confidence of mutual sympathy. But lie quiet, my throbbing heart, the day approaches when I shall meet my

friend again, and more than receive a reward for all our griefs. Ah! Anna, never betray your Julia, and write

"Yours, with all the tenderness of friendship that is founded on mutual sympathy, congenial souls, and innate

"P.S. I should like to know whether Antonio has any scars in his face, and what battles he was in. Only think,

my dear, poor Charles Weston was frightened by a clap of thunderbut Charles has an excellent heart."

This letter was written and read, sealed and kissed, when Miss Emmerson tapped gently at the door of her

niece and begged admission. Julia flew to open it, and received her aunt with the guileless pleasure her

presence ever gave her. A few words of introductory matter were exchanged, when, being both seated at their

"Do you recollect, my child, that in writing to Miss Miller, you are writing to one out of your own family,

"Tell no secrets to my Anna!" exclaimed the niece in a species of horror. "That would be a deathblow to our

"Then let it die," said Miss Emmerson, coolly; "the affection that cannot survive the loss of such an

excitement, had better be suffered to expire as soon as possible, or it may raise false expectations."

"Why, dear aunt, in destroying confidence of this nature, you destroy the great object of friendship. Who ever

"I never had a secret in my life," said Miss Emmerson simply, "and yet I have had many a friend."

"Well," said Julia, "yours must have been queer friends; pray, dear aunt, name one or two of them."

"Your mother was my friend," said Miss Emmerson, with strong emotion, "and I hope her daughter also is

"Me, my beloved aunt!" cried Julia, throwing herself into the arms of Miss Emmerson and bursting into tears;

"Whatever be the name you give it, Julia, you are very near and dear to me," said the aunt, tenderly kissing

her charge: "but tell me, my love, did you ever feel such emotion in your intercourse with Miss Miller?"

It was some time before Julia could reply; when, having suppressed the burst of her feelings, she answered

"Oh! that question is not fair. You have brought me up; nursed me in sickness; are kind and good to me; and

the idea that you should suppose I did not love you, was dreadfulBut you know I do."

"I firmly believe so, my child; it is you that I would have know what it is that you love: I am satisfied for

"Certainly not: my love to you is natural; but my friendship for Anna rests on sympathy, and a perfect

"I am glad, however, that you know her so well, since you are so intimate. What testimony have you of all

"Innate evidence. I see itI feel itYes, that is the best testimonyI feel her good qualities. Yes, my

friendship for Anna forms the spring of my existence; while any accident or evil to you would afflict me the

"I know it is pleasing to learn it, come from what it will," said the aunt, smiling, and rising to withdraw.

SEVERAL days passed after this conversation, in the ordinary quiet of a well regulated family.

Notwithstanding the house of Miss Emmerson stood in the midst of the numberless villas that adorn

Manhattan Island, the habits of its mistress were retiring and domestic. Julia was not of an age to mingle

much in society, and Anna had furnished her with a theme for her meditations, that rather rendered her averse

from the confusion of company. Her mind was constantly employed in canvassing the qualities of the unseen

Antonio. Her friend had furnished her with a catalogue of his perfections in gross, which her active thoughts

were busily arranging into form and substance. But little practised in the world or its disappoinments {sic},

the visionary girl had already figured to herself a person to suit these qualities, and the animal was no less

pleasing, than the moral being of her fancy. What principally delighted Julia in these contemplations on the

acquaintance of Anna, was the strong inclination he had expressed to know herself. This flattered her

tendency to believe in the strength of mutual sympathy, and the efficacy of innate evidence of merit. In the

midst of this pleasing employment of her fancy, she received a second letter from her friend, in answer to the

one we have already given to our readers; it was couched in the following words:

"I received your letter with the pleasure I shall always hear from you, and am truly obliged to you for your

kind offer to make interest with year aunt to have me spend the next winter in town. To be with you, is the

greatest pleasure I have on earth; besides, as I know I can write to you as freely as I think, one can readily tell

what a tiresome place this must be to pass a winter in. There are, absolutely, but three young men in the

whole county who can be thought in any manner as proper matches for us; and one has no chance here of

forming such an association as to give a girl an opportunity of meeting with her congenial spirit, so that I

hope and trust your desire to see me will continue as strong as mine will ever be to see my Julia. You say that

I have forgotten to give you the description of our journey and of the lakes that I promised to send you. No,

my Julia, I have not forgotten the promise, nor you; but the thought of enjoying such happiness without your

dear company, has been too painful to dwell upon. Of this you may judge for yourself. Our first journey was

made in the steamboat to Albany; she is a moving world. The vessel ploughs through the billowy waters in

onward progress, and the soul is left in silent harmony to enjoy the change. The passage of the Highlands is

most delightful. Figure to yourself, my Julia, the rushing waters, lessening from their expanded width to the

degeneracy of the stagnant poolrocks rise on rocks in overhanging mountains, until the weary eye, refusing

its natural office, yields to the fancy what its feeble powers can never conquer. Clouds impend over their

summits, and the thoughts pierce the vast abyss. Ah! Julia, these are moments of awful romance; how the

soul longs for the consolations of friendship. Albany is one of the most picturesque places in the world;

situated most delightfully on the banks of the Hudson, which here meanders in sylvan beauty through

meadows of evergreen and desert islands. Words are wanting to paint the melancholy beauties of the ride to

Schenectady, through gloomy forests, where the silvery pine waves in solemn grandeur to the sighings of

Eolus, while Boreas threatens in vain their firmrooted trunks. But the lakes! Ah! Juliathe lakes! The most

beautiful is the Seneca, named after a Grecian king. The limpid water, ne'er ruffled by the rude breathings of

the wind, shines with golden tints to the homage of the rising sun, while the light bark gallantly lashes the

surge, rocking before the propelling gale, and forcibly brings to the appalled mind the fleeting hours of time.

But I must pausemy pen refuses to do justice to the subject, and the remainder will furnish us hours of

conversation during the tedious moments of the delightful visit to ParkPlace. You speak of Antoniodear

girl, with me the secret is hallowed. He is yet here; his whole thoughts are of Juliafrom my description

only, he has drawn your picture, which is the most striking in the world; and nothing can tear the dear

emblem from his keeping. He called here yesterday in his phaeton, and insisted on my riding a few short

miles in his company: I assented, for I knew it was to talk of my friend. He already feels your worth, and

handed me the following verses, which he begged me to offer as the sincere homage of his heart. He intends

"Oh! charming image of an artless fair, "Whose eyes, with lightning, fire the very soul; "Whose face portrays

"In vain I gaze entranc'd, in vain deplore "The leagues that roll between the maid and me; "Lonely I wander

"But fly, ye fleeting hours, I beg ye fly, "And bring the time when Anna seeks her friend; "HasteOh haste,

I know you will think with me, that these lines are beautiful, and merely a faint image of his manly heart. In

the course of our ride, during which he did nothing but converse on your beauty and merit, he gave me a

detailed narrative of his life. It was long, but I can do no less than favour you with an abridgment of it.

Edward Stanley was early left an orphan: no father's guardian eye directed his footsteps; no mother's fostering

care cherished his infancy. His estate was princely, and his family noble, being a wronged branch of an

English potentate. During his early youth he had to contend against the machinations of a malignant uncle,

who would have robbed him of his large possessions, and left him in black despair, to have eaten the bread of

penury. His courage and understanding, however, conquered this difficulty, and at the age of fourteen he was

quietly admitted to an university. Here he continued peacefully to wander amid the academic bowers, until

the blast of war rung in his ears, and called him to the field of honour. Edward was ever foremost in the hour

of danger. It was his fate to meet the enemy often, and as often did "he pluck honour from the palefac'd

moon." He fought at Chippewabled at the side of the gallant Lawrenceand nearly laid down his life on

the ensanguined plains of Marengo. But it would be a fruitless task to include all the scenes of his danger and

his glory. Thanks to the kind fates which shield the lives of the brave, he yet lives to adore my Julia. That you

may be as happy as you deserve, and happier than your heartstricken friend, is the constant prayer of your

"P. S. Write me soon, and make my very best respects to your excellent aunt. It was laughable enough that

Charles Weston should be afraid of a flash of lightning. I mentioned it to Antonio, who cried, while manly

indignation clouded his brow, 'chill penury repressed his noble rage, and froze the genial current of the soul.'

{Highlands = the Hudson Highlands, a mountainous region in Putnam and Dutchess Counties, through which

the Hudson River passes in a deep and picturesque gorge; Eolus = God of the winds; Boreas = God of the

North wind; Seneca = one of the Finger Lakes in central New York State; Grecian king = both the Senecas of

antiquity, the rhetorician (54 BC39 AD) and his son the philosopher/statesman (4 BC65 AD), were, of

course, Romansin any case, Lake Seneca is named after the Seneca nation of the Iroquois Indians;

ParkPlace = already in 1816 a fashionable street in lower Manhattan; Chippewa = an American army

defeated the British at Chippewa, in Canada near Niagara Falls, on July 5, 1814; Lawrence = Captain James

("Don't give up the ship!") Lawrence (17811813) of the U.S. Frigate Chesapeake was killed on June 1,

1813, as his ship was captured by H.M.S. Shannon outside Boston harbor; Marengo = battle won by

Napoleon against the Austrians on June 14, 1800"Antonio's" military career was truly an amazing one!;

pluck honor.... = slightly misquoted from Shakespeare, "King Henry IV, Part I," Act I, Scene 3, line 202; chill

penury.... = slightly misquoted from Thomas Gray, "Elegy in a Country Churchyard" verse 13}

Julia fairly gasped for breath as she read this epistle: her very soul was entranced by the song. Whatever of

seeming contradiction there might be in the letter of her friend, her active mind soon reconciled. She was now

really beloved, and in a manner most grateful to her heartby the sole power of sympathy and congenial

feelings. Whatever might be the adoration of Edward Stanley, it was more than equalled by the admiration of

this amiable girl. Her very soul seemed to her to be devoted to his worship; she thought of him constantly,

and pictured out his various distresses and dangers; she wept at his sufferings, and rejoiced in his

prosperityand all this in the short space of one hour. Julia was yet in the midst of this tumult of feeling,

when another letter was placed in her hands, and on opening it she read as follows:

"I should have remembered my promise, and come out and spent a week with you, had not one of Mary's

little boys been quite sick; of course I went to her until he recovered. But if you will ask aunt Margaret to

send for me, I will come tomorrow with great pleasure, for I am sure you must find it solitary, now Miss

Miller has left you. Tell aunt to send by the servant a list of such books as she wants from Goodrich's, and I

will get them for her, or indeed any thing else that I can do for her or you. Give my love to aunt, and tell her

that, knowing her eyes are beginning to fail, I have worked her a cap, which I shall bring with me. Mamma

This was well enough; but as it was merely a letter of business, one perusal, and that a somewhat hasty one,

was sufficient. Julia loved its writer more than she suspected herself, but there was nothing in her manner or

character that seemed calculated to excite strong emotion. In short, all her excellences were so evident that

nothing was left dependent on innate evidence; and our heroine seldom dwelt with pleasure on any character

that did not give a scope to her imagination. In whatever light she viewed the conduct or disposition of her

cousin, she was met by obstinate facts that admitted of no cavil nor of any exaggeration.

Turning quickly, therefore, from this barren contemplation to one better suited to her inclinations, Julia's

thoughts resumed the agreeable reverie from which she had been awakened. She also could paint, and after

twenty trials she at length sketched an outline of the figure of a man that answered to Anna's description, and

satisfied her own eye. Without being conscious of the theft, she had copied from a print of the Apollo, and

clothed it in the uniform which Bonaparte is said to have worn. A small scar was traced on the cheek in such

a manner that although it might be fancied as the ravages of a bullet, it admirably answered all the purposes

of a dimple. Two epaulettes graced the shoulders of the hero; and before the picture was done, although it

was somewhat at variance with republican principles, an aristocratical star glittered on its breast. Had he his

birthright, thought Julia, it would be there in reality; and this idea amply justified the innovation. To this

image, which it took several days to complete, certain verses were addressed also, but they were never

submitted to the confidence of her friend. The whole subject was now beginning to be too sacred even for

such a communication; and as the mind of Julia every hour became more entranced with its new master, her

delicacy shrunk from an exposure of her weakness: it was getting too serious for the light compositions of

We furnish a copy of the lines, as they me not only indicative of her feelings, but may give the reader some

"Beloved image of a godlike mind, "In sacred privacy thy power I feel; "What bright perfection in thy

"Thine eagle eye bedazzles e'en the brain, "Thy gallant brow bespeaks the front of Jove; "While smiles

"Ah! hapless maid, why daring dost thou prove "The hidden dangers of the urchin's dart; "Why fix thine eye

This was but one of fifty similar effusions, in which Julia poured forth her soul. The flame was kept alive by

frequent letters from her friend, in all of which she dwelt with rapture on the moment of their reunion, and

never failed to mention Antonio in a manner that added new fuel to the fire that already began to consume

In the mean time Katherine Emmerson paid her promised visit to her friends, and our heroine was in some

degree drawn from her musings on love and friendship. The manners of this young lady were conspicuously

natural; she had a confirmed habit of calling things by their right names, and never dwelt in the least in

superlatives. Her affections seemed centered in the members of her own family; nor had she ever given Julia

the least reason to believe she preferred her to her own sister, notwithstanding that sister was married, and

beyond the years of romance. Yet Julia loved her cousin, and was hardly ever melancholy or out of spirits

when in her company. The cheerful and affectionate good humour of Katherine was catching, and all were

pleased with her, although but few discovered the reason. Charles Weston soon forgot his displeasure, and

with the exception of Julia's hidden uneasiness, the house was one quiet scene of peaceful content. The party

were sitting at their work the day after the arrival of Katherine, when Julia thought it a good opportunity to

"Why did Mr. Miller give up his house in town, I wonder?" said Julia; "I am sure it was inconsiderate to his

"Rather say, my child, that it was in consideration to his children that he did so," observed Miss Emmerson;

"his finances would not bear the expense, and suffer him to provide for his family after his death."

"I am sure a little money might be spent now, to indulge his children in society, and they would be satisfied

with less hereafter," continued Julia. "Mr. Miller must be rich; and think, aunt, he has seven grown up

daughters that he has dragged with him into the wilderness; only think, Katherine, how solitary they must

"Had I six sisters I could be solitary no where," said Katherine, simply; "besides, I understand that the

"Oh! there are men and women enough, I dare say," cried Julia; "and the family is largeeleven in the

"There is a difference between a sister end a friend, you know," said Julia, a little surprised.

"Iindeed I have yet to learn that," exclaimed the other, in a little more astonishment.

"Why you feel affection for your sisters from nature and habit; but friendship is voluntary, spontaneous, and a

"And cannot one feel this sentiment, as you call it, for a sister?" asked Katherine, smiling.

"I should think not," returned Julia, musing; "I never had a sister; but it appears to me that the very familiarity

"Why I thought it was the confidencethe familiaritythe secretswhich form the very essence of

"True," said Julia, eagerly, "you speak truethe confidence and the secretsbut not thetheI am not

sure that I express myself wellbut the intimate knowledge that one has of one's own sisterthat I should

"Julia means that a prophet has never honour in his own country," cried Charles with a laugh"a somewhat

"But what becomes of your innate evidence of worth in friendship," asked Miss Emmerson; "I thought that

was the most infallible of all kinds of testimony: surely that must bring you intimately acquainted with each

"Oh! nothat is a species of sentimental knowledge," returned Julia; "it only dwells on the loftier parts of

the character, and never descends to the minute knowledge which makes us suffer so much in each other's

estimation: it leaves all these to be filled by theby theby thewhat shall I call it?"

"Well, by the imagination then: but it is an imagination that is purified by sentiment, and"

"Already rendered partial by the innate evidence of worth," interrupted Charles.

