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Article THE MASON'S DAUGHTER. * ← Page 8 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason's Daughter. *
regard it with any expectations of future happiness . This , indeed , was forbidden , by the perfect silence of all who had any knowledge of her previous history . Louisa ' s own character too had undergone a change ; she had lost the overweening opinion of herself which she used to entertain , and her manner had become subdued . Her beauty was no longer of the bold and striking , but had become placid and interesting . To the person of true taste the change was an improvementThere
. were not wanting those who were still read y with the offer of their hands : but all attempts at approach were forbidden . Where , during this period , was Manvers , and what retribution fell on one who had so foull y betrayed the most sacred of trusts ? Had not remorse cankered his soul and shortened his days ? This no one could answer , for the gay world saw Manvers no more . He retired to the Continentand was there heard of onlas having visited several laces
, y p , for he seldom appeared in public , and then only when necessity or propriety demanded . It was one lovely evening in autumn , that Louisa and her father were sitting on a cliff , which slightly and gradually receded from the shore ; they were enjoying the soft breeze , and gazing at the beautiful sun-set which presented itself to view . Some few painful thoughts , caused by recollections of thepast , had occupied Louisa ' s breast ; and she had quenched them with a tear , and hallowed the remembrance with sih
a g , when a messenger rode up to the door of the cottage in which the father and daughter resided . The condition of the horse and its rider evinced , that whatever had been the journey , it had been performed in speed . A packet from a foreign land , and marked as an express , was brought to the house of Louisa ' s father , who marvelled at the circumstance . Who could it be that was thus far interested in the lonely and desolate famil y , and from abroad to ? That the news was of evident
importance was , but what it could be passed the imagination of both father and daughter . He requested Louisa to remain where she was , and returned with the mysterious packet to his own room , and calling for a light opened the seal . His surprise and indignation knew no bounds , when , on glancing at the signature , he saw the name of Manvers . His first impulse was to imprecate curses on the name , and to tear the letter in pieces ; but , on deliberation , he thought that there could be no harm in his reading it , provided that the contents were not permitted to unhinge the hardly settled mind of his afflicted daughter . With an effort he read as follows : —
" Geneva , August 10 , 18— . " Much injured as you are , and justly exasperated as you may be , at him whose name is subscribed to this letter , nevertheless cast it not away , for it is penned in anguish not in insult , in penitence not in injury . You and yours have much wherewith to reproach me , but you could not with your severest upbraidings have made me feel more than I myself have felt . If for what I have done , mental tortures and heartfelt agonies be sufficient
penance , I have felt them , and you have been amply avenged . Yet , for the wrongs of her , whose name , until confession has cleared my breast , my pen shall not sull y , I feel that I never could suffer sufficiently . A plain unvarnished tale shall be my only excuse , and the offer of my life devoted to her comfort can be my only reparation . " Let me , then , to my task at once . Puffed up with the vain follies of youth—with a mind unmatured and ill provided against the temptaions of the world , and the object of idolatry to my equals and comparer ., v . 3 ,,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mason's Daughter. *
regard it with any expectations of future happiness . This , indeed , was forbidden , by the perfect silence of all who had any knowledge of her previous history . Louisa ' s own character too had undergone a change ; she had lost the overweening opinion of herself which she used to entertain , and her manner had become subdued . Her beauty was no longer of the bold and striking , but had become placid and interesting . To the person of true taste the change was an improvementThere
. were not wanting those who were still read y with the offer of their hands : but all attempts at approach were forbidden . Where , during this period , was Manvers , and what retribution fell on one who had so foull y betrayed the most sacred of trusts ? Had not remorse cankered his soul and shortened his days ? This no one could answer , for the gay world saw Manvers no more . He retired to the Continentand was there heard of onlas having visited several laces
, y p , for he seldom appeared in public , and then only when necessity or propriety demanded . It was one lovely evening in autumn , that Louisa and her father were sitting on a cliff , which slightly and gradually receded from the shore ; they were enjoying the soft breeze , and gazing at the beautiful sun-set which presented itself to view . Some few painful thoughts , caused by recollections of thepast , had occupied Louisa ' s breast ; and she had quenched them with a tear , and hallowed the remembrance with sih
a g , when a messenger rode up to the door of the cottage in which the father and daughter resided . The condition of the horse and its rider evinced , that whatever had been the journey , it had been performed in speed . A packet from a foreign land , and marked as an express , was brought to the house of Louisa ' s father , who marvelled at the circumstance . Who could it be that was thus far interested in the lonely and desolate famil y , and from abroad to ? That the news was of evident
importance was , but what it could be passed the imagination of both father and daughter . He requested Louisa to remain where she was , and returned with the mysterious packet to his own room , and calling for a light opened the seal . His surprise and indignation knew no bounds , when , on glancing at the signature , he saw the name of Manvers . His first impulse was to imprecate curses on the name , and to tear the letter in pieces ; but , on deliberation , he thought that there could be no harm in his reading it , provided that the contents were not permitted to unhinge the hardly settled mind of his afflicted daughter . With an effort he read as follows : —
" Geneva , August 10 , 18— . " Much injured as you are , and justly exasperated as you may be , at him whose name is subscribed to this letter , nevertheless cast it not away , for it is penned in anguish not in insult , in penitence not in injury . You and yours have much wherewith to reproach me , but you could not with your severest upbraidings have made me feel more than I myself have felt . If for what I have done , mental tortures and heartfelt agonies be sufficient
penance , I have felt them , and you have been amply avenged . Yet , for the wrongs of her , whose name , until confession has cleared my breast , my pen shall not sull y , I feel that I never could suffer sufficiently . A plain unvarnished tale shall be my only excuse , and the offer of my life devoted to her comfort can be my only reparation . " Let me , then , to my task at once . Puffed up with the vain follies of youth—with a mind unmatured and ill provided against the temptaions of the world , and the object of idolatry to my equals and comparer ., v . 3 ,,