"My charming Laura, then." "Aye, that is a great deal better: -proceed with your fubject." "At that time (faid he) I was mourning the lofs of an amiable, a lamented parent.-There was a chafm in my heart, which neither reflection nor amusement could close. -I faw you, my fweet Laura ; your image filled up the mighty void, it became my divinity,-and was interwoven with my existence. This (continued he, taking a miniature from his bofom, and preff ing it to his lips) this has been my folace, my companion, and my friend." "And pray (faid I) whofe por trait is that ?" Judge my furprise, when he prefented my own likenefs, very well executed. "For heaven's fake, how came you by that?" "Oh, very innocently!-Cupid affifted me:- but, do you recollect permitting Fanny to come to my cottage?" "Perfectly." "She had been there a few evenings before, without your knowledge. I found her a fenfible girl, and afked, as a particular favour, if fhe could procure me for an hour a miniature of her lady. She paused a little while; but, at my renewing my request, the agreed to atk leave to come one evening, before you left Malvern, and, if poffible, to bring Mrs. Merioneth's bracelet, on which was your likenefs.-She performed her promife.-I sketched the features with fuccefs.-How could I fail, when the original was in my heart?-From Fanny I heard that you were inftantly to leave Malvern.-Ah! with what regret did I hear that! From her too I learned alfo that your refufal of a notorious gamefter had been thought the ground-work of the infult you received from the ruffian.I madly rufled into your prefence:you for gave me. You left Malvern,-and I refolved to follow you.-I fold my cottage, and once more returned to the bufy fcenes of London.-I placed my old fervant with a friend of my late mother's, and speedily proceeded to Twickenham, to make inquiries after my fair enflaver.-There I heard you were gone to Briftol.— I followed to that place, but without fuccefs.-1 was there informed that the earl was gone to the continent, to drink the waters of Aix." "It was a mistake (faid I); for we never quitted the neighbourhood of Bristol-Once, indeed, that my father might have the more frequent attendance of a phyfician he valued, we had lodgings at Bath (it muft be at that period that you miffed us). There was fome talk of our going to Aix; but the fituation of the continent prevented it from being carried into execution." "I travelled to Aix (he continued) without molestation,—but . without fuccefs. I had always had a great defire to vifit Italy, the feat of ancient grandeur and modern arts,and this was an inviting opportunity. I had hopes, too, that I might there find my Laura.-I purfued my journey.-At Florence it was my good fortune to meet with Merioneth:-we travelled together.➡ His ftrong resemblance to your miniature made him dear to me.I once mentioned you to him; said I had heard you fpoken of as a charming woman. I do not know (faid he); we have never met fince we were children.-Laura was a fine girl; but I do not know what kind of woman fhe is.'-The difcourfe dropped.-Shortly after, difpatches came, announcing your lofs, and his father's elevation to the title; and, foon after, he returned home.-I continued fome months longer in Italy. Merioneth frequently wrote to me, and gave a very preffing invitation to spend a fummer here.— I complied.My pleafure and fur prife at meetingyon here were beyond | defcription; but they were foon changed into regret, when I found you were the deftined wife of my friend. Thanks to my generous Laura, that blow is averted!-To oblige Merioneth (who has much importuned me on the fubject), I have confented to stand candidate at an election fhortly to come on at *****—the earl is to fupport my intereft; he is likewile, at this time, foliciting an appointment for me in a civil department under government; and I flatter myself that, if I am fuccefsful in thefe undertakings, I may be fanctioned by your appro bation, and publicly, afpire to the honour of your hand.--My humble circumftances (he continued) would now only meet their scorn; and how could I expect a woman, rich, young, beautiful, and well-born, to yield her hand to a man, whofe whole fortune does not amount to three, thousand pounds,-who has no connectious to make up the deficiencies of fortune, and whofe only boaft is an honest heart ?" He paused for my reply. breakfast.-I entered alone.-Clifford foon after followed; and I believe no one suspected our morning ramble. During breakfaft, the earl received letters, which he read; and, giving them to Clifford, wifhed him joy of an appointment to a good place, with a genteel falary.-Clifford received them with proper acknowledgments; and they foon retired together. I haftened to communicate these particulars to you, but must now leave my pen, to drefs for dinner. Saturday night. CLIFFORD has left us:-thofe letters demanded his prefence in London.-He followed me this afternoon to Jenkinfon's - Ellen was with me.-He explained the reasons for his fudden departure; and we wifhed him fuccefs.-Our plan of correfpondence was fettled before we returned to the houfe; and in the evening he departed. On Tuelday we begin our journey Julia is returned, but without Mrs. Maynard :—that high-fpi I told him, that I feared he would ted lady has taken wing for Brighfind an honeft heart a very trouble- ton.-I do not intend writing again fome companion to the altar of great-tillour return to Twickenham.-The nefs.