Julia had lost herself in the mazes of her own ideas, and changed the subject under a secret suspicion that her

companions were amusing themselves at her expense; she, therefore, proceeded directly to urge the request of

"Oh! aunt, now we are on the subject of friends, I wish to request you would authorize me to invite my Anna

"I confess, my love," said Miss Emmerson, glancing her eye at Katherine, "that I had different views for

"Yes, but she has positively refused to ask the dear girl, I know," said Julia. "Anna is not a favourite with her

"Very odd that," said the aunt gravely; "there must be a reason for her dislike then: what can be the cause of

"Oh!" cried Julia, "it is all the fault of Mrs. Welton; they quarrelled about something, I don't know what, but

"Indeed!and you are perfectly sure that Mrs. Welton is in faultperhaps Anna has, however, laid too

"Oh! not at all, dear aunt. I can assure you, on my own knowledge," continued Julia, "Anna was anxious for a

reconciliation, and offered to come and spend the winter with her sister, but Mrs. Welton declared positively

that she would not have so selfish a creature round her children: now this Anna told me herself one day, and

"Perhaps Mrs. Welton was right then," said Miss Emmerson, "and prudence, if not some other reason,

"How can you say so, dear aunt?" interrupted Julia, with a little impatience, "when I tell you that Anna

herselfmy Anna, told me with her own lips, here in this very house, that Mrs. Welton was entirely to

blame, and that she had never done any thing in her life to justify the treatment or the remarknow Anna

As Julia spoke, the ardour of her feelings brought the colour to her cheeks and an animation to her eyes that

rendered her doubly handsome; and Charles Weston, who had watched her varying countenance with delight,

"I understand that your father intends spending his winter in Carolina, for his health," said Miss Emmerson to

"Yes," returned the other in a low tone, and bending over her work to conceal her feelings; "mother has

Miss Emmerson said no more, but she turned an expressive look on her ward, which Julia was too much

occupied with her thoughts to notice. The illness of her father, and the prospect of a long separation from her

sister, were too much for the fortitude of Katherine at any time, and hastily gathering her work in her hand,

she left the room just in time to prevent the tears which streamed down her cheeks from meeting the eyes of

"We ought to ask Katherine to make one of our family, in the absence of her mother and sister," said Miss

"Ah! yes," cried Julia, fervently, "by all means: poor Katherine, how solitary she would be any where elseI

"Butstop a moment, my love; you will remember that we have not room for more than one guest. If

Katherine is asked, Miss Miller cannot be invited. Let us look at what we are about, and leave nothing to

"Ah! it is true," said Julia, reseating herself in great disappointment; "where will poor Katherine stay then?"

"I know my brother expects that I will take her under my charge; and, indeed, I think he has right to ask it of

"But she has no such right as my Anna, who is my bosom friend, you know. Katherine has a right here, it is

"As your own," interrupted the aunt gravely; "you are the daughter of my sister, and Katherine is the daughter

"Truetrueif it be right, lawful right, that is to decide it, then Katherine must come, I suppose," said Julia,

"Let us proceed with caution, my love," said Miss Emmerson, kissing her niece"Do you postpone your

invitation until September, when, if you continue of the same mind, we will give Anna the desired invitation:

in the mean while prepare yourself for what I know will be a most agreeable surprise."

ALTHOUGH Julia spent most of her time with her aunt and cousin, opportunities for meditation were not

wanting: in the retirement of her closet she perused and reperused the frequent letters of her friend. The

modesty of Julia, or rather shame, would have prevented her from making Anna acquainted with all her

feelings, but it would have been treason to her friendship not to have poured out a little of her soul at the feet

of Miss Miller. Accordingly, in her letters, Julia did not avoid the name of Antonio. She mentioned it often,

but with womanly delicacy, if not with discretion. The seeds of constant association had, unknown to herself,

taken deep root, and it was not in the power of Anna Miller to eradicate impressions which had been fastened

by the example of the aunt, and cherished by the society of her cousin. Although deluded, weak, and even

indiscreet, Julia was not indelicate. Yet enough escaped her to have given any experienced eye an insight into

the condition of her mind, had Anna chosen to have exposed her letters to any one. The danger of such a

correspondence should alone deter any prudent female from its indulgence. Society has branded the man with

scorn who dares abuse the confidence of a woman in this manner; and the dread of the indignation of his

associates makes it an offence which is rarely committed by the other sex: but there is no such obligation

imposed on women, and that frequently passes for a joke which harrows every feeling that is dear to the

female breast, and violates all that is delicate and sensitive in our nature. Surely, where it is necessary from

any adventitious circumstances to lay the heart open in this manner, it should only be done to those whose

characters are connected with our own, and who feel ridicule inflicted on us, as disgrace heaped on

themselves. A peculiar evil of these confidential friendships is, that they are most liable to occur, when, from

their youth, their victims are the least guarded; and, at the same time, from inconstancy, the most liable to

change. Happily, however, for Julia's peace of mind, she foresaw no such dangers from her intimacy with

Anna, and letter and answer passed between them, at short intervals, during the remainder of the summer. We

shall give but one more specimen of each, as they have strong resemblance to one anotherwe select two

"Your letters are the only consolation that my anxious heart can know in the dreary solitude of this place. Oh!

my friend, how would your tender heart bleed did you but know the least of my sufferings; but they are all

requited by the delightful anticipations of ParkPlace. I hope your dear aunt has not found it necessary to lay

down her carriage in the change of the times: write me in your next about it. Antonio has been here again, and

he solicited an audience with me in privateof course I granted it, for friendship hallows all that is done

under its mantle. It was a moonlight nightmild Luna shedding a balmy light on surrounding objects, and, if

possible, rendering my heart more sensitive than ever. One solitary glimmering star showed by its paly

quiverings the impress of evening, while not a cloud obscured the vast firmament of heaven. On such an

evening Antonio could do nothing but converse of my absent friend; he dwelt on the indescribable grace of

your person, the lustre of your eye, and the vermilion of your lips, until exhausted language could furnish no

more epithets of rapture: then the transition to your mind was natural and easy; and it was while listening to

Ah, Julia! nothing but a strong prepossession, and my friendship for you, could remove the danger of such a

scene. Yes! friend of my heart, I must acknowledge my weakness. There is a youth in NewYork, who has

long been master of my too sensitive heart, and without him life will be a burthen. Cruel fate divides us now,

but when invited by your aunt to ParkPlace, Oh, rapture unutterable! I shall be near my Regulus. This,

surely, is all that can be wanting to stimulate my Julia to get the invitation from her aunt. Antonio says that if

I go to the city this fall, he will hover near me on the road to guard the friend of Julia; and that he will eagerly

avail himself of my presence to seek her society. I am called from my delightful occupation by one of my

troublesome sisters, who wishes me to assist her in some trifle or other. Make my most profound respects to

At length Julia thought she had made the discovery of Anna's reason for her evident desire to spend the

winter in townlike herself, her friend had become the victim of the soft passion, and from that moment

Julia determined that Katherine Emmerson must seek another residence, in order that Anna might breathe

love's atmosphere. How much a desire to see Antonio governed this decision, we cannot say, but we are

certain that, if in the least, Julia was herself ignorant of the power. With her, it seemed to be the result of

pure, disinterested, and confiding friendship. In answer, our heroine wrote as follows:

"Your kind, consolatory letters are certainly the solace of my life. Ah! Anna, I have long thought that some

important secret lay heavy at your heart. The incoherency of your letters, and certain things too trifling to

mention, had made me suspect that some unusual calamity had befallen you. You do not mention who

Regulus is. I am burning with curiosity to know, although I doubt not but he is every way worthy of your

"I have in vain run over in my mind every young man that we know, but not one of them that I can find has

any of the qualities of a hero. Do relieve my curiosity in your next, and I may have it in my power to write

you something of his movements. Oh! Anna, why will you dwell on the name of AntonioI am sure I ought

not to listen as I do to what he saysand when we meet, I am afraid that he will not find all the attractions

which your too partial friendship has portrayed. If he should be thus disappointed, Oh! AnnaAnnawhat

would become of your friendBut I will not dwell an the horrid idea. Charles Weston is yet here, and

Katherine Emmerson too; so that but for the thoughts of my absent Anna, and perhaps a little uneasiness on

the subject of Antonio, I might be perfectly happy. You know how good and friendly Katherine is, and really

Charles does all in his power to please. If he were only a little more heroical, he would be a charming young

man: for although he is not very handsome, I don't think you notice it in the least when you are intimate with

him. Poor Charles, he was terribly mortified about the flash of lightningbut then all are not brave alike.

Adieu, my Annaand if you do converse more with a certain person about, you know whom, let it be with

"P. S. I had almost forgotten to say that aunt has promised me that I can ask you to stay with us, if, after the

20th September, I wish it, as you may be sure that I will. Aunt keeps her carriage yet, and I hope will never

About the time this letter was written, Miss Emmerson made both of her nieces acquainted with the promised

project that was to give them the agreeable surprise:she had long contemplated going to see "the Falls,"

and she now intended putting her plan into execution. Katherine was herself pressed to make one of the party,

but the young lady, at the same time she owned her wish to see this farfamed cataract, declined the offer

firmly, but gratefully, on account of her desire to spend the remaining time with her father and mother, before

they went to the south. Charles Weston looked from Katherine to Julia during this dialogue, and for an instant

was at a loss to know which he thought the handsomest of the cousins. But Julia entered into the feelings of

the others so quickly, and so gracefully offered to give up the journey, in order that Miss Emmerson might

continue with her brother, that, aided by her superior beauty, she triumphed. It was evident, that consideration

for her niece was a strong inducement with the aunt for making the journey, and the contest became as

disinterested as it was pleasing to the auditors. But the authority of Miss Emmerson prevailed, and Charles

was instantly enlisted as their escort for the journey. Julia never looked more beautiful or amiable than during

this short controversy. It had been mentioned by the aunt that she should take the house of Mr. Miller in her

road, and the information excited an emotion that brought all her lustre to her eyes, and bloom to her cheeks.

Charles thought it was a burst of generous friendship, and admired the selfdenial with which she urged her

aunt to relinquish the idea. But Julia was constitutionally generous, and it was the excess of the quality that

made her enthusiastic and visionary. If she did not deserve all of Charles's admiration, she was entitled to no

small share of it. As soon as the question was determined in favour of going, Miss Emmerson and Katherine

withdrew, leaving Charles alone with the heroine of our tale. Under the age of fiveandtwenty, men

commonly act at the instigation of sudden impulse, and young Weston was not yet twentyone. He had long

admired Julia for her beauty and good feelings; he did not see one half of her folly, and he knew all of her

worth; her enthusiastic friendship for Miss Miller was forgotten; even her mirth at his own want of heroism

had at the moment escaped his memoryand the power of the young lady over him was never greater.

"How admirable in you, Julia," he said, seating himself by her side, "to urge what was against your own

"Do you think so, Charles?" said the other simply; "but you see I urged it feebly, for I did not prevail."

"No, for you mistook your aunt's wishes, it seems: she desires to gobut then all the loveliness of the act

At the word loveliness, Julia raised her eyes to his face with a slight blushit was new language for Charles

Weston to use, and it was just suited to her feelings. After a moment's pause. however, she replied

"Julia, although I may not often have expressed it, I have long thought you to be very lovely!" exclaimed the

"Upon my word, Charles, you improve," said Julia, blushing yet more deeply, and, if possible, looking still

"JuliaMiss Warrenyou tear my secret from me before its timeI love you, Julia, and would wish to

This was certainly very plain English, nor did Julia misunderstand a syllable of what he saidbut it was

entirely new and unexpected to her; she had lived with Charles Weston with the confidence of a kinswoman,

but had never dreamt of him as a lover. Indeed, she saw nothing in him that looked like a being to excite or to

entertain such a passion; and although from the moment of his declaration she began insensibly to think

differently of him, nothing was farther from her mind than to return his offered affection. But then the

opportunity of making a sacrifice to her secret love was glorious, and her frankness forbade her to conceal the

truth. Indeed, what better way was there to destroy the unhappy passion of Charles, than to convince him of

its hopelessness? These thoughts flashed through her mind with the rapidity of lightningand trembling with

"Why never, Julia?" cried the youth, giving way at once to his longsuppressed feelings"why never? Try

Oh! how seductive to a female ear is the first declaration of an attachment, especially when urged by youth

and merit!it assails her heart in the most vulnerable part, and if it be not fortified unusually well, seldom

fails of success. Happily for Julia, the image of Antonio presented itself to save her from infidelity to her old

"You are kind and good, Charles, and I esteem you highlybut ask no more, I beg of you."

"Why, if you grant me this, why forbid me to hope for more?" said the youth eagerly, and looking really

Julia hesitated a moment, and let her dark eyes fall before his ardent gaze, at a loss what to saybut the face

"I owe it to your candour, Mr. Weston, to own my weakness" she said, and hesitated.

"Go on, Juliamy Julia," said Charles, in an unusually soft voice; "kill me at once, or bid me live!"

Again Julia paused, and again she looked on her companion with kinder eyes than usualwhen she felt the

"How!" exclaimed Charles, in astonishment, "and have I then a rival, and a successful one too?"

"You have," said Julia, burying her face in her hands to conceal her blushes."But, Mr. Weston, on your

"YesyesI will conceal my misery from others," cried Charles, springing on his feet and rushing from the

Julia was sensibly touched with his distress, and for an instant there was some regret mingled with

selfsatisfaction at her own candourbut then the delightful reflection soon presented itself of the gratitude

of Antonio when he learnt her generous conduct, and her selfdenial in favour of a man whom she had as yet

never seen.At the same time she was resolutely determined never to mention the occurrence herselfnot

Miss Emmerson was enabled to discover some secret uneasiness between Charles and Julia, although she was

by no means able to penetrate the secret. The good aunt had long anxiously wished for just such a declaration

as had been made to her niece, and it was one of the last of her apprehensions that it would not have been

favourably received. Of simple and plain habits herself, Miss Emmerson was but little versed in the human

heart; she thought that Julia was evidently happy and pleased with her young kinsman, and she considered

him in every respect a most eligible connexion for her charge: their joint fortunes would make an ample

estate, and they were alike affectionate and goodtemperedwhat more could be wanting? Nothing however

passed in the future intercourse of the young couple to betray their secrets, and Miss Emmerson soon forgot

her surmises. Charles was much hurt at Julia's avowal, and had in vain puzzled his brains to discover who his

rival could be. No young man that was in the least (so he thought) suitable to his mistress, visited her, and he

gave up his conjectures in despair of discovering this unknown lover, until accident or design should draw

him into notice. Little did he suspect the truth. On the other hand, Julia spent her secret hours in the delightful

consciousness of having now done something that rendered her worthy of Antonio, with occasional regret

that she was compelled by delicacy and love to refuse Charles so hastily as she had done.

Very soon after this embarrassing explanation, Julia received a letter from her friend that was in no way

distinguishable from the rest, except that it contained the real name of Regulus, which she declared to be

Henry Frederick St. Albans. If Charles was at a loss to discover Julia's hidden love, Julia herself was equally

uncertain how to know who this Mr. St. Albans was. After a vast deal of musing, she remembered that Anna

was absent from school without leave one evening, and had returned alone with a young man who was

unknown to the mistress. This incident was said, by some, to have completed her education rather within the

usual time. Julia had herself thought her friend indiscreet, but on the whole, hardly treatedand they left the

school together. This must have been St. Albans, and Anna stood fully exculpated in her eyes. The letter also

announced the flattering fact, that Antonio had already left the country, ordering his servants and horses

home, and that he had gone to NewYork with the intention of hovering around Julia, in a mask, that she

could not possibly remove, during the dangers of their expected journey. Anna acknowledged that she had

betrayed Antonio's secret, but pleaded her duty to her friend in justification. She did not think that Julia

would be able to penetrate his disguise, as he had declared his intentions so to conceal himself, by paint and

artifice, as to be able to escape detection. Here was a new source of pleasure to our heroine: Antonio was

already on the wing for the city, perhaps arrivednay, might have seen her, might even now be within a

short distance of the summerhouse where she was sitting at the time, and watching her movements. As this

idea suggested itself, Julia started, and unconsciously arranging her hair, by bringing forward a neglected

curl, moved with trembling steps towards the dwelling. At each turn of the walk our heroine threw a timid

eye around in quest of an unknown figure, and more than once fancied she saw the face of the god of music

peering at her from the friendly covert of her aunt's shrubberyand twice she mistook the light green of a

neighbouring cornfield, waving in the wind, for the coat of Antonio. Julia had so long associated the idea of

her hero with the image in her bosom, that she had given it perfect identity; but, on more mature reflection,

she was convinced of her error: he would come disguised, Anna had told her, and had ordered his servants

home; where that home was, Julia was left in ignorancebut she fervently hoped, not far removed from her

beloved aunt. The idea of a separation from this affectionate relative, who had proved a mother to her in her

infancy, gave great pain to her best feelings; and Julia again internally prayed that the residence of Antonio

might not be far distant.What the disguise of her lover would be, Julia could not imagineprobably, that

of a wandering harper: but then she remembered that there were no harpers in America, and the very

singularity might betray his secret. Music is the "food of love," and Julia fancied for a moment that Antonio

might appear as an itinerant organistbut it was only for a moment; for as soon as she figured to herself the

Apollo form, bending under the awkward load of a musicgrinder, she turned in disgust from the picture. His

taste, thought Julia will protect me from such a sightshe might have added, his convenience too. Various

disguises presented themselves to our heroine, until, on a view of the whole subject, she concluded that

Antonio would not appear as a musician at all, but in some capacity in which he might continue unsuspected,

near her person, and execute his project of shielding her from the dangers of travelling. It was then only as a

servant that he could appear, and, after mature reflection, Julia confidently expected to see him in the

Willing to spare her own horses, Miss Emmerson had already sent to the city for the keeper of a

liverystable, to come out and contract with her for a travelling carriage, to convey her to the Falls of

Niagara. The man came, and it is no wonder that Julia, under her impressions, chose to be present at the

"Well then," said Miss Emmerson to the man, "I will pay you your price, but you must furnish me with good

horses to meet me at Albanyremember that I take all the useless expense between the two cities, that I may

"Miss Emmerson ought to know me pretty well by this time," said the man; "I have driven her enough, I

"And a driver," continued the lady, musing, "who am I to have for a driver?" Here Julia became all attention,

"Oh, a driver!" cried the horsedealer; "I have got you an excellent driver, one of the first chop in the city."

