Forgotten Stories.

this round me—( she gave a wild stare ) . — There is a mist over the rest—I often harass this poor head , but t cannot remember any more . " It was easily to be perceived that her intellects were deranged , and I was unwilling to leave the

unfortunate girl in that situation . I gently raised her ; and , seemingly unconscious of what she was doing , she walked on by my side . We had not proceeded far along the shore , when a man and woman came running towards usin breathless auxiety , who

, appeared to be searching for something they had lost . On recognising the poor girl , who was hanging iu listless apathy on my arm , I saw a sudden flush of joy pass over the countenance of the old woman , and they both gazed alternately on me and

her : —the old man was the first to break silence , and asked me , in rather an angry tone , " Whatl was doingwith his daughter ?'' I related to him the circumstances of our

meeting , and what had since happened . They thanked me in very affectionate terms for my kindness , and then , turning to their daughter , loaded her with caresses and questions ; but she seemed lost in thought , and not at all to understand their meaning . On the way home they related

to me her history ; they informed me , that they themselves were attendants on the bathing-machines , and for the last twenty years had gained , by their joint endeavours , in that occupation , a comfortable livelihood;—their only daughterthe unfortunate

, heroine of my tale , had a few months back fixed her affections on a young man of a neighbouring village ; their attachment was reciprocal , and the clay had been ajipointed for their marriage—but her love some time before had enlisted in the

* * * regiment , and the whole corps had been suddenly ordered off to the Continent : the poor girl had been inconsolable from the time she first heard the news ; they continually found her in tears , and all attempts to comfort her were in vain ; she

attended him on board the ship that was to convey him away , and clinging to his arms , was for a long time unable to be separated . When the vessel was under weigh , they were obliged to carry her off by force , she fell into a swoonand was

, conveyed home in a state of insensibilit y ; being put to bed , in a short time she was in a high fever . They obtained for her what little medical assistance their means

could afford , and were iu hopes she had been gradually recovering—but her grief preyed upon her mind , and though the fever had left her , her intellects were materially injured . Though they sat b y her bedside , and paid her the most

affectionate attentions that tenderness could dictate , she seemed not to recognise them , or to be conscious of their presence . Her Edward was always uppermost in her thoughts ; and though lost to every thing else , she seemed to have a distant recollection of the scene she had been last

engaged in . On the morning in question , they had gone out to their usual avocations , and had left her still lying iu bed ; on their return they were astonished and alarmed at finding the bed empty , and her clothes not in their place;—they inquired among the neighboursbut could find no

, intelligence of her : they at length heard that she had been seen pacing silently along the shore , and had accordingly proceeded in search of her , not without a fear that , in the deranged state of her mind , she might commit some act of desperation ,

before they would be able to prevent it . This simple narration of the poor girl's affection interested me extremely . While I remained at the jfiace , I paid frequent visits to their cottage , and thought at last I could perceive a gradual amendment in

poor Ellen ' s health ; she at times exhibited signs of returning recollection , though her general discourse was of the little circumstances that had taken place during her last intercourses with Edward ; I took an interest in her welfare , and rejoiced to

think she was recovering ; but alas ! how futile are human hopes 1 I was soon after called away from the place , and circumstances prevented . my return , during two years . I was then accidentally passing through , and stopped for a couple of hours ,

that I might inquire after Ellen . The path , that led to her cottage , was throug h the churchyard ; and , in going along , my attention was attracted by a tombstone of rude sculpture , that seemed newly erected-I walked up to it to read the inscriptionit was simply this : —

To the memory of Ellen Meston , This stone was erected by Edward Godahvin . She died iu a deranged state of mind , April 3 , 1 S 17 .