—“Fortune (faid I) should not fweet plaintive Ellen has promifed be named between us :-ours is not me her correfpondence, and I expect a money-bargain." much pleasure from her letters. "My difinterested Laura, (ex. claimed he) i muft court Fortune. -I cannot meanly quarter myfelf on the property of another." Our walk was long, and our converfation interefting.-I have promifed to receive his vifits on our return to Twickenham; an event which I must prepare Mrs. Merioneth for. I expect a great deal of oppofition,-but they will not eafily put Clifford out of my head. He leaves this place on Monday, and fets out for London, by the delire of the earl, When we returned to the house, we found the family preparing for I fhall now conclude, and difpatch this enormous packet-I hope you mean to write foon to Your affectionate LAURA MERIONETH. (To be continued.) required:-no one was found to woman-fervant) I fet out for Geappear against us on the day of trial;noa, where, according to appoint ment, I was to meet the author of all my miferies.-Our journey was neceffarily flow, on account of the ill health of my Caffandra, who had fuffered fo fevere a fhock from our and the fame night I embraced my wife and daughter in my own houfe. "But my joy at the event was confiderably damped by the general behaviour of my acquaintance, who feemed to fhun both myself and falate misfortunes that I was under mily:-in fhort, it was plain that the method I had taken to evade public inveftigation, was in fome degree known; and (as I had before conceived) it was, in the common opinion, a confirmation of my confcious guilt. This, at least, recon. ciled me to one circumftance, which I was bound to perform,-that of leaving Spain immediately. the greatest alarm for her life. "After fome little time we arrived at the place of our temporary destination,-and applying to a perfon to whom I had a recommendation, he informed me, count d'Ollifont had been waiting for me two days, and that I might fee him that night at a certain place to which he would conduct me. It is not publicly known (faidhe) that he is in this country, confequently fecrecy is required.' ing the chamber:-he declared her diforder to be a total decline,-but did not then apprehend any danger. Towards the latter part of the day he grew better:-but I refolved not to mention my intended vifit; and I contrived an excufe, therefore, for my departure at the hour I had fixed. "Alas! this country (where I had fpent years of felicity, where I had been univerfally refpected and efteemed by every rank of people) "At my return to the inn, I was now become hateful to me; found my wife had been taken more fince almoft every countenance violently ill than ufual, infomuch feemed to look towards me with a that Lucretia had fent for a phygloomy eye of fufpicion, even where fician, who had just entered the I had before been welcomed, when-houfe.- afked his opinion on leavever I appeared, with fmiles of friendship and confidence.-My God! what were my fenfations!Senfible of my own innocence, ten thoufand deaths (could I myself alone have fuffered) would have been lefs torturing to me than the prefent ignominy. But when I faw Lucretia bow to a young lady in the ftreet where we lived, as the penfively fat in the window, between my. felf and wife, and faw the falute contemptuously fimiled at, and paffed without being returned, (while fhe and her mother would burst into tears, and move front the fpot)then would I utter to myfelfBetter had I feen my child executed with me, in the view of a gizing multitude, declaring my declaring my innocence, than thus to be doomed "He firft led me down a paffage, to fhrink under the wounds of of confiderable length, at the bottom blafted fame, and fuppofed infamy.' of which he halt 1.-Having proMy affairs were very foon fet-duced a large key, he opened a fimall tled; and, with my wife and daugh- door, which difcovered a gloomy ter, (attended by one man and a Gothic hall, lighted by a lamp, "It was fome time after the clofe of the evening, and nearly dark, when I met the man whom I had before feen in the morning. He told me to follow him.-I rather hefitated. You have no reafon for alarm,' faid he, obferving me attentively. "I had a brace of piftols in my pocket; and, after a few moments of confideration, did as he defired. hand, which was fufpended from the top. followed with the piftol ftill in my It was fupported by heavy Tufcan columns; and, in different niches, were placed, in order, feveral fuits of armour-At the further end was a flight of fteps, on the top of which were a heavy pair of folding-doors, arched over in the antique ftyle above, and fecured in front by a grate-work of iron. 66 My guide, when he got to the centre of this place, feemed to fall back a few paces, as if thoughtful; and then, bolding up the lanthorn he had in his hand, looked me full in the face. This behaviour I did not by any means like:-it had the appearance of affaffination, and the gloom of the hail encouraged the idea. immediately drew one of my piftols from my pocket. No treachery (I exclaimed), or, by heayens, you die!' " "He feemed difconcerted. By all that's facred, I mean none; but only wished to be certain I was right in the perfon I am conducting. "Tis well! (I anfwered)-proceed." "He did fo, and led me up the fteps:-then, taking from his pocket another key, he applied it to the lock of the iron grating.-It required great exertions to turn it; but it at length yielded to the force, and divided in the middle.-The door now only remained. "It was a fpacious apartment, though gloomy; and fitted up with fome degree of elegance..-A few wax tapers were placed round the walls; but the light they gave was dim and uncertain.