Although these were not the terms that our heroine would have used herself in speaking of this personage, yet

she thought they plainly indicated his superiority, and she waited in feverish suspense to hear more.

"He must be steady, and civil, and sober, and expert, and tenderhearted," said Miss Emmerson, who thought

"Yesyesyesyesyes," replied the stablekeeper, nodding his head and speaking at each requisite,

"And his eyesight must be good," continued the lady, deeply intent on providing well for her journey; "we

may ride late in the evening, and it is particularly requisite that he have good eyes."

"Yesyes, ma'am," said the man, in a little embarrassment that did not escape Julia; "he has as good an eye

"Well, I may be mistakenOh, he can't be more than forty, or thirty," continued the man, watching the

"I guess he ishe's as strong as an ox, and active as a cat," said the other, determined he should pass.

"Well, then," said the aunt, in her satisfied way, "let every thing be ready for us in Albany by next Tuesday.

Julia had heard enoughfor ox she had substituted Hercules, and for cat, she read the feathered Mercury.

THE long expected Monday at length arrived, and Miss Emmerson and Julia, taking an affectionate leave of

their relatives in the city, went on board the steamboat under the protection of Charles Weston. Here a new

scene indeed opened on our heroine; for some time she even forgot to look around her in the throng in quest

of Antonio. As the boat glided along the stream, she stood leaning on one arm of Charles, while Miss

Emmerson held the other, in delighted gaze at the objects, which they had scarcely distinguished before they

"See, dear Charles," cried Julia, in a burst of what she would call natural feeling"there is our househere

the summerhouse, and there the little arbour where you read to us last week Scott's new novelhow

"Would it were a home for us all," said Charles, gently pressing her arm in his own, and speaking only to be

Julia thought no more of Antonio; but while her delighted eye rested on the well known scenes around their

house, and {as} she stood in the world, for the first time, leaning on Charles, she thought him even nearer

than their intimacy and consanguinity made them. But the boat was famous for her speed, and the house,

garden, and every thing Julia knew, were soon out of sight, and she, by accident, touching the picture which

she had encased in an old gold setting of her mother's, and lodged in her bosom, was immediately restored to

her former sense of things. Then her eye glanced rapidly round the boat, but discovering no face which in the

least resembled disguise, she abandoned the expectation of meeting her lover before they reached Albany.

Her beauty drew many an eye on her, however, and catching the steady and admiring gaze of one or two of

She was by no means sure that Antonio would appear as a coachmanthis was merely a suggestion of her

own; and the idea that he might possibly be one of the gazers, covered her with confusion: her blushes drew

still more attention and admiration upon her; and we cannot say what might have been the result of her

fascinations, had not Charles at this instant approached them, and pointing to a sloop they were passing at the

"See, madamsee, Juliathere is our travelling equipage on board that sloop, going up to meet us in

Our heroine looked as directed, and saw a vessel moving with tolerable rapidity up the river, within a short

distance from them. On its deck were a travelling carriage and a pair of horses, and by the latter stood a man

who, by the whip in his head, was evidently the driver. His stature was tall and athletic; his complexion dark

to near blackness; his face was buried in whiskers; and his employer had spoken the truth when he said he

had as good an eye as any men in Americait was large, black, and might be piercing. But then he had but

oneat least the place where the other ought to be, was covered by an enormous patch of green silk. This

then was Antonio. It is true, he did not resemble Apollo, but his disguise altered him so that it was difficult to

determine. As they Moved slowly by the vessel, the driver recognised Charles, having had an interview with

him the day before, and saluted him with a low bowhis salutation was noticed by the young man, who

slightly touched his hat, and gave him a familiar nod in returnJulia, unconsciously, bent her body, and felt

her cheeks glow with confusion as she rose again. She could not muster resolution to raise her eyes towards

the sloop, but by a kind of instinctive coquetry dragged her companion to the other side of the boat. As soon

as she was able to recover her composure, Julia revolved in her mind the scene which had just occurred. She

had seen Antonioevery thing about him equalled her expectationseven at the distance, she had easily

discerned the noble dignity of his mannershis eye gave assurance of his conscious worthhis very

attitude was that of a gentleman. Not to know him for a man of birth, of education and of fortune, Julia felt to

her would be impossible; and she trembled lest others, as discerning as herself, should discover his disguise,

and she in consequence be covered with confusion. She earnestly hoped his incog. would ever remain

unknown, for her delicacy shrunk at the publicity and notoriety which would then attend his attachment. It

was certainly delightful to be loved, and so lovedto be attended, and so attended; but the heart of Julia was

too unpractised to relish the laugh and observations of a malignant world. "No, my Antonio," she breathed

internally, "hover around me, shield me from impending dangers, delight me with your presence, and enchant

me with your eye; but claim me in the guise of a gentleman and a hero, that no envious tongue may probe the

secrets of our love, nor any profane scoffer ridicule those sensitive pleasures that he is too unsentimental to

enjoy." With these, and similar thoughts, did Julia occupy herself, until Charles pointed out to her the

majestic entrance to the Highlands. Our heroine, who was truly alive to all the charms of nature, gazed with

rapture as the boat plunged between the mountains on either hand, and turned a wistful gaze down the river,

in the vain hope that Antonio might, at the same moment, be enjoying the scenebut the sluggish sloop was

now far behind, and the eye of Antonio, bright as it was, could not pierce the distance. Julia felt rather

relieved than otherwise, when the vessel which contained her hero was hid from view by a mountain that they

doubled. Her feelings were much like those of a girl who had long anxiously waited the declaration of a

favourite youth, had received it, and acknowledged her own partiality. She felt all the assurance of her

conquest, and would gladly, for a time, avoid the shame of her own acknowledgment. The passage up the

Hudson furnishes in itself so much to charm the eye of a novice, that none but one under the extraordinary

circumstances of our heroine, could have beheld the beauties of the river unmoved. If Julia did not experience

quite as much rapture in the journey as she had anticipated, she attributed it to the remarkably delicate

situation she was in with her lover, and possibly to a dread of his being detected. An officer of his rank and

reputation must be well known, thought she, and he may meet with acquaintances every where. However, by

the attention of Charles, she passed the day with a very tolerable proportion of pleasure. Their arrival at

Albany was undistinguished by any remarkable event, though Julia looked in vain through the darkness of the

night, in quest of the fertile meadows and desert islands which Anna had mentioned in her letter. Even the

river seemed straight and uninteresting. But Julia was tiredit was nightand Antonio was absent.

The following morning Miss Emmerson and her niece, attended by Charles, took a walk to examine the

beauties of Albany. It did not strike our heroine as being so picturesque as it had her friend; still it had

novelty, and that lent it many charms it might have wanted on a more intimate acquaintance. Their forenoon,

however, exhausted the beauties of this charming town, and they had returned to the inn, and the ladies were

sitting in rather a listless state when Charles entered the room with a look of pleasure, and cried "he is here."

Julia was unable to say any more; but her aunt, without noticing her agitation, asked mildly, "And who is

This was an awful moment to Juliashe was on the eve of being confronted, in a room, for the first time,

with the man on whom she felt that her happiness or misery must depend. Although she knew the vast

importance to her of good looks at such a moment, she looked unusually illshe was pale from

apprehension, and awkward and ungraceful from her agitation. She would have given the world to have got

out of the room, but this was impossiblethere was but one door, and through that he must come. She had

just concluded that it was better to remain in her chair than incur the risk of fainting in the passage, when he

entered, preceded by Charles. His upper, and part of his lower lip, were clean shaved; a small part of one

cheek and his nose were to be seen; all the rest of his face was covered with hair, or hid under the patch. An

enormous coloured handkerchief was tied, in a particular manner, round his neck; and his coat, made of plain

materials, and somewhat tarnished with service, was buttoned as close to his throat as the handkerchief would

allow. In short, his whole attire was that of a common driver of a hack carriage; and no one who had not

previously received an intimation that his character was different from his appearance, would at all have

"Your name is Anthony?" said Miss Emmerson, as he bowed to her with due deference.

"Yes, ma'am, AnthonyTony Sandford," was the replyit was uttered in a vulgar nasal tone, that Julia

instantly perceived was counterfeited: but Miss Emmerson, with perfect innocency, proceeded in her

"Are your horses gentle and good, Tony?" adopting the familiar nomenclature that seemed most to his fancy.

"As gentle as e'er a lady in the land," said Tony, turning his large black eye round the room, and letting it

dwell a moment on the beautiful face of Juliaher heart throbbed with tumultuous emotion at the first sound

of his voice, and she was highly amused at the ingenuity he had displayed, in paying a characteristic

compliment to her gentleness, in this clandestine mannerif he preserves his incognito so ingeniously he

"I can't say how fit it may be to carry sich ladies as you be, but it is as good a carriage as runs out of York."

Here was another delicate compliment, thought Julia, and so artfully concealed under brutal indifference that

"This moment," was the prompt reply"we can easily reach Schenectady by sundown."

Here Julia saw the decision and promptitude of a soldier used to marches and movements, besides an eager

desire to remove her from the bustle of a large town and thoroughfare, to a retirement where she would be

more particularly under his protection. Miss Emmerson, on the other hand, saw nothing but the anxiety of a

careful hireling, willing to promote the interest of his master, who was to be paid for his conveyance by the

jobso differently do sixty and sixteen judge the same actions! At all events, the offer was accepted, and the

"Why don't you help Antonio on with the baggage, Charles?" said Julia, as she stood looking at the driver

tottering under the weight of the trunks. Charles stared a moment with surprisethe name created no

astonishment, but the request did. Julia had a habit of softening names, that were rather harsh in themselves,

to which he was accustomed. Peter she called Pierre; Robert was Rubert {sic}; and her aunt's black footman

Timothy, she had designated as Timotheus: but it was not usual for ladies to request gentlemen to perform

menial officesuntil, recollecting that Julia had expressed unusual solicitude concerning a dressingbox that

contained Anna's letters, he at once supposed it was to that she wished him to attend. Charles left the room,

and superintended the whole arrangements, when once enlisted. Julia now felt that every doubt of the identity

of her lover with this coachman was removed. He had ingeniously adopted the name of Anthony, as

resembling in sound the one she herself had given him in her letters. This he undoubtedly had learnt from

Annaand then Sandford was very much like Stanleyhis patch, his dress, his airevery thing about him

united to confirm her impressions; and Julia, at the same time she resolved to conduct herself towards him in

their journey with a proper feminine reserve, thought she could do no less to a man who submitted to so

much to serve her, than to suffer him to perceive that she was not entirely insensible to the obligation.

Our heroine could not but admire the knowing manner with which Antonio took his seat on the carriage, and

the dexterity he discovered in the management of his horsesthis was infallible evidence of his acquaintance

with the animal, and a sure sign that he was the master of many, and had long been accustomed to their

In the constant excitement produced by her situation, Julia could not enter into all the feelings described by

her friend, during the ride to Schenectady. Its beauties might be melancholy, but could she be melancholy,

and Antonio so near? The pines might be silvery and lofty, but the proud stature of majestic man, eclipsed in

her eyes all their beauties. Not so Charles. He early began to lavish his abuse on the sterile grounds they

passed, and gave any thing but encomiums on the smoothness of the road they were travelling. In the latter

particular, even the quiet spirit of Miss Emmerson joined him, and Julia herself was occasionally made

{sterile grounds = the sandy "pine barrens" between Albany and Schenectady were notorious for their lack of

"Do I drive too fast for the ladies?" asked Antonio, on hearing a slight complaint and a faint scream in the

soft voice of Julia. Oh, how considerate he is! thought our heroinehow tender!without his care I

certainly should have been killed in this rude place. It was expected that as she had complained, she would

answer; and after a moment employed in rallying her senses for the undertaking, she replied in a voice of

For a world Julia could not have said more; and Miss Emmerson thought that she had said quite as much as

the occasion required; but Miss Emmerson, it will be remembered, supposed their driver to be Anthony

Sandford. The hero, himself, on hearing such a gentle voice so softly replying to his question, could not

refrain from turning his face into the carriage, and Julia felt her own eyes lower before his earnest gaze, while

her cheeks burned with the blushes that suffused them. But the look spoke volumeshe understands my

"Antonio," thought Julia, and perceives that, to me, he is no longer unknown. That expressive glance has

opened between us a communication that will cease but with our lives. Julia now enjoyed, for the remainder

of their journey to Mr. Miller's, one of the greatest pleasures of loveunsuspected by others, she could hold

communion with him who had her heart, by the eyes, and a thousand tender and nameless little offices which

They had now got half way between the two cities, and Charles took a seat by the side of the driver, with the

intention, as he expressed himself, of stretching his legs: the carriage was open and light, so that all of the

figures of the two young men could be seen by the ladies, as well as their conversation heard. Charles never

appeared to less advantage in his person, thought Julia, than now, seated by the side of the manly and noble

Antonio. The figure of Charles was light, and by no means without grace; yet it did not strike the fancy of our

heroine as so fit to shield and support her through life, as the more robust person of his companion. Julia

herself was, in form, the counterpart of her mindshe was light, airy, and beautifully softened in all her

outlines. It was impossible to mistake her for any thing but a lady, and one of the gentlest passions and

sentiments. She felt her own weakness, and would repose it on the manly strength of Antonio.

"Which do you call the best of your horses?" asked Charles, so soon as he had got himself comfortably

"The offbut both are true as steel," was the laconic reply. The comparison was new to Julia, and it

"How long have you followed the business of a driver, Tony?" said Charles, in the careless manner of a

gentleman when he wishes to introduce familiarity with an inferior, by seeming to take an interest in the

other's affairs. Julia felt indignant at the freedom of his manner, and particularly at the epithet of

"Tony"yet her lover did not in the least regard eitheror rather his manner exhibited no symptoms of

displeasurehe has made up his mind, thought Julia, to support his disguise, and it is best for us both that he

"Ever since I was sixteen I have been used to horses," was the reply of Antonio to the question of

CharlesJulia smiled at the ambiguity of the answer, and was confirmed in her impression that he had left

"You must understand them well by this time," continued Charles, glancing his eye at his companion as if to

judge of his years"You must be forty"Julia fidgeted a little at this guess of Charles, but soon satisfied

"My age is very deceiving," said the man; "I have seen great hardships in my time, both of body and mind."

Here Julia could scarcely breathe through anxiety. Every syllable that he uttered was devoured with eager

curiosity by the enamoured girlhe knew that she was a listener, and that she understood his disguise; and

doubtless meant, in that indirect manner, to acquaint her with the incidents of his life. It was clear that he

indicated his age to be less than what his appearance would have led her to believehis sufferings, his cruel

Nothing could be plainer than thisit was a direct assertion of his degradation by the business in which he

"In what manner did you lose your eye, Tony," said Charles, in a tone of sympathy that Julia blessed him for

in her heart, although she knew that the member was uninjured, and only hidden to favour his disguise.

Antonio hesitated a little in his answer, and stammered while giving it"It was in the wars," at length he got

out, and Julia admired the noble magnanimity which would not allow him, even in imagination, to suffer in a

less glorious mannernotwithstanding his eye is safe and as beautiful as the other, he has suffered in the

wars, thought our heroine, and it is pardonable for him to use the deception, situated as he isit is nothing

more than an equivoque. But this was touching Charles on a favourite chord. Little of a hero as Julia fancied

him to be, he delighted in conversing about the war with those men, who, having acted in subordinate

stations, would give a different view of the subject from the official accounts, in which he was deeply read. It

was no wonder, therefore, that he eagerly seized on the present opportunity to relieve the tedium of a ride

"By sea," said Antonio, speaking to his horses, with an evident unwillingness to say any more on the subject.