-In the middle was a long table, coyered with green cloth; and on it were spread various papers, pens, ink, and a few books. A company of perfons were feated round it, of about twelve or thirteen, and one at the head of the table feemed a kind of prefident in the affembly.-Their cloaks were all muffled round them; and a black feather, which each wore in his hat, hung over their faces, and added to the folemnity of their dark length. ened vifages-He at the head, I however obferved, wore a white one. "As I advanced, this perfon fpoke; and I recognised the wretch d'Ollifont.-He asked why I meafured my steps fo cautiously? "Because (I answered, in a firm tone) I am afraid of treachery." "Surely the fear is needlefs (faid he) :-have I not sworn-" "I interrupted him- Mention it not, d'Ollifont; you have fworn too much.' "He feemed rather confufed; and I could perceive his gloomy counte nance frown for the moment, though he wifhed to fmile.-Take a feat, (he cried) we are all friends.— Nerone, help the fignor to a glafs of wine.' Put up your piftol, fignor, (faid he) you have nothing to fear." "This requeft. I positively refufed. -He then blew a finall horn, which he had in his belt; when the folding- "This man, who was in waiting, doors immediately flew open, and directly ran to a large fide-board two blacks, with drawn fabres, stood covered with fruit, cakes, and wines. before us. He handed the glass:- I refused it. "A voice from the inner partnow-D'Ollifont entreated me to take it: uttered-Admit.'-They directly-I determinately anfwered, 'No.' drew back, and we paffed through the entrance. The doors inftantly clofed, with fome noife, and the blacks refumed their ftation before them. "To bufinefs," said he. "With all my heart (I answered). But, mark me, count! ftrictly adhere to the oath I have taken; nor, in your requeft, infringe on the "My guide walked forward, and I laws of general honefty, morality, er or humanity; for on thofe conditions only will I agree." "I mean no otherwife (faid d'Ollifont):-be judge yourself.I have an estate fituated near Montferrat; and on it ftands the refidence of my late uncle, Orlando, count Maferini. The building is well known by the name of Grafville Abbey. This, among other properties, was bequeathed to me, as his his fole heir, his two children having died in France.-Now the country people round the fpot, for many miles, have encouraged ideas, from the gloomy appearance and Gothic ftructure of this ancient pile, that it is haunted; and it is actually neceffary, for the prefervation of the furniture, papers, and other valuables, of contiderable amount, that thefe fufpicions fhould be kept alive; which will more effectually prevent intrufion or robbery than any other method we can put into execution; the peasants of that part being a wild antractable kind of people, and little better than general depredators on the public. You perhaps may wonder why we do not remove thele articles; but my uncle's will parti cularly requefts every individual atom, that was at his death in the Abbey, fhould remain there, and only be taken from it as my neceffity may require. Now there are various deeds and memorandums, relative to his different poffeffions, that we may never have the least occafion to difturb; and which, confequently, will be open to the violence of any one, whofe curiofity or villany may prompt him to ufe force in entering the Abbey.-The service that I have to request from you, is the performance of fome trifling ceremony, with a lamp, in the external part of the building, at night, either by paffing the cafements with it in your hand, or fix-, ing it for fhort periods of time at the different windows. This will be an innocent means of preventing inVOL. XXVII. vafion; and, by conftantly vifiting the Abbey, your fcruples will be fatisfied, in point of the extent of your oath. "Your fortune will fupport you fo as to enjoy the fuperfluities of life; and your refidence may be fixed at any part near the Abbey.-But one condition (continued he) goes further, that if at any time, though many years hence, you difcover perfons to enter the Abbey, and refide there, without notice from me, you fhall immediately take every means in your power to raise in them alarms of fupernatural appearances, and by that means drive them from the fpot. For your better convenience, there is a cave on one fide of the wood which furrounds the Abbey, that is never intruded upon, nor indeed hardly known by any one in the place:-you may go to it of an evening; and from thence proceed, through a fubterraneous paffage, to the building.-If, after two years' conftant performance of thefe injunctions, no interruption is perceived, you will not then be confined to the ufual ceremony; but yet it is requested that a continual watch fhall be kept upon it; and, as I before obferved, if intruded on, even fifty years to come, and both of us living, every means is to be used in the above-mentioned manner, to terrify all vifitors to a removal." 66 "I must confefs, - this requeft, ftrange as it was, feemed far inore agreeable to me than what I expeced; and I conceived that, were there any villany lurking under it, I might discover the fource-and, without going from my oath, be of confiderable fervice to the injured; and, one time or other, have it in my power to retaliate on d'Oilifont.-I requested that the agreement should be drawn up on paper, that I might adhere to it, in time to come, without an idea of having forgotten its tendency. "This was agreed to,-and, in the courfe of an hour, it was finished. 3 A 1 cart. |