Ah! the deception, and the idea of his friend Lawrence, are too much for his sensibility, thought Julia; and to

Antonio, certainly, was not her cousin Charles; but as if he thought the answering such questions to be his

There was nothing in the answer itself, or the manner of its delivery, to attract notice in an unsuspecting

listener; but by Julia it was well understoodit was the first time he had ever spoken directly to herselfit

was a new era in their livesand his body turned half round toward her as he spoke, showed his manly form

to great advantage; but the impressive and dignified manner in which he dropped his whip towards the

milestone, Julia felt that she never could forgetit was intended to mark the spot where he had first

addressed her. He had chosen it with taste. The stone stood under the shade of a solitary oak, and might easily

be fancied to be a monument erected to commemorate some important event in the lives of our lovers. Julia

ran over in her mind the time when she should pay an annual visit to that hallowed place, and leaning on the

arm of her majestic husband, murmur in his ear, "Here, on this loved spot, did Antonio first address his

"Well, Tony," said the mild voice of Miss Emmerson, "the sun is near setting, let us go the four miles as fast

"I'm sure, ma'am," said Antonio, with profound respect, "you don't want to get in more than I do, for I had no

sleep all last night; I'll not keep you out one minute after night"so saying, he urged his horses to a fast trot,

and was quite us good as his word. How delicate in his attentions, and yet how artfully has he concealed his

If any thing had been wanting either to convince Julia of the truth of her conjecture, or to secure the conquest

THE following day our travellers were on the road before the sun, and busily pursued their route through the

delightful valley of the Mohawk. It was now that Julia, in some measure accustomed to her proximity to her

hero, began to enjoy the beauties of the scenery; her eye dwelt with rapture on each opening glimpse that they

caught of the river, and took in its gaze meadows of neverfailing verdure, which were beautifully

interspersed with elms that seemed coeval with the country itself. Occasionally she would draw the attention

of her aunt to some view of particular interest; and if her eager voice caught the attention of Antonio, and he

turned to gaze, to ponder, and to admirethen Julia felt happy indeed, for then it was that she felt the

indescribable bliss of sharing our pleasures with those we love. What heart of sensibility has stood and coldly

gazed on a scene over which the eye, that it loves to admire, is roving with delight? Who is there that has yet

to learn, that if the strongest bond to love is propinquity, so is its tenderest tie, sympathy? In this manner did

our lovely heroine pass a day of hitherto untasted bliss. Antonio would frequently stop his horses on the

summit of a hill, and Julia understood the motive; turning her looks in the direction in which she saw the eye

of her lover bent, she would sit in silent and secret communion with his feelings. In vain Charles endeavoured

to catch her attentionhis remarks were unnoticed, and his simple efforts to please disregarded. At length, as

they advanced towards the close of their day's ride, Charles, observing a mountain obtruding itself directly

across their path, and meeting the river, which swept with great velocity around its base, cried aloud with a

"Charles!" exclaimed Julia, shocked at his rude familiarities with a man of Antonio's elevated character.

"Poh!" said the young man, in an under tone, conceiving her surprise to be occasioned by his lowering

himself to joke with an inferior, "he is a good, honest fellow, and don't mind a joke at all, I assure you."

Charles was right, for Antonio, moving his face, with a laugh cried in his turn"There, sir, my nose is

Julia was amused with his condescension, which she thought augured perfect goodnature and affability.

After all, thought Julia, if noble and commanding qualities are necessary to excite admiration or to command

respect, familiar virtues induce us to love more tenderly, and good temper is absolutely necessary to

contribute to our comfort. On the whole, she was rather pleased than otherwise, that Antonio could receive

and return what was evidently intended for a witticism, although as yet she did not comprehend it. But

Charles did not leave her long in doubt. On the north side of the Mohawk, and at about fifty miles from its

mouth, is a mountain which, as we have already said, juts, in a nearly perpendicular promontory, into the bed

of the river; its inclination is sufficient to admit of its receiving the name of a nose. Without the least

intention of alluding to our hero, the early settlers had affixed the name of St. Anthony, who appears to have

been a kind of Dutch deity in this state, and to have monopolized all the natural noses within her boundaries

to himself. The vulgar idiom made the pronunciation anTONY's noseand all this Charles briefly

explained to Miss Emmerson and her niece by way of giving point to his own wit. He had hardly made them

comprehend the full brilliancy and beauty of his application of the mountain to their driver, when they

reached the pass itself. The road was barely sufficient to suffer two carriages to move by each other without

touching, being from necessity dug out of the base of the mountain; a precipice of many feet led to the river,

which was high and turbulent at the time; there was no railing nor any protection on the side next the

waterand in endeavouring to avoid the unprotected side of the road, two wagons had met a short time

before, and one of them lost a wheel in the encounterits owner had gone to a distance for assistance,

leaving the vehicle where it had fallen. The horses of Antonio, unaccustomed to such a sight, were with some

difficulty driven by the loaded wagon, and when nearly past the object, took a sudden fright at its top, which

was flapping in the wind. All the skill and exertions of Antonio to prevent their backing was useless, and

carriage and horses would inevitably have gone off the bank together, had not Charles, with admirable

presence of mind, opened a door, and springing out, placed a billet of wood, which had been used as a base

for a lever in lifting the broken wagon, under one of the wheels. This checked the horses until Antonio had

time to rally them, and, by using the whip with energy, bring them into the road again. He certainly showed

great dexterity as a coachman. But, unhappily, the movement of Charles had been misunderstood by Julia,

and, throwing open the door, with the blindness of fear, she sprang from the carriage also: it was on the side

next the water, and her first leap was over the bank; the hill was not perpendicular, but too steep for Julia to

recover her balanceand partly running, and partly falling, the unfortunate girl was plunged into the rapid

river. Charles heard the screams of Miss Emmerson, and caught a glimpse of the dress of Julia as she sprang

from the carriage. He ran to the bank just in time to see her fall into the water.

{St. Anthony's Nose = this incident probably occurred at a place on the Mohawk River called today The

Noses, between Fonda and Palatine Bridge; there is another St. Anthony's Nose on the Hudson River}

"Oh, God!" he cried, "Julia!my Julia!"and, without seeming to touch the earth, he flew down the bank,

and threw himself headlong into the stream. His great exertions and nervous arms soon brought him

alongside of Julia, and, happily for them both, an eddy in the waters drew them to the land. With some

Julia was not insensible, nor in the least injured. Her aunt was soon by her side, and folding her in her arms,

poured out her feelings in a torrent of tears. Charles would not, however, suffer any delay, or expressions of

gratitudebut, forcing both aunt and niece into the carriage, bid Anthony drive rapidly to a tavern known to

On their arrival, both Julia and Charles immediately clad themselves in dry clotheswhen Miss Emmerson

commanded the presence of the young man in her own room. On entering, Charles found Julia sitting by a

fire, a thousand times handsomer, if possible, than ever. Her eyes were beaming with gratitude, and her

countenance was glowing with the excitement produced by the danger that she had encountered.

"Ah! Charles, my dear cousin," cried Julia, rising and meeting him with both hands extended, "I owe my life

"And mine too, Charles." said Miss Emmerson; "but for you, we should have all gone off the hill together."

"Yes, if Anthony had not managed the horses admirably, you might have gone indeed," said Charles, with a

modest wish to get rid of their praise. But this was an unlucky speech for Charles: he had, unconsciously

presented the image of a rival, at the moment that he hoped he filled all the thoughts of Julia.

"Ah, Antonio!" she cried, "poor Antonio!and where is he?Why do you not send for him, dear aunt?"

"What, my love, into my bedchamber!" said Miss Emmerson, in surprise; "fear has made the girl

"In the stable, with the horses, I believe," said the youth"no, here he is, under the window, leading them to

"Give him this money," said Miss Emmerson, "and tell him it is for his admirable skill in saving my life."

Julia saw the danger of an exposure if she interfered, yet she had the curiosity to go to the window, and see

"Here, Anthony," said Charles, "Miss Emmerson has sent you ten dollars, for driving so well, and saving the

But Charles, accustomed to the backwardness of the common Americans to receive more than the price

stipulated, still extended his hand towards the man. Julia saw his embarrassment, and knowing of no other

"Take it for my sake, Antonioif it be unworthy of you, still, take it, to oblige me."

The man no longer hesitated, but took the money, and gave Julia a look and a bow that sunk deep into the

tablet of her memorywhile Charles thought him extremely well paid for what he had done, but made due

"You perceive," said Miss Emmerson, with a smile, as Julia withdrew from the window, "if Charles be a little

"Ah! I retract my error," cried Julia; "Charles must be brave, or he never could have acted so coolly, and so

"Very true, my love," said Miss Emmerson, excessively gratified to hear her niece praise the youth; "it is the

surest test of courage when men behave with presence of mind in novel situations. Those accustomed to

particular dangers easily discharge their duties, because they know, as it were instinctively, what is to be

done. Thus with Tonyhe did well, but, I doubt not, he was horribly frightenedand for the world he could

"Not Antonio!" echoed Julia, thrown a little off her guard"I would pledge my life, aunt, that Antonio

"It was his place," said Julia, "to manage the horses, and you acknowledge that he did it well. Duties incurred,

no matter how unworthy of us, must be discharged; and although we may be conscious that our merit or our

birth entitles us to a different station from the one we fill, yet a noble mind will not cease to perform its duty,

Miss Emmerson listened in surprise; but as her niece often talked in a manner that she did not comprehend,

she attributed it to the improvements in education, and was satisfied. But Julia had furnished herself with a

clue to what had occasioned her some uneasiness. At one time she thought Antonio ought to have left

carriage, horses, every thing, and flown to her rescue, as Charles had done; but now she saw that the probity

of his soul forbade it. He had, doubtless, by secret means, induced the owner of the horses to entrust them to

his keepingand could he, a soldier, one used to trust and responsibility, forget his duty in the moment of

need? Sooner would the sentinel quit his post unrelievedsooner the gallant soldier turn his back on his

With this view of the propriety of his conduct, Julia was filled with the desire to let him know that she

approved of what he had done. Surely, if any thing can be mortifying to a lover, thought our heroine, it must

be to see a rival save the life of his mistress, while imperious duty chains him to another task.

Young as Julia was, she had already learnt, that it is not enough for our happiness that we have the

consciousness of doing right, but it is necessary that others should think we have done so too.

Accordingly, early the following morning she arose, and wandered around the house, in hopes that chance

would throw her lover in her way, and give her an opportunity of relieving his mind from the load of

mortification under which she knew he must be labouring. It was seldom that our heroine had been in the

public barroom of a tavernbut, in gliding by the door, she caught a glimpse of Antonio in the bar; and,

impelled by her feelings, she was near him before she had time to collect her scattered senses. To be with

Antonio, and alone, Julia felt was dangerous; for his passion might bring on a declaration, and betray them

both to the public and vulgar notice.Anxious, therefore, to effect her object at once, she gently laid her

hand on his armAntonio started and turned, while the glass in his hands fell, with its contents, untasted, on

"Rest easy, Antonio," said Julia, in the gentlest possible tones; "to me your conduct is satisfactory, and your

secret will never be exposed." So saying, she turned quickly, and glided from the room.

"As I hope to be saved," said Antonio, "I meant nothing wrongbut should have paid the landlord the

moment he came in"but Julia heard him not. Her errand was happily executed, and she was already by the

side of her aunt. On entering the carriage, Julia noticed the eye of Antonio fixed on her with peculiar

meaning, and she felt that her conduct had been appreciated.From this time until the day of their arrival at

the house of Mr. Miller, nothing material occurred. Antonio rose every hour in the estimation of Julia, and the

young lady noticed a marked difference in her lover's conduct towards her. A few miles before they reached

"Tomorrow will be the twentieth of September; when I am to know who will be my companion for the

"Ah! aunt, you may know that now, if I am to decide," said Julia, "it will be Anna, my Anna, surely."

Her manner was enthusiastic, and her voice a little louder than usual. Antonio turned his head, and their eyes

met. Julia read in that glance the approbation of her generous friendship. Miss Emmerson was a good deal

hurt at this decision of her niece, who, she thought, knowing her sentiments, would be induced to have been

satisfied with the visit to Anna, and taken Katherine for the winter. It was with reluctance that the aunt

"Remember, Julia, that you have not my permission to ask your friend until the twentiethwe can stay but

one night at Mr. Miller's, but if Anna is to spend the winter in Park Place, we will return this way from the

"Thank you, dear aunt," cried Julia, kissing her with an affection that almost reconciled Miss Emmerson to

Julia saw that Antonio pitied her impatiencefor the moment he arrived in sight of Mr. Miller's house, he

put his horses to their speed, and dashed into the courtyard in the space of a few minutes. For a little while

all was confusion and joy. Anna seemed delighted to see her friend, and Julia was in rapturesthey flew into

each other's armsand if their parting embrace was embalmed in tears, their meeting was enlivened with

smiles. With arms interlocked, they went about the house, the very pictures of joy.Even Antonio, at the

moment, was forgotten, and all devoted to friendship. Nay, as if sensible of the impropriety of his appearance

at that critical instant, he withdrew himself from observationand his delicacy was not lost on Julia. Happy

are they who can act in consonance with their own delicate sentiments, and rest satisfied with the knowledge

that their motives are understood by those whom it is their greatest desire to please!Such, too fortunate

Antonio, was thy lotfor no emotion of thy sensitive mind, no act of thy scrupulously honourable life,

It has been already mentioned that the family of Mr. Miller was large; and amid the tumult and confusion of

receiving their guests, no opportunity was afforded to the friends for conversation in private. The evening

passed swiftly, and the hour for bed arrived without any other communication between Julia and Anna than

whisperings and pressures of the hands, together with a thousand glances of peculiar meaning with the eyes.

But Julia did not regret this so much as if Antonio had been unknownshe had been in his company for four

days, and knew, or thought she knew, already, as much of his history as Anna herself.But one thought

distressed her, and that was, that his residence might be far from the house of her aunt. This reflection gave

the tenderhearted girl real pain, and her principal wish to converse with Anna in private was to ascertain her

future lot on this distressing point. No opportunity, however, offered that night, and Julia saw that in the

morning her time would be limited, for Miss Emmerson desired Mr. Miller to order her carriage to be in

"When, dear aunt, am I to give Anna the invitation," said Julia, when they were left alone, "if you start so

"The proper time will be, my child, immediately before we get into the carriage," said Miss Emmerson, with

a sigh of regret at the determination of her niece; "it will then be more pointed, and call for an immediate

This satisfied Julia, who knew that it would be accepted by her friend, and she soon fell asleep, to dream a

The following morning Julia arose with the sun, and her first employment was to seek her friend. Anna had

also risen, and was waiting impatiently for the other's appearance, in the vacant parlour.

"Ah! dear Julia," said she, catching her arm and dragging her to a window, "I thought you would never

come.Well, are we to spend the winter togetherhave you spoken to your dear, dear aunt, about it?"

"You shall know in good time, my Anna," said Julia, mindful of the wishes of her aunt, and speaking with a

"I am tonguetied at present," said Julia, laughing; "but not on every subject," she continued, blushing to the

"Who is he?" echoed Anna"why, nobody!one must have something to write about, you know, to a

Julia felt sick and fainther colour left her cheeks as she forced a smile, and uttered, in a low voice"But

"A man of straw," cried Anna, with unfeeling levity; "no such creature in the world, I do assure you!"

Julia made a mighty effort to conquer her emotion, and wildly seizing Anna by the arm, she pointed to her

aunt's coachman, who was at work on his carriage at no great distance, and uttered"For God's sake, who is

"He!" cried Anna, in surprise, "why, your driverand an ugly wretch he is!don't you know your own

Julia burst from her treacherous friendrushed into the room of her auntand throwing herself into the arms

of Miss Emmerson, wept for an hour as if her heart would break. Miss Emmerson saw that something had

hurt her feelings excessively, and that it was something she would not reveal. Believing that it was a quarrel

with her friend, and hoping at all events that it would interrupt their intercourse, Miss Emmerson, instead of

trying to discover her niece's secret, employed herself in persuading her to appear before the family with

composure, and to take leave of them with decency and respect. In this she succeeded, and the happy moment

arrived. Anna in vain pressed near her friend to receive the invitationand her mother more than once hinted

at the thousand pities it was to separate two that loved one another so fondly. No invitation was givenand

although Anna spent half a day in searching for a letter, that she insisted must be left in some romantic place,

While resting with her foot on the step of the carriage, about to enter it, Julia, whose looks were depressed

from shame, saw a fluid that was discoloured with tobacco fall on her shoe and soil her stocking. Raising her

eyes with disgust, she perceived that the wind had wafted it from the mouth of Antonio, as he held open the

doorand the same blast throwing aside his screen of silk, discovered a face that was deformed with disease,

Our travellers returned to the city by the way of Montreal and Lake Champlain; nor was it until Julia had

been the happy wife of Charles Weston for more than a year, that she could summon resolution to own that

ON one of those clear, cold days of December, which so frequently occur in our climate, two very young

women were walking on the fashionable promenade of NewYork. In the person of the elder of these females

there was exhibited nothing more than the usual indications of youth and health; but there were a delicacy

and an expression of exquisite feeling in the countenance of her companion, that caused many a plodding or

idle passenger to turn and renew the gaze, which had been attracted by so lovely a person. Her figure was

light, and possessed rather a character of aerial grace, than the usual rounded lines of earthly beauty; and her

face was beaming more with the sentiments of the soul within, than with the ordinary charms of complexion

and features. It was precisely that kind of youthful loveliness that a childless husband would pause to

contemplate as the reality of the visions which his thoughts had often portrayed, and which his nature coveted

as the only treasure wanting to complete the sum of his earthly bliss. It truly looked a being to be loved

without the usual alloy of our passions; and there was a modest ingenuousness which shone in her air, that

gently impelled the hearts of others to regard its possessor with a species of holy affection. Amongst the gay

throng, however, that thoughtlessly glided along the Broadway, even this image of female perfection was

suffered to move unnoticed by hundreds; and it was owing to the obstruction offered to the passage of the

ladies, by a small crowd that had gathered on the sidewalk, that a gentleman of uncommon personal

endowments enjoyed an opportunity of examining it with more than ordinary attention. The eldest of the

females drew her companion away from this impediment to their passage, by moving towards the opposite

side of the street, and observing, as they crossed, with an indifference in her manner

"It is nothing, Charlotte, but a drunken man; if people will drink, they must abide the consequences."

"He does not seem intoxicated, Maria," replied the other, in a voice whose tones corresponded with her

"One that, I dare say, he is accustomed to," said Maria, without having even taken such a look at the sufferer

as would enable her to identify his colour; "he will be well enough after he has slept."

"But is the pavement a place for him to sleep on?" rejoined her companion, still gazing towards the miserable

object; "and if he should be ill!why do they not raise him?Why do they suffer him to injure himself as

The speaker, at the same time that she shrunk in a kind of sensitive horror from this exhibition of human

infirmities, now unconsciously stopped, with an interest in the man that she could not controul, and thus

compelled Maria to pause also. The crowd had withdrawn from the man, giving him sufficient room to roll

over, in evident pain, while they yet stood gazing at him, with that indefinable feeling of curiosity and

nerveless sympathy, which characterises man when not called on to act, by emulation, vanity, or the practice

of welldoing. No one offered to assist the sufferer, although many said it ought to be done; some spoke of

sending for those who monopolized the official charity of the city; many, having satisfied their curiosity, and

finding that the moment for action was arriving, quietly withdrew from a trouble that would interfere with

their comforts or their businesswhile a few felt an impulse to aid the man, but hesitated in being foremost

in doing that which would be honourable to their feelings, but might not accord with their condition, or might

seem as the ostentatious display of unusual benevolence. Where men are congregated, conduct must be

regulated by the touchstone of public opinion; and, although it is the fashion of NewYork to applaud acts of

charity, and to do them too in a particular mannerit is by no means usual to run to the assistance of a

{those who monopolized the official charity = in 1821 the only officially supported charitable organization in

New York City was the City Dispensary municipal aid to others having been cut off in 1817 on the

Whatever might be the impulses of the gentleman whom we have mentioned, his attention was too much

absorbed by the conversation and manner of the two ladies to regard any thing else, and he followed them

across the street, and stopped also when they paused to view the scene. He was inwardly and deeply admiring

the most youthful of the females, for the natural and simple display of those very qualities that he forgot

himself to exercise, when he was roused with a feeling of something like mortification, by hearing Charlotte

"Ah! there is George Morton cominghe surely will not pass the poor man without offering to assist him."

The gentleman turned his head quickly, and noticed a youth making his way through the crowd, successfully,

to the side of the sufferer. The distance was too great to hear what passedbut an empty coach, whose driver

had stopped to gaze with the rest, was instantly drawn up, and the man lifted in, and followed by the youth,

whose appearance had effected these movements with the silence and almost with the quietness of magic.

George Morton was far from possessing the elegant exterior of the uneasy observer of this scene, yet were the

eyes of the lovely young woman who had caught his attention, fixed in evident delight on his person, until it

was hid from view in the carriage; when, drawing a long breath, as if relieved from great uneasiness, she said,

"I knew that George Morton would not pass him so unfeelinglybut where are they going?not far, I hope,

There was a plaintive and natural melody in the tones of the speaker's voice, as she thus unconsciously

uttered her concern, that impelled the listener to advance to the side of the carriage, where a short

conversation passed between the gentlemen, and the stranger returned to the ladies, who were yet lingering

near the spot, apparently unwilling to depart from a scene that had so deeply interested one of them. Raising

his hat, the gentleman, addressing himself to the magnet that had attracted him, said

"Your friend declines the offer of my coat, and says that the carriage is quite warmthey are going to the

almshouse, and I am happy to inform you that the poor man is already much better, and is recovering from

{The New York City Almshouse, at Bellevue on the East River, housed over 1,500 inmates at a time (with

annual deaths approaching 500), and served as a last refuge for the destitute of all ages}

Charlotte now for the first time observed the speaker, and a blush passed over her face as she courtesied her

thanks in silence. But her companion, aroused from gazing at the finery of a shop window, by the voice of the

"Bless me! Mr. DelafieldI did not observe you before!then you think the poor wretch will not die?"

"Ah! assuredly not," returned the gentleman, recognizing the face of an acquaintance, with an animation he

could not conceal: "but how inadvertent I have been, not to have noticed Miss Osgood before!"While

speaking, his eyes rested on the lovely countenance of her friend, as if, by their direction, he meant to explain

"We were both too much engaged with the sufferings of the poor man, for until this moment I did not observe

you," said the ladywith that kind of instinctive quickness that teaches the fair the importance of an amiable

"Doubtless," returned the gentleman, gravely, and for the first time withdrawing his gaze from the

countenance of Charlotte; but the precaution was unnecessary:the young lady had been too much

engrossed with her own sensations to notice the conduct of others, and from the moment that the carriage had

driven out of right, had kept her eyes on the ground, as she walked silently and unobtrusively by the side of

"Miss HenlyMr. Seymour Delafield," said Maria. The silent bow and courtesy that followed this

introduction was succeeded by an animated discourse between the gentleman and his old acquaintance, which

was, but seldom interrupted by any remark from their more retiring companion. Whenever she did speak,

however, the gentleman listened with the most flattering attention, that was the more remarkable, from the

circumstance of his talking frequently at the same time with Maria Osgood. The trio took a long walk

together, and returned to the house of Mr. Henly, in time for the necessary arrangements for the coming

dinner. It was when within a short distance of the dwelling of Charlotte that the gentleman ventured to allude

"The fearless manner in which you predicted the humanity of Mr. Morton, would be highly gratifying to

himself, Miss Henly," he observed; "and were I of his acquaintance, it should be my task to inform him of

"I believe Mr. Morton has not now to learn that," said Charlotte, simply, but dropping her eyes; "I have been

the next door neighbour of George all my life, and have seen too much of his goodness of heart not to have

"But not to himself," cried Maria; "so, Mr. Delafield, if you wish to apprise him of his good fortune, you have

only to attend my music party tomorrow evening, and I will take particular care that you get acquainted with

The invitation was gladly accepted, and the gentleman took his leave at the door of the house.

"Well, Charlotte, you have seen him at last!" cried Maria, the instant the door had closed; "and I am dying to

"To save your life," said the other, laughing, "I will say a great deal, although you so often accuse me of

"Him! why, Delafield!Seymour Delafield!the pattern for all the beauxthe magnet for all the

"He has nonethey are dead and gonebut their money is left behind, and that brings him fathers and

"It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any way," said Charlotte, with emphasis.

"To be sure he can; he can do more than you or I could, my dear; he can pick his parents from the best in the

"And could he be better provided, as you call it, in that respect, than ourselves?" asked Miss Henly, a little

"Oh no, surely not; now if he were a woman, how soon would he be married!why, child, they say he is

"And miserable, perhaps, in a year," said Charlotte; "it is fortunate for him that he is a man, by your tale, or

"Oh! no one can be miserable that is well married," cried Maria; "Heigho! the idea of oldmaidism is too

"Why does not Mr. Delafield get married, then, if marriage be so very desirable?" said Miss Henly, smiling at

"Mercy! I beg pardon of female delicacy!but since the young man has returned from his travels, he has

been so muchmuch courtednay, by the old people, I meanand the girls beckon him about soand it's

Mr. Delafield, have you read Salmagundi?and, Mr. Delafield, have you seen Cooke?and, Mr. Delafield,

do you think we shall have war?and have you seen Bonaparte? And, in short, Mr. Delafield, with his

handsome person, and three hundred thousand dollars, has been so much of allinall to the ladies, that the

{Salmagundi = a series of comic essays (18191820) by New York City writer James Kirke Paulding

(17781860), emulating an earlier series by Washington Irving and others; Cooke = probably Thomas Potter

Cooke (17861864), a noted English actor; Bonaparte = Napoleon Bonaparte died on St. Helena in 1821}

"I really wonder that you never took the office upon yourself," said Charlotte, busied in throwing aside her

"Not with my tongue: but with my eyes, a thousand timesand with all that unspeakable language that

female invention can supply:I go where he goesif I see him in the street behind me, I move slowly and

"Exactlywe never keep an equal pace; this is the first time that he has walked with me since he returned

"To none otherhe talked to me, but he looked at you. Ah! he knows by instinct that you are an only

childand I do believe that the wretch knows that I have twelve brothers and sistersbut you had better

"What have the merits of George Morton and Mr. Delafield to do with each other?" said Charlotte, removing

her hat, and exhibiting a head of hair that opportunely fell in rich profusion over her shoulders, so as to

This concluded the conversation; for Charlotte instantly left the room, and was occupied for some time in

giving such orders as her office of assistant in housekeeping to her mother rendered necessary.

Charlotte Henly was the only child that had been left from six who were born to her parents, the others

having died in their infancy. The deaths of the rest of their children had occasioned the affection of her

parents to center in the last of their offspring with more than common warmth; and the tenderness of their

love was heightened by the extraordinary qualities of their child. Possessed of an abundance of the goods of

this world, these doating parents were looking around with intense anxiety, among their acquaintance, and

watching for the choice that was to determine the worldly happiness of their daughter.

Charlotte was but seventeen, yet the customs of the country, and the temptations of her expected wealth,

together with her own attractions, had already placed her within the notice of the world. But no symptom of

that incipient affection which was to govern her life, could either of her parents ever discover; and in the

exhibitions of her attachments, there was nothing to be seen but that quiet and regulated esteem, which grows

out of association and good sense, and which is so obviously different from the restless and varying emotions

Maria Osgood was a distant relative, and an early associate, who, although as different from her cousin in

appearance and character as black is from white, was still dear to the latter, both from habit and her

George Morton, the youth of whom such honourable mention has been made, was the son of a gentleman

who had long resided in the next dwelling to Mr. Henly in the city, and who also possessed a country house

near his own villa. These circumstances had induced an intimacy between the families that was cemented by

the good opinion each entertained of the qualities of the other, and which had been so long and so often tried

in scenes of happiness and misery, that were known to both. Young Morton was a few years the senior of

Charlotte; and, at the time of commencing our tale, was but lately released from his collegiate labours. His

goodness of heart and simplicity of manners made him an universal favourite; while the peculiarity of their

situation brought him oftener before the notice of Charlotte than any other young man of her

acquaintance.But, notwithstanding the intimation of Maria Osgood, none of their friends in the least

suspected any other feeling to exist between the youthful pair than the natural and very obvious one of

disinterested esteem. As the family seated themselves at the dinner table, their guest exclaimed, in the

"Oh! Mrs. Henly, I have to congratulate you on the prospects of your soon having a son, and one so amiable

"Indeed!" returned the matron, comprehending the other's meaning intuitively, "and what may be the young

"You will be the envy of all the mothers in town," continued Maria, "and deservedly so. Two such children to

fall to the lot of one mother!Nay, do not shake your head, Charlotte; it must and shall be a match, I am

"My friendship for you would deter me from the measure, should nothing else interfere," said Charlotte, good

"Ah! I have already abandoned my pretensionstwelve brothers and sisters, my dear, are a dreadful addition

"I am sure I do not think so," returned Charlotte, timidly glancing her eye at her mother; "besides, I feel

"And who is the youth?" asked Mrs. Henly, affecting an indifference that she did not feel.

"You will have the handsomest son in the city, certainly," said Maria; "and, possibly, the richestand the

"You quite excite my curiosity to know who this paragon can be," said the mother, looking at her husband,

"I do not think he is more than four and twenty," added Maria; "and his black eyes would form a charming

"To whom does Miss Osgood allude?" asked Mrs. Henly, yielding to a solicitude that she could no longer

"To Mr. Seymour Delafield," said Charlotte, raising her mild eyes to the face of her mother, and smiling, as

she delicately pared her apple, with a simple ingenuousness that banished uneasiness from the breast of her

"I know him," said Mr. Henly; "but I did not think you had ever seen him, Charlotte."

"He is thought to be very handsome," continued her father, helping himself to a glass of wine while speaking.

"And very justly," returned the daughter; "I think him the handsomest man that I have ever seen."

"I have not the least objection to his knowing it, on my own account, except from the indelicacy of

complimenting a gentleman," said Charlotte, with perfect simplicity; "but whether it would be beneficial to

"Not in the least; or, rather, he did not exhibit it to me"was the answer, with the same open air as before.

"He has also a great reputation for good sense," continued her father, avoiding the face of his child.

"Am I a judge?" asked Charlotte, rising, and holding a lighted paper to her father, while he took a new segar.

Her clear blue eyes resting on him in the fulness of filial affection, as she performed this office, and the open

air with which she bent forward to receive the kiss he offered in thanks, removed any apprehensions which

Mr. Henly knew nothing concerning this young man that would induce him at all to avoid the connexion, but

still he had not yet examined his character with that searching vigilance that he thought due to the innocence

and merit of his child. Determining within himself, however, that this was a task that should no longer be

neglected, he rose, and telling the ladies that he left the bottle with them, withdrew to his study.

The door had hardly closed behind Mr. Henly, when George Morton entered the dining parlour, with the

freedom of an old and favourite friend, and telling Mrs. Henly that, in consequence of his family's dining out,

and his own engagements, he was fasting, and begged her charity for a meal. From the instant that he

appeared, Charlotte had risen with alacrity, and was no sooner acquainted with his wants, than she rung to

order what he required. She brought him a glass of sparkling wine with her own hands, and pushing a chair

"I thank you," returned the youth, turning on her an eye of the most open affection; "I do feel unusually cold,

and begin to think, that with my weak lungs it would have been more prudent to have taken a surtout."

"Much better, and in extremely good quarters," said George; but, turning quickly to Miss Osgood, he added,

"Yes, Mr. Impudence," said Maria, smiling; {"}but come, fill your mouth with food, and be silent."

NOTWITHSTANDING the plenteous gifts which Providence had bestowed on the parents of Maria in the

way of descendants, Fortune had sufficiently smiled on his labours to enable him to educate them in what is

called a genteel manner, and to support them in a corresponding style. The family of Mr. Osgood exhibited

one of those pictures which are so frequent in America, where no other artificial distinctions exist in society

than those which are created by wealth, and where obscurity has no other foe to contend with than the demon

of poverty. His children were indulged in luxuries that his death was to dissipate, and enjoyed an opulence

that was only coexistent with the life of their parent. Accordingly, the music party that assembled on the

following evening at the house of Mr. Osgood, was brilliant, large, and fashionable. Seven grownup

daughters was a melancholy sight for the contemplation of the parents, and they both felt like venders of

goods who were exhibiting their wares to the best advantage. The splendid chandeliers and lustres of the

drawingroom were lighted for the same reason as the lamps in the glittering retail stores of Broadway; and

the brilliant effect of the taste of the young ladies was intended much like the nightly lustre of the

lotteryoffices, to tempt adventurers to try their chances. From this premeditated scheme of conquest we

ought, in justice, however, to except Maria herself, who, from constitutional gayety and thoughtlessness,

seldom planned for the morrow; and who, perhaps, from her association with Charlotte, had acquired a

degree of disinterestedness that certainly belonged to no other member of her family.

Whatever were the views of the family in collecting their friends and acquaintances on this important

evening, they were completely successful in one point at least; for, before nine, half the dilettanti of the city

were assembled in Greenwichstreet, in a most elaborate state of musical excitement. Charlotte Henly, of

course, was of the party, although she was absolutely ignorant of a single note, nor knew how to praise a

scientific execution, or to manifest disgust at simple melody. But, her importance in the world of fashion, and

her friend Maria, obtained her a place. There was a reason that secretly influenced Charlotte in electing her

evening's amusement, that was not known, however, even to her friend.George Morton played on the

German flute in a manner that vibrated on her nerves with an exquisite thrill that she often strove to conquer,

and yet ever loved to indulge. His musical powers were far from being generally applauded, as they were

thought to be deficient in compass and variety; but Charlotte never descended to criticism in music. She

conceived it to be an enjoyment for the senses only, or, rather, she thought nothing about it; and if the rounds

failed to delight her, she unhesitatingly attributed the circumstance to an absence of melody. It was to listen

to the flute of George Morton, then, that the drawingroom of Mrs. Osgood was adorned with the speaking

Among the guests who made an early appearance in this "Temple of Apollo," was the youth who had

attended the ladies in their walk. Seymour Delafield glanced his eye impatiently around the apartment, as

soon as he had paid the customary compliments to the mistress of the mansion and her bevy of fair daughters;

but a look of disappointment betrayed the search to be an unsuccessful one. Both the look and the result were

noticed by Maria; and, turning a glance of rather saucy meaning on the gentleman, she said

"I apprehend your flute, which, by the by, I am glad to see you have brought, will be rather in the penseroso

"Unless enlivened by the contagious gayety of your smile," returned Delafield, endeavouring to look

"Oh! my very laugh is musical, I know," interrupted Maria; "but then it is often shockingly out of time."

"It seldom fails to produce an accompaniment," said the gentleman, now smiling in reality; "but"

"Where is Charlotte Henley?" said the young lady, again interrupting him; "she has a perfect horror of the

tuning of fiddles and the preparatory thrummings on the piano; so endeavour to preserve the harmony of your

"Well! it is some relief to know she is coming at all," cried Seymour, quickly; and then, recovering himself

with perfect breeding, he added"for one would wish to see you as happy as all your friends can make you,

"I am extremely indebted to your unbounded philanthropy," said Maria, rising and courtseying with great

"Nay, nay," cried the youth, colouring and laughing, "you would not think of mentioning my remarks to"

"At the next meeting of the Dorcas Society, of which I am an unworthy member," continued Maria, without

{Dorcas Society = lady's group at a church, devoted to making and providing clothes for the poor}

Seymour Delafield now laughed without any affectationand exchanging a look of perfect consciousness of

each other's meaning, they separated, as the preparations for the business of the evening were about to

commence. For a short time there was a confusion of sounds that perfectly justified the absence of Miss

Henly, when the music began in earnest. Within half an hour, Mr. Delafield, who had suffered himself to be

drawn to the back of the chair of a professed belle, turning his head to conceal a yawn that neither the lady's

skill nor his good manners could repress, observed Charlotte sitting quietly by the side of her friend. Her

entrance had been conducted with such tact, that had she possessed the most musical ear imaginable, it were

impossible to disturb the party less; a circumstance that did not fail to impress Seymour agreeably, from its

novelty. He moved to the side of the fair vision that had engrossed all his thoughts since the moment they had

first met, and took the chair that the good nature of Miss Osgood offered to his acceptance between them.

"Thank fortune, Miss Henly," he said, the instant he was seated, "that bravura has ceased, and I can now

"I suffered no fatigue to recover from," replied the lady, raising her eyes to his with an expression that told

the youth he had better talk straight forward at once; "I walk too much to be fatigued with so short an

Seymour felt uneasy, and, perhaps, disappointed. He did not seem to have roused a single sensation in the

breast of his companion, and it was seldom that the elegant possessor of three hundred thousand dollars failed

to do so, wherever he went, or whatever he did. But, in the present instance, there was nothing to be discerned

in the countenance or manner of Charlotte that indicated any thing more than the sweetness of her nature and

"I sincerely hope so too," said Charlotte, with much simplicity, and yet with a good deal of feeling.

"I am fearful that we idle spectators," continued the gentleman, "suffered in your estimation, in not

"You should never put a disagreeable construction on the acts of another," said Charlotte, with a sweetness

that tended greatly to dissipate the mortification Mr. Delafield really felt, at the same time that he was

They were now again interrupted by the music, which continued some time, during which George Morton

made his appearance. His coat close buttoned to his throat, and an extra silk handkerchief around his neck,

which he removed only after he entered the apartment, immediately arrested the attention of Charlotte Henly.

Turning to Maria, she said, in those tones of real interest that never can be mistaken for manner

"I am afraid that George has suffered from his exposure. Do not ask him to play, for he will be sure to

"Oh! the chicken has only taken cold," cried Maria; "If he does not play, what will you do? you came here to

"Miss Henly has as many ears as other people," said Maria, "but she does not condescend to use them on all

"Rather say," cried Charlotte, laughing, "that the want of taste in Miss Henly renders her ears of but little use

"You are not fond of music, then?" asked the youth, a little vexed at thinking that an accomplishment on

"Passionately!" exclaimed Charlotte; then, colouring to the eyes, she added, "at least I sometimes think so,

"Those who think so must want it themselves," said Seymour, in a low voice; then, obedient to the beck of

"Now Charlotte, you little prude," whispered her friend, the instant he withdrew, "is he not very, very

"Know him!what more would you know of the man? You see his beauty and eleganceyou witness his

breedingyou listen to his sense and informationwhat more is necessary to fall in love with him?"

"Really, I pretend to no reasoning upon the subject at all," said Charlotte, smiling; "but if you have such an

intention, indulge in it freely, I beg of you, for you will not find a rival in me.But, listen, he is about to

A man with three hundred thousand dollars may play a solo, but he never can be alone where there are any to

listen. The hearts of many throb at the very breathings of wealth through a flute, who would remain callous to

the bitterest sighs of poverty. But Delafield possessed other attractions to catch the attention of the audience:

his powers on the instrument greatly exceeded those of any of his competitors, and his execution was really

wonderful; every tongue was silent, every ear was attentive, and every head nodded approbation, excepting

that of our heroine. Delafield, perfectly master of his instrument and the music, fixed his eye on the

countenance of Charlotte, and he experienced a thrill at his heart as he witnessed her lovely face smiling

approbation, while his fingers glided over the flute with a rapidity and skill that produced an astonishing

variety and gradation of sounds. At length, thought he, I have succeeded, and have made an impression on

this charming girl that is allied to admiration. The idea gave him spirits for the task, and his performance

exceeded any thing the company had ever witnessed before. On laying down the instrument, he approached

the place where the friends were sitting, with an exultation in his eyes that was inferior only to modesty in the

"Certainly, Mr. Delafield," cried Maria Osgood, "you have outdone your own outdoings."

"If I have been so fortunate as to please here, then I am rewarded indeed," said the youth, with a bow and an

expression that rendered it a little doubtful to which of the ladies the compliment was addressed. At this

"Mr. Delafield, let me make you acquainted with Mr. Morton," said Maria, glancing her eye at the former in a

"I have great pleasure in taking Mr. Morton by the hand," said Seymour, "if he will excuse the want of

ceremony in this company. The lesson that you gave to me yesterday, sir, will not soon be forgotten."

"In what manner, sir?" inquired George, with a little embarrassment and a conscious blush.

"In teaching me, among others, Mr. Morton, the difference between active and passive humanitybetween

To this unexpected compliment young Morton could do no more than bow in silence, for it was too flattering

for a replyand too true to deny. As Delafield turned his eye, at a little loss to know whether to be pleased

or not with his own humility, he met a look from Charlotte that more than rewarded him for the effort. It was

a mild, benevolent, pure glance, that spoke admiration and heartfelt pleasure. He forgot his solo, and the

expected compliments; and, for the rest of the evening, that thrilling expression floated in his brain, and was

present to his thoughts; it was worth a thousand of the studied glances that were continually aimed at him

from all sides of the room, and with every variety of eyefrom the piercing black, to the ogling gray. It was

a look that came directly from, and went to, the heart. If young ladies always knew how nicely nature has

qualified the other sex to judge of their actions, what multitudes of astonishingly expressive glances, and

artfully contrived gestures and movements, would sink down into looks, that indicated feelings and motives,

that were adapted to the occasion! What trouble in creating incidents that might draw out charms would be

avoided! And, in short, how much extra labour, both of body and mind, would be spared!

This agreeable contemplation of Mr. Delafield was soon interrupted by the cheerful voice of Maria Osgood,

"It is seldom that I have much health to boast of," replied the youth, in a feeble voice, and with a still feebler

There was so much truth in this remark, that the young man could only smile in silence, while Seymour,

surveying the very plain exterior of his new acquaintance, turned his eyes with additional satisfaction towards

"Surely," continued Charlotte, in a low tone to her friend, "George had better not play, looking so ill as he

"Certainly not; besides, his performance would not shine after that of Mr. Delafield."

Seymour overheard this speech, which was really intended only for the ear of Charlotte, and he was instantly

seized with an unaccountable desire to hear the flute of Mr. Morton. Seymour was conscious that he played

well, and could he have forgotten the indifference that Miss Henly exhibited to his performance, would have

A request from the mistress of the mansion now compelled George to make his appearance among the

musicians, and in a few minutes his flute was heard alone. There was a vacancy in the looks of Charlotte,

during the scientific execution of the different individuals who had been labouring at the several instruments

in the course of the evening, that denoted a total indifference to the display. But, the moment that George was

called on to take his part in the entertainment, this restlessness disappeared, and was succeeded by an

expression of intense interest and deep anxiety. The melody of George was simple and plaintive; he aimed at

no extraordinary exhibition of skill, and it was difficult to compare his music with that of Seymour. The

latter, however, studied the countenance of the young lady near him as the best index to their comparative

merit, and he was soon able to read his own want of success. For the first few minutes, anxiety was the

principal expression portrayed in her lovely face, but it was soon succeeded by a deep and powerful emotion.

There is something contagious in the natural expression of our passions, that insensibly enlists the sympathies

of the beholderand Seymour felt a soft melancholy stealing over him as he gazed, that was but a faint

reflection of the tenderness excited in the breast of Charlotte, while she listened to sounds that penetrated to

her very soul. There is no mistaking the effect of music that depends only on its melody. Its appeal to the

heart is direct end unequivocal, and nothing but callous indifference can resist its power. The most profound

silence pervaded the apartment, and George was enabled to finish his piece with a spirit that increased with

the attention. As the last breathing notes died on the ear, Delafield turned to meet those eyes which had

already secured an unconscious victory, and saw them moistened with a lustre that added to their natural

softness. Beauty in tears is proverbially irresistibleand the youth, bending forward, said in a voice that was

"Does it not touch the heart?" asked the young lady, with a little of unusual animation.

All the pleasure which had shone in the countenance of Charlotte, vanished instantly, and gave place to deep

"Oh! it is unjustifiable, thus to purchase pleasure at the expense of another," said she, in a tone that Seymour

How tenderly would the man be loved, thought the youth, who succeeded in engaging the affections of this

young creature! how disinterested is her regardand how considerate are her feelings! Here will I trust my

No two persons could possibly be actuated by sensations more different than Charlotte and Seymour

Delafield. He had been so long palled with the attentions of managing mothers and designing daughters; had

seen so much of female manoeuvring, and had so easily seen through it, that the natural and inartificial

loveliness of Charlotte touched his senses with a freshness of delicacy that to him was as captivating as it was

novel. Upon unpractised men, the arts of the sex are often successful, but generally they are allies that

increase the number of the assailants, without promoting the victory. It is certain that many a fair one played

that evening in order that Mr. Delafield might applaud; that some sighed that he might hear, and others ogled

that he might sigh: but not one made the impression that the quiet, speaking eye, and artless but peaceful

nature of Charlotte produced on the youth. While this novel feeling was gaining ground in the bosom of Mr.

Delafield, Charlotte saw nothing in her new acquaintance but a gentleman of extraordinary personal beauty,

agreeable manners, and graceful addressqualities that are always sure to please, and, not unusually, to

captivate. But to her he was a stranger; and Charlotte, who never thought or reasoned on the subject, would

have been astonished had one seriously spoken of her loving him. The road to conquest with her lay through

"Heigho! George," cried Maria, as he approached, "you have given me the dolefuls."

The lip of the youth quivered, and a smile of mournful and indefinable meaning passed over his features, but

"Such as putting the little dears to sleep in the nursery, which is directly over our heads."

"You have brought tears into eyes that never should weep," cried Delafield, "and melancholy to a

Morton looked earnestly at the speaker for a moment, when a painful feeling seemed suddenly to seize on his

heartfor his cheek grew paler, and his lip quivered with an agitation that apparently he could not control.

"To oblige you, I would do much more unwelcome biddings," he replied, with a slight colour; "but I believe

He rose, and, paying the customary compliments to the mistress of the mansion, withdrew. With him

In vain was Seymour Delafield attentive, polite, and even particularly so. That devotedness of admiration for

which so many sighed, and which so many envied, was entirely thrown away upon Charlotte. She listened,

she bowed, and she smiledand, sometimes, she answered; but it was evidently without meaning or interest,

until, wearied with his fruitless efforts to make an impression, and perhaps with a hope of exciting a little

"Your mother's nursery, Miss Osgood," he cried, "ought on such an occasion to be tenantless."

"You think there are enough of us here to make it so," returned the lady, with an affected sigh.

"I really had not observed the number of your charming familyhow many are there of you?"

"A baker's dozen." Charlotte laughed, and the youth felt mortified. The laugh was natural, and clearly

"When you are all married," he said, "you will form a little world in yourselves."

{When the sky.... = an old proverb, found in English, French, and even Latin, meaning that the idea or

Maria made no reply, but turned her eyes on Delafield, with an affected expression of melancholy that

"You certainly have made no rash vow on the subject," continued Seymour, pretending to a slight interest in

A general movement in the party was gladly seized by Charlotte as an excuse to go, and Delafield handed her

to her carriage, with the mortifying conviction that she was utterly indifferent to every thing but the civility of

IT was quite early on the following morning, when Mr. Delafield rung at the door of the house in which the

father of Miss Henly resided. The gentleman had obtained the permission of the young lady, the preceding

evening, to put himself on the list of her visiting acquaintance, and a casual introduction to both of Charlotte's

parents had smoothed the way to this intimacy. It is certain, that, much as Mr. and Mrs. Henly loved their

child, neither of them entertained the selfish wish of monopolizing all of her affections to themselves during

life. It was natural, and a thing to he expected, that Charlotte should marry; and among the whole of their

acquaintance there appeared no one so unobjectionable as her new admirer. He was agreeable in person, in

manners, and in temper; he was intelligent, witty, and a man of the world; and, moreover, he was

worththree hundred thousand dollars! What parent is there whose judgment would remain unbiassed by

these solid reasons in favour of a candidate for the hand of his child? or what female is there whose heart

could be steeled against such attractions in her suitor? Many were the hours of care that had been passed by

the guardians of Charlotte's happiness, in ruminating on the event that was to yield their charge to the keeping

of another; frequent were their discussions on this interesting subject, and innumerable their plans to protect

her inexperience against falling into those errors that had blasted the peace of so many around them; but the

appearance of Seymour Delafield seemed as the fulfilment of their most sanguine expectations. To his

refinement of manners, they both thought that they could yield the sensitive delicacy of their child with

confidence; in his travelled experience they anticipated the permanency of a corrected taste; nor, was it a

disagreeable consideration to either, that as the silken cord of paternal discipline was to be loosened, it was to

be succeeded by the fetters of hymen cast in polished gold. In what manner their daughter regarded the

On entering the parlour, Delafield found George Morton seated in a chair near the fire, with his person more

than usually well guarded against the cold, as if he were suffering under the effects of a serious indisposition.

The salutations between the young men were a little embarrassed on both sides; the face of George growing

even paler than before, while the fine colour on Delafield's cheek mounted to his very temples. After

regarding for a moment, with much inward dissatisfaction, the apparent ease with which George was

maintaining possession of the apartment by himself, Mr. Delafield overcame the sudden emotion created by

"I am sorry that you appear so ill, Mr. Morton, and I regret that you should have suffered so much in the

cause of humanity, when one so much better able to undergo the fatigue, by constitution, should have

The silent bow of George might be interpreted into a desire to say nothing of his own conduct, or into an

assent with the selfcondemnation of the speaker. Delafield, however, took the chair which the other politely

"But, Sir, you have your reward. The interest and admiration excited in Miss Henly, would compensate me

"It is no hardship to ride a few miles in a comfortable coach," said George, with a feeble smile, "nor can I

consider it a privation of enjoyment, to be able to assist the distressed,"he hesitated a moment, and a flush

gradually stole over his features as he continued, "It is true, Sir, that I prize the good opinion of Miss Henly

"And very justly, George," said the soft voice of Charlotte, "such applause as mine can be but of little

The gentlemen were sitting with their faces towards the fire, and had not heard the light step of Miss Henly as

she entered the apartment, but both instantly arose and paid their salutations; the invalid by a silent bow, and

by handing a chair, and Delafield with many a graceful compliment on her good looks, and divers

protestations concerning the pleasure he felt at being permitted to visit at her house. No two things could be

more different than the manners of these gentlemen. That of the latter was very highly polished, insinuating,

and although far from unpleasantly so, yet slightly artificial; while that of the former was simple, ingenuous,

and in the presence of Miss Henly was apt to be at times a little constrained. Charlotte certainly perceived the

difference, and she as certainly thought that it was not altogether to the advantage of George Morton. The

idea seemed to give her pain, for she showed several little attentions to her old friend, that by their flattering,

but unstudied particularity, were adapted to put any man at his ease and assure him of his welcome, still the

embarrassment of George did not disappear, but he sat an uneasy listener to the conversation that occurred, as

if reluctant to stay, and yet unwilling to depart. After a few observations on the entertainment of the

"I was lamenting to Mr. Morton, as you entered, that he should have suffered so much from my want of

thought, the day before yesterday; it requires a good constitution to endure exposure"

"And such I often tell you, George, you do not possess," said Charlotte, kindly and with a little melancholy;

"yet you neither seem to regard my warnings on the subject, nor those of any of your friends"

"There is a warning that I have not disregarded," returned the youth, endeavouring to smile.

"And what is it?" asked Charlotte, struck with the melancholy resignation of his manner.

"That I am not fit company, just now, for hearts as gay as yours and Mr. Delafield's," he returned, and rising,

"What can he mean!" said Charlotte, in amazement, "George does not appear well, and latterly his manner is

"He is ill," said Delafield, far from feeling quite easy at the evident interest that the lady exhibited; "he is ill,

and should be in his bed, instead of attending the morning levees of even Miss Henly."

"Indeed, he is too regardless of his health," said Charlotte in a low tone, fixing her eyes on the grate, where

she continued gazing for some time. Every effort of Seymour was made to draw off the attention of the young

lady from a subject, that, however melancholy, seemed to possess peculiar charms for her. In this undertaking

the gentleman would not have succeeded but for the fortunate appearance of Miss Osgood, who came into the

"What, teteatete!" exclaimed Maria; "you should discharge your footman, Charlotte, for saying that you

were at home. A young lady is never supposed to be at home when she is alonewith a gentleman."

"I shall then know how to understand the servant of Mr. Osgood, when I inquire for his daughter," cried

"Ah! Mr. Delafield, it is seldom that I have an opportunity of hearing soft things, for I am never alone with a

"And is Mrs. Osgood so rigid?" returned the gentleman; "surely the gravity of her daughter should create

"Most humbly I thank you, Sir,{"} said Maria, courtseying low before she took the chair that he handed; "but

it is not the caution of Mrs. Osgood that prevents any solos in her mansion, unless it be on a harp or flute, or

"Now you have excited my curiosity to a degree that is painfully unpleasant," said Delafield, "I know you to

"Oh! it is nothing more than a magical number, that frightens away all applicants for such a favour, unless

indeed it may be such as would not be very likely to be successful were they to apply; and which even would

render it physically impossible to have a tender interview within the four walls of the mansion"

"It is a charmed number, indeed! and is it on the door? is it the number of the house?"

"Oh! not at allonly the number of the family, the baker's dozen, that I mentioned last evening; now in

Charlotte could not refrain from smiling at the vivacity of her friend, who, perceiving that her wish to banish

the look of care that clouded the brow of the other had vanished, changed the discourse as abruptly as she had

"I met George Morton at the door, and chatted with him for several minutes. He appears quite ill, but I know

he has gone two miles in the country for his mother this raw day; unless he is more careful of himself he will

Maria spoke with feeling, and with a manner that plainly showed that her ordinary levity was assumed, and

that she had at the bottom, much better feelings than the trifling intercourse of the world would usually

permit her to exhibit. Charlotte did not reply, but her brightening looks once more changed to that pensive

softness which so well became her delicate features, and which gave to her countenance an expression such

as might be supposed to shadow the glory of angels, when, from their abode of purity and love, they look

The quick glance of Delafield not only watched, but easily detected, both the rapid transitions and the

character of these opposite emotions. Under the sudden influence of passions, that probably will not escape

our readers, he could not forbear uttering, in a tone in which pique might have been too apparent.

The blue eyes of Charlotte were turned to the speaker with a look of innocent inquiry, but she continued

silent. Maria, however, not only bestowed a glance at the youth from her laughing hazel ones, but found

"How so?" she asked"He is not of a strong constitution, not immensely rich, nor over and abovethat is,

"Ah! I have discovered that a man may be happy without one of those qualifications."

"Nay, nay, Miss Osgood, my experience does not extend so farI am not quite the puppy you think me."

Maria, in her turn, was silent; but she arose from her seat, and moved with an absent air to a distant part of

the room, and for a short time seemed to be particularly occupied in examining the beauties of a portfolio of

prints, with every one of which she was perfectly familiar. The conversation was resumed by her friend.

"You have mortified Miss Osgood, Mr. Delafield," said Charlotte; "she is too good natured to judge any one

"Is her good nature, in this particular, infectious?" the young man rather whispered than uttered

aloud"Does her friend feel the same indulgence for the infirmities of a frail nature to which she really

"You compliment me, Mr. Delafield, at the expense of truth, if it really be a compliment to tell me that I am

Charlotte was startled by his manner and his words, and unconsciously turned to her friend, as if to seek her

protecting presence; but to her astonishment, she beheld Maria in the act of closing the door as she was

"Maria!" she cried, "whither in such a hurry? I expected you to pass the morning with me."

"I shall see your mother and return," replied Miss Osgood, closing the door so rapidly as to prevent further

remark. This short speech, however, gave Charlotte time to observe the change that something had produced

in the countenance of her old companion, where, in place of the thoughtless gaiety that usually shone in her

features, was to be seen an expression of painful mortification; and even the high glow that youth and health

had imparted to her cheeks, was supplanted by a deathlike paleness. Delafield had been endeavouring to

peruse the countenance of Miss Henly in a vain effort to discover the effect produced by his warm

exclamation; and these observations, which were made by the quick eye of friendship, entirely escaped his

"Maria is not well, Mr. Delafield," Charlotte said hastily. "I know your goodness will excuse me while I

The young man bowed with a mortified air, and was somewhat ungraciously beginning to make a polite

reply, when the door opened a short space, and the voice of Miss Osgood was once more heard, saying in a

"I never was better in my life; I shall run into Mrs. Morton's for ten minutes; let me find you here, Mr.

Delafield, when I return." Her footstep was heard tripping along the passage, and in a moment after, the street

door of the house opened and shut. Charlotte perceiving that her friend was determined, for some

inexplicable reason, to be alone, quietly resumed her seat. Her musing air was soon changed to one of

"You appear, Miss Henley," he said, "to be sensitively alive to the ailings of all you know but me."

"I did not know that you were ill, Mr. Delafield! Really, sir, I never met with any gentleman's looks which so

As much experience as Delafield possessed in the trifling manoeuvres of managers, or perhaps in the

manifestations of feelings that are exhibited by everyday people, he was an absolute novice in the emotions

of a pure, simple, ingenuous female heart. He was alive to the compliment to his acknowledged good looks,

conveyed in this speech, but he was not able to appreciate the singleheartedness that prompted it. Perhaps

his handsome face was as much illuminated by the consciousness of this emotion as by the deeper feeling he

"I am well, or ill, as you decree. Miss Henley; it is impossible that you should live in the world, and be seen,

be known as you are, and must have been seen and known, and not long since learned the power you possess

Though Charlotte was simple, unsuspecting, pure, and extremely modest, she was far from dullshe was not

now to learn the difference between the language of ordinary trifling and general compliment, and that to

which she now listened, and which, however vague, was still so particular as to induce her to remain silent.

The looks and manner of the youthful female, at that moment, would have been a study to those who love to

dwell on the better and purer beings of creation. She was silent, as we have already remarked, because she

could make no answer to a speech that either meant every thing or nothing. The slight tinge that usually was

seated on her cheek spreading over its whole surface like the faintest glow of sunset blending, by mellow

degrees, with the surrounding clouds, was heightened to richness, and even diffused itself like a reflection,

across her polished forehead, because she believed she was about to listen to a declaration that her years and

her education united to tell her was never to approach female ears without slightly trespassing on the delicacy

of her sex. Her mild blue eyes, beaming with the glow on her face, rose and fell from the carpet to the

countenance of Delafield, but chiefly dwelt in open charity, and possibly in anxiety, on his own. In fact, there

was thrown around her whole air, such a touch of exquisite and shrinking delicacy, so blended with feeling

benevolence, and even tender interest, that it was no wonder that a man, handsome to perfection, young,

"Pardon me, Miss Henley," he cried, and the apology was unconsciously paid to the commanding purity and

dignity of her air, "if I overstep the rules of decorum, and hasten to declare that which I know years of trial

would hardly justify my saying; but your beauty, your grace, youryourwhere shall I find words to

express it?your loveliness, yes, that means every thingyour loveliness has not been seen with impunity."

This might have done very well for a sudden and unprepared declaration; but being a little indefinite, it failed

to extract a reply, his listener giving a respectful, and, at times, a rather embarrassing attention to what he was

to add. After a short pause, the youth, who found words as he proceeded, and with whom, as with all others,

"I have known you but a short time, Miss Henley; but to see you once is to see you always. You smile, Miss

Henley, but give me leave to hope that time and assiduity will enable me to bring you to such a state of

"If I smile, Mr. Delafield," said Charlotte in a low but distinct voice, "it is not at you, but at myself. I, who

have been for seventeen years constantly with Charlotte Henley, find each day something new in her, not to

admire, but to reprehend." She paused a moment, and then added, smiling most sweetly as she spoke, "I will

not affect to misunderstand you, Mr. Delafield; your language is not very intelligible, but it is such that I am

sure you would not use to me if you were not serious, and did not feel, or rather think you feel what you

"Think I feel?" he echoed. "Don't I know it? Can I be mistaken in my own sentiments? I may be misled in

yoursmay have flattered myself with being able to accomplish that at some distant day, which your

"Not where they are so very new; nay, do not start so eagerlywhere they MUST be so very new. Surely

your fancy only leads you to say so much, and tomorrow, or next day, your fancy, unless encouraged by you

"Now, Miss Henley, what I most admire in your character is its lovely ingenuousness, its simplicity, its heart;

and I will own I did not expect such an answer to a question put, like mine, in sincerity and truth."

"If I have failed to answer any question you have put to me, Mr. Delafield, it is because I am unconscious

than any was asked; and if I have displayed disengenuousness, want of simplicity, or want of feeling, it has

been unintentional, I do assure you; and only proves that I can be guilty of errors, without their being detected

"My impetuosity has deceived me and distressed you," said Delafield"I would have said that I love you

ardently, passionately, and constantly, and shall for ever love you. I should have asked your permission to say

all this to your parents, to entreat them to permit me to see you often, to address you; and, if it were not

impossible, to hope that in time they would consent to intrust me with their greatest treasure, and that you

"This is certainly asking many questions in a breath," said Charlotte smiling, but without either irony or

triumph; "and were it not for that word, breath, I should experience some uneasiness at what you say; I find

great satisfaction, Mr. Delafield, in reflecting that our acquaintance is not a week old."

"A week is time enough to learn to adore such a being as you are, Miss Henley, though an age would not

suffice to do justice to your merits. Say, have I your permission to speak to your father? I do not ask you yet

"Perhaps not," said Charlotte; "I can love enough to feel a great and deep interest in those who are dear to me,

but I never yet have experienced such emotions, as you describeI believe, in this particular, you have

formed a just opinion of me, Mr. Delafield; I suspect such passions are not in the compass of my feelings."

"They are, they must be, Miss Henley: allow me to see you often, to speak to your father, and at least to

hopemay I not hope that in time you will learn to think me a man to be trusted with your happiness as your

The quiet which had governed the manner of Charlotte during this dialogue, was sensibly affected by this

appeal, and for a short time she appeared too much embarrassed to reply. During this interval, Delafield

gazed on her, in delight; for with the sanguine feelings of youth, he interpreted every symptom of emotion in

his own favour. Finding, however, that she was distressed for a reply, he renewed his suit

"Though I have known you but a few days, I feel as if I had known you for years. There are, I believe, Miss

Henley, spirits in the world who commune with each other imperceptibly, who seem formed for each other,

"I have no pretensions to belong to that class," said Charlotte; "I must know well to love a little, but I trust I

"Ah, you do not know yourself. You have lived all your life in the neighbourhood of that Mr. Morton who

just went out, and you feel pity for his illness. He does indeed look very illbut you have yet to learn what it

is to love. I ask the high favour of being permitted to attempt the office ofofof"

"Hear me, Mr. Delafield," said Miss Henley after a short pause, during which she seemed to have

experienced some deep and perhaps painful emotions"I cannot undertake to give you a reason for my

conductvery possibly I have no good one; but I feel that I should be doing you injustice by encouraging

what you are pleased to call hopesI wish to be understood now, as saying that I cannot consent to your

Delafield was certainly astonished at this refusal, which was given in that still, decided manner that admits of

little opposition. He had long been accustomed to apprehend a sudden acceptance, and had been in the habit

of strictly guarding both his manner and his language, lest something that he did or said might justify

expectations that would have been out of his power to fulfil; but now, when, for the first time, he had

ventured a direct offer, he met with a rejection that possessed all the characteristics of sincerity, he was, in

truth, utterly astounded. After taking a sufficient time to collect in some degree his faculties, he came to the

conclusion that he had been too precipitate, and had urged the suit too far, and too hastily.

"Such may be your sentiments now, Miss Henley," he said, "but you may alter them in time: you are not

"If not by you, I am by truth, Mr. Delafield. It would be wrong to lead you to expect what can never"

"You have a right to require a definite answer to your questions, Mr. Delafield; but you have no right to exact

my reasons for declining your very flattering offerI am young, very youngbut I know what is due to

"It would be easy to say NO to that assertion, sir," added Charlotte, rising; "but your right to a reason in a

matter where inclination is so material, is exactly the same as my right would be to ask you why you did not

address me. I thank you for the preference you have shown me, Mr. Delafield. I have not so little of the

woman about me, not to remember it always with gratitude; but I tell you plainly and firmly, for it is

"I understand you, madamI understand you," said the young man with an offended air; "you wish my

"No further, Mr. Delafield," interrupted Charlotte, advancing to him with a kind, but unembarrassed air, and

offering her hand"we part friends at least; but I think, now we know each other's sentiments, we had better

The gentleman seized the hand she offered, and kissed it more with the air of a lover, than of an offended

man, and left the room. A few minutes after he had gone, Miss Osgood reappeared.

NOTWITHSTANDING the earnest injunction that Maria had given to Mr. Delafield to continue where she

left him, until her return, she expressed no surprise at not finding him in the room. The countenance of this

young lady exhibited a droll mixture of playful mirth and sadness; she glanced her eyes once around the

apartment, and perceiving it was occupied only by her friend, she said, laughing

"Perhaps you did, Maria," returned the other, without raising her face from the reflecting attitude in which

"Well! you little philosopherI should think it was excellentthatthat isif I were in your place. I

"What! why Seymour Delafield has been stammeringthen he looked dolefulthen he sighedthen he

hemmedthen he said you were an angelnay, you need not look prudish, and affect to deny it; he got as

far as that before I left the roomthen he turned to see if I were not coming back again to surprise

himthen he fell on his kneesthen he stretched out his handsome handit is too handsome for a man's

hand!and said take it, take me, take my name, and take my three hundred thousand dollars!Now don't

Charlotte smiled, and taking her work, quietly seated herself at her table before she replied

"You go through Cupid's exercise so dexterously, Maria, one is led to suspect you have seen some service."

"Not under such an officer, girl! Ah! Colonel Delafield, or Generalno, Field Marshal Delafield, is an

officer that might teach"as Miss Osgood spoke with short interruptions between her epithets, as if in search

of proper terms, she dwelt a moment on the last word in such a manner as to give it a particular

emphasisCharlotte started, more perhaps from the manner than the expression, and turning her glowing

"Let me tell you, Miss Prude, it is in such nonsense, however, that the happiness or misery of us poor sports

of fortune, called women, in a great measure blooms or fadesnow that I call poetical!but for your

answer: first you saidindeed, Mr. Delafield, this is SO unexpectedthough you knew well enough what

was comingthen you blushed as you did a little while ago, and said I am so youngIam but poor

seventeenthen he swore you were seventyno, no,but he said you are old enough to be his ruling

starhis destinyhis idolhis object of WORSHIPha! I do hit the right epithet now and then.

Wellthen you said you had parents, as if the poor man did not know that already, and that they must be

consulted; and he desired you to ask the whole cityhe defied them all to say aught against himhe was

regular at churchsubscribed to the widow's society, and the assembly; and in short, was called a 'good'

"It is all very true. Then he was pressing, and you were coy, until finally he extorted your definitive answer,

which was" Maria paused, and seemed to be intensely studying the looks of the otherMiss Henley

smiled as she turned her placid, ingenuous features to her gaze, and continued the conversation by repeating,

"I have not authorized you to suspect any part of this rhapsody to be trueI have not said you were right in a

"Excuse me, Miss Henley, you have said all, and Seymour Delafield told me the same as we passed each

"It could not be otherwise. His mouth was shut, it is true, and his tongue might have been in his pocket, for

any thing I know: but his eyes and his head, his walk, and even his nose were downcast, and spoke

mortification. On the other hand, your little body looks an inch higher, your eyes look resolute, as much as to

say, 'Avaunt, false one! your whole appearance is that of determined denial, mingled"

"Mingled with a little secret, woman's pride, that you have had an opportunity of showing your absolute

"No child, my very nature is charity; if the request had been made to me, I should have sent the desponding

Charlotte laughed, and in this manner the serious explanation which, between friends so intimate might have

been expected, was avoided. Maria, at the same time, that she fell and manifested a deep interest in the

t te�t te that she had promoted, always avoided any thing like a grave explanation, and we have failed in

giving the desired view of the character of Miss Henley, if our readers deem it probable that she would ever

The winter passed by in the ordinary manner in which other winters pass in this climate, being a mixture of

mild, delightful days, clear sky, and invigorating sun, and of intense, cold, raw winds, and snow storms. The

two latter seemed to try the constitution of poor George Morton to the utmost. The severe cold that he took in

his charitable excursion lingered about him through the cold months, and before the genial warmth of May

occurred to relieve him, his physicians pronounced that his lungs were irremediably affected. During the

period of doubt and apprehension which preceded the annunciation of this opinion, and of distress and agony

which succeeded it, the family of Mr. Henley warmly sympathized in the feelings of their neighbours. The

long intimacy that had existed between George and Charlotte and their parents, removed all superfluous

forms, and the latter passed a great deal of her time with Mrs. Morton, or by the side of the invalid. Her

presence gave him such manifest and lively pleasure, that it would have been cruel to have denied him what

the other appeared to grant spontaneously. Charlotte had gradually withdrawn herself from society as the

illness of George increased, and his danger became more apparent; and at the expiration of the month of

April, she was seldom visible to those who are called the world, with the exception of the immediate

connexions of her family, and her friend Maria 0sgood. In the beginning of May both Mr. Morton and his

neighbour withdrew to their country houses, and thus the retirement from the world and the intercourse

Delafield had made one or two efforts to renew his addresses to Charlotte, but finding them in every instance

firmly, though mildly rejected, he endeavoured to discover such imperfections in the object of his regard as

might justify him in disliking her. The more he reflected on her conduct, however, the more he became

sensible of the propriety and simplicity of her deportment; and had not the impression she had made on the

young man proceeded rather from the effect on his fancy, than from having touched his heart, the

consequences of his conviction of her purity and truth might have been more lasting and deplorable. As it

was, his heated imagination gradually ceased to glow with the beauties of an image that was, however perfect

in itself, extravagantly coloured by his own youthful imagination, and in time, if he thought at all of Charlotte

Henley, he thought of her as a beautiful object, it is true, but as of one that brought somewhat mortifying

reflections along with it. This might not have been manly or generous, perhaps, but we believe it is the

manner in nine cases out of ten in which such sudden emotions expire, especially if the ardour of the youth

has precipitated a declaration that the more chastened feelings of the damsel are not yet prepared to

reciprocate. While the image of Charlotte was still lingering in his mind, he was in the habit of visiting Maria

Osgood almost daily, to ask questions about her, and perhaps with a secret expectation of their meeting her at

the house of her friend. The gay trifling of Miss Osgood aided greatly both in cooling his spleen and

removing his melancholy, till in the course of a month he even proceeded so far as to make her the confidant

of what she already knew, though only by conjecture and inference. Delafield at this time was so urgent, and

secretly so determined to prevail, in order that his pride if not his affections might be soothed, that in an

unguarded moment he induced the inconsiderate Maria to betray, we will not say the confidence of her friend,

but such facts as could only have come to her knowledge by the intimacy of unaffected association. If there

were any thing to extenuate this breach of decorum by Maria, it was the manner in which it was effected.

Miss Osgood had just returned from one of her frequent visits to the villa of Mr. Henley, when Delafield

made his customary morning call: the absence of Maria, and the object of her visit, had been well known to

him, and as it was a time when he began to speak of Miss Henley without much emotion, and but little love,

he could not avoid yielding so far to his pique as to express himself as follows:

"So, Miss Maria, you have just returned from paying another visit to your beautiful little friend without any

"My little friend without any heart! Of whom do you speak? and what do you mean!"

"I speak of Miss Charlotte Henley, the nun,she who has all of heaven about her but its lovethat brilliant

"Upon my word, sir, this is a very pretty poem you have been reciting! but in my opinion, your conclusion is

wrong. As she refused to give you her heart, it is the more probable that she has it yet in that brilliant casket

"Noshe never had one. She wants the greatest charm that nature can give to a womana warm, grateful,

"And pray, sir," said Maria, bending her eyes inquisitively toward the youth, "if she want it, what has she

"She never had one, Miss Osgood. I will grant you that she is lovely, exquisitely lovely! pure, gentle,

amiable, every epithet you may wish to apply, that indicates nothing but acquired excellence: but as to natural

feelings, she is as cold as an iciclein short she is destitute of heartthe thing of all others I most prize in a

Maria laughed, but she coloured also. It had long been obvious to herself, and to the world too, that Delafield

sought her society, now that he was not admitted at Mr. Henley's, much more than that of my other young

woman in the city; but she thought that she well understood the secret reason for this preference, though the

world might not. How gratifying this speech was to the feelings of the gay girl, the sequel of our tale must

show. The young man however did not judge her too favourably, when he supposed her to possess those

kindred sensations that unite us with our fellowbeings, and he might have added a good deal of generosity

"I suppose I must thank you, Delafield, for the pretty compliment you have just paid me, but I am so unused

to this sort of thing, that I really feel as bashful as sweet fifteen, though I am at mature twenty."

"That is because you do feel, Miss Osgood; I might have said as much to Charlotte Henley without exciting

the least emotion in her, or of even bringing one tinge of that bright blush over her features which makes you

"Mercy! mercy! have mercy, I entreat you," cried Maria, averting her face, "or I shall soon be as red as the

cook. But I cannot, I will not consent to hear my friend traduced in such a manner; so far from wanting

feeling, Charlotte Henley is all heart. To use your own language," she added, turning her eyes towards him

"You deceive yourself. Early attachment, and long association, and your own generous, warm feelings

deceive you. She is accustomed to show gentle and kind civilities to all around her, and you mistake habit for

"She is accustomed to do all that, I own; but to do it in a manner that adds to its value by her simple

unaffected feelings. She is not, I must acknowledge, like certain people of my acquaintance, a bundle of

tinder to take fire at every spark that approaches, but she loves all she should love, and I fear she loves one

"Love one that she should not love?" cried Delafield: "what, is her heart then engaged to another! Is it

possible that Miss Henley, the cold, prudish Miss Henley, can indulge an improper attachment after all?"

"Mr. Delafield," said Miss Osgood, gravely, "I am not apt to betray what I ought to conceal, although I am

the giddy creature that I seem. But I have spoken unguardedly, and must explain: in the first place, I would

not have you suppose that Charlotte Henley and I talk of our hearts and our lovers to each other, like two girls

at a boarding school. If I know that she has such a thing as a heart at all, it is not from herself but from my

own observation; and as for lovers, though she may have had dozens for any thing I know, to ME they are

absolutely strangers.Don't interrupt me, I am not begging one. After this explanation I will say, trusting,

"You mayyou may," interrupted the young man eagerly: "I will never betray your confidenceyou might

"I wish you would not be bringing yourself and myself constantly into the conversation," said the lady,

compressing her lips to conceal a smile; "we are talking of Charlotte Henley, and of her only. She was

brought up in the daily habit of seeing much of George Morton, who, I believe, even you will own has a

"I fear so; nay, it is without hope. The cold he took in carrying the poor sufferer to the hospital last winter has

thrown him into a decline. I do believe that Charlotte Henley is fond of him; but mind, I do not say that she is

"She has no brother. I do not intend to define the passions: but I do believe that if he were to live and offer

"What! do you think she loves him unasked, and yet refuse me who begged her hand like her slave."

"It is not unasked; he has known her all her lifehas ever shown a preference for herhas been kind to her

and to all others in her presencehe has long anticipated her wishes, in trifles, andandin short, he has

"Your advances, as you call them, would have succeeded with nine girls in ten, though not with Miss

"I am not about to discuss the proprieties of courtship with you, Mr. Delafield," cried Maria, laughing and

rising from her chair. "Come, let us walk; it is a sin to shut ourselves up on such a morning. The subject must

He accepted her challenge, and they proceeded through the streets together; but she evaded every subsequent

attempt he made to renew the discourse. Perhaps she felt that she had gone too farperhaps there was

The explanation, however, had a great tendency to destroy the remains of what Delafield mistook for love.

Instead of having his affections seriously engaged in a short intercourse with Miss Henley, our readers may

easily perceive that it was nothing but his imagination that was excited, and which had kept his brain filled

with images still more lovely than the original: but now that the wan features of George Morton were

constantly brought into the picture by the side of the deity he had worshipped, the contemplation of these

fancied beauties become hourly less pleasant, and in a short time he ceased to dwell on the subject altogether.

A consequence, however, grew out of his shortlived inclination, that was as unlooked for by himself as by

the others interested in the result. He became so much accustomed to the society of Maria Osgood, that at

length he fell it was necessary to his comfort. To the surprise of the whole city, the handsome, rich, witty, and

accomplished Mr. Seymour Delafield declared himself in form before the spring had expired to one of the

plain daughters of Mr. Osgood, a man with a large family, and but little money. Maria had a difficult task to

conceal the pleasure she felt, as she listened to, not the passionate declaration of her admirer, but to his warm

solicitation that she would unite her destinies to his own. She did conceal it, however, and would only

consent to receive his visits for a time, on the condition that he was not to consider her as at all engaged by

WHILE such happy prospects were opening on the future life of her friend, the time of Charlotte Henley was

very differently occupied in the country. There is, however, a tendency in youth to rise with events that does

not readily admit of depression, and the disorder of George Morton was one of all others the most flattering

when near its close. Even the more mature experience of his parents was misled by the deceptive symptoms

that his complaint assumed in the commencement of summer. They who so fondly hoped the result, began to

believe that youth and the bland airs of June were overcoming the inexorable enemy. That the strength of the

young man lessened with every succeeding day, was an event to be expected from his low diet and protracted

confinement; but his brightening eyes, and the flitting colour that would at times add to their fiery radiance,

brought to the youthful Charlotte the most heartfelt, though secret, rapture. This state between reviving hope

and momentary despondency had prevailed for several weeks, when the affectionate girl entered an apartment

that communicated with George's own room, where she found the invalid reclining on a settee apparently

deeply communing with himself. He was alone; and his appearance, as well as the heavens and the earth,

united to encourage the sanguine expectation of the pure heart that throbbed so ardently when its owner

witnessed any favourable change in the countenance of the young man. The windows were raised, and the

balmy air of a June morning played through the apartment, lending in reality an elastic vigour to the decaying

organs of the sick youth. The tinge in his cheeks was heightened by the mellow glow of the sun's rays as they

shone through the medium of the rosecoloured curtains of the window, and Charlotte thought she once more

"How much better you appear this morning, George," she cried, in a voice whose melody was even

heightened by its gaiety. "We shall soon have you among us once more, and then, heedless one, beware how

you trifle again with that best of heaven's gifts, your health. Oh, this is a blessed climate! our summer atones

with its mildness for the dreariness and perils of our winter; it has even given me a colour, paleface as I

He raised his head from its musing position at the first sounds of her voice, and smiled faintly, and with an

expression of anguish, as she proceeded; but when she had ended, and taken her seat near him, still keeping

her eyes on his varying countenance, he took her hand into his own before he replied. A good deal surprised

at his manner, and at this act, which exceeded the usual familiarity of even their affectionate intercourse, the

colour, of which Miss Henley had been so playfully boasting, changed once or twice with rapid transitions.

"Seem I so well, dear Charlotte?" he at length said in a low, tremulous, and hollow voice, "seem I so well? I

"What mean you, George? feel you any worse? have I disturbed you with my presence and my thoughtless

The young man smiled again, but the expression of his face was no longer mingled with a look of anguish; it

was a kind benevolent gleam of gratitude and affection which crossed his ghastly features, like a ray of

"You disturb me, Charlotte!" he answered, his very voice trembling as if in sympathy with his frame: "I do

"No, no, George, this is too melancholy a theme for us both just now; let us talk of your returning health."

He pressed her hand to his heart before he replied"My health will never return; I am lost to this world; and

in fact at this moment I properly belong to another in my body: would to God that I was purely so in feelings

"I am not alarmed," he replied; "I have too long foreseen this event, to feel alarmed at my approaching

dissolutionno, for that, blessed be my God and my Redeemer, I am in some degree prepared; but I feel it

impossible to shake off the feelings of this life while the pulse continues to beat, and yet the emotions I now

experience must be in some measure allied to heaven; they are not impure, they are not selfish; nothing can

partake of either, dear Charlotte, where your image is connected with the thoughts of a future world."

"Oh, George! talk not so gloomily, so cruelly, this morningyour whole countenance contradicts your

"Yes, I am better, I am nearly well," returned the youth, pausing a moment, while a struggle of the most

painful interest seemed to engross his thoughts. As it passed away, he drew his hand feebly across his

clammy brow, and, smiling faintly, resumed his speech,"on the brink of the grave, at a moment when all

thoughts of me must be connected with the image of death, there can no longer be any necessity for silence.

You have been kind to us, dear Miss Henley, as you are kind to all; but to me your sympathy has been trebly

dear, for it has brought with it a consolation and pleasure that you but little imagine."

Miss Henley raised her tearful eyes from the floor to his wan features, that now appeared illumined with more

"Yes, Charlotte, I may now speak without injustice, or the fear of being selfish: I have long loved youhow

tenderly, how purely, none can ever know; but could I, with a certainty of my fate before my eyes, with the

knowledge that my days were numbered, and that the sun of my life could never reach its meridian, woo you

to my love, to make you miserable! No, dearest! your gentle heart will mourn the brother and the friend too

"George, George," sobbed the convulsed girl, "think not of me; speak not of meif it can cheer you at such a

moment to know how much you are valued by me, no cold reserve shall be found on my part."

The young man started, and fastened his eyes on her face with an indefinable look of delight mingled with

"Charlotte!" he exclaimed, "do I hear aright? am I so miserable! am I so happy! repeat those

"Live, George Morton," said Charlotte firmly: "you are betteryour whole face bespeaks it; and if the tender

care of an affectionate wife can preserve your health, you shall long live a blessing to all who love you."

As Charlotte uttered, thus ingenuously, her pure attachment, the youth extended his hand towards her blindly.

She gave him her own, which he drew to his heart, and folded to his bosom with a warm pressure for an

instant, when his hold relaxed, his form dropping backward on the sofa, and in that attitude he expired

We shall not dwell on the melancholy scene that followed. At the funeral of George Morton Miss Henley was

not to be seen, nor was it generally understood that the young people had been connected in the closest ties of

feeling. She made no display of her grief in her dress, unless the slight testimonials of a few bright ribbands

on the virgin white of her robe could be called such, and the rumour that was at first propagated of their being

engaged to each other was discredited, because the traces of sorrow were not particularly visible in the attire

of Miss Henley. When the season of gaiety returned, she appeared as usual in her place in society. Though

her cheeks were seldom enriched with the faint glow that once rendered her so beautiful, and she was less

dazzling in her appearance, yet, if possible, she was more lovely and attractive. In the course of the winter,

several gentlemen approached her with the evident intention of offering their hands. Their advances were

received with great urbanity, but in most instances with that unembarrassed manner that is fatal to hope. One

of her admirers, however, persevered so far as to solicit her hand: the denial was mild, but resolute; like most

young men who think their happiness dependent on a lady's smile, he wished to know if he had a successful

rival. He was assured he had not. His curiosity even went so far as to inquire if Miss Henley had abjured

matrimony. The answer was a simple, unaffected negative. Amazed at his own want of success, the youth

In the mean time, Seymour Delafield, after casting one longing, lingering look at Miss Henley, became the

husband of her friend, and made the fourteenth in the prolific family of the Osgoods, where his wealth was

Many years have rolled by since the occurrence of these events, and Miss Henley continues the same in every

thing but appearance. The freshness of her beauty has given place to a look of intelligence. and delicacy that

seems gradually fitting her for her last and most important change. The name of George Morton is never

heard to pass her lips. Mrs. Delafield declares it to be a subject that she never dares to approach, nor in her

repeated refusals of matrimonial offers has Charlotte ever been known to allude to the desolation of her own

heart. Her father is dead; but to her mother Miss Henley has in a great measure supplied his loss. With her

friends she is always cheerful, and apparently happy, though the innocent gaiety of her childhood is sensibly

checked, and there are moments that betray the existence of a grief that is only the more durable, because it is

less violent. In short, she lives a pattern for her sex, unfettered by any romantic and foolish pledges,

discharging all the natural duties of her years and station in an exemplary manner, but unwilling to incur any

new ones, because she has but one heart, and that was long since given with its purity, sincerity, and truth, to

When Charlotte Henley dies, although she may not have fulfilled one of the principal objects of her being, by

becoming a mother, her example will survive her; and those who study her character and integrity of feeling,

will find enough to teach them what properties are the most valuable in forming that sacred characterwhile

her own sex can learn that, though in the case of Miss Henley, Providence has denied the full exercise of her

excellences, it has at the same time rendered her a striking instance of female dignity, by exhibiting to the

world the difference between affection and caprice, and by shewing how much Imagination is inferior to