OR, WEEKLY THE VISITOR. morning had passed away, he departed to visit his Eliza. The sun shone delightfully on the surround ing landscape as he walked along, the plumed musicians of the air carolled their sweetest notes, and all nature seemed to breathe forth a harmony well suited to the soft emotions of his soul. On his arrival he was introduced into a parlour, where he found Eliza setting alone. She received him with a familiar case, unaccompanied with any other confusion, save what tinted her cheek. The Sun arose in his wonted beauty the next morning to the eyes of Steinfort, who awoke to a renewed prospect of life and happiness, which though shaded by a few difficulties, imparted more lively pleasures than it is in the power of sullen and retired philosophy to bestow. He arose and adjusted his dress more to the taste of the world, and threw off the rough and uncourtly manners of the philosopher for the more gentle and respectful demeanor of the lover. His rural host and hostess, with whom he resided, were rather surprized at this alteration in his appearance, but as their en quiries had been checked, they presumed not to ask any questions. They knew nothing of his circum-gination. stances, and were seldom troubled with his company, except when he was induced to make some idle experiment, or in his moments of relaxation he amused them with his eccentricities. After a few general comments and explanations relative to past events, they touched upon more interesting topics, and Steinfort was not a little gratified at finding in the person he loved a mind congenial with his own, that could accompany him in the flights of fancy, and the wanderings of ima The time flew swiftly away, and nothing remained to damp the happiness of our lovers but the opposition of friends. They had to encounter and subdue the pertinacity of a prejudiced 'father, and to brave the taunts of a censorious world; a task, however difficult to perform for an individual lopped off from society, without any one to love or trust, is still more difficult to undertake with fortitude, when we see those we love subjected to the same calamity; and though we have the additional pleasure of mutual consolation, we have likewise the additional pain of seeing each other suffer, from the same cause, with the same despair of redress. These ideas served but to strengthen the cord that bound them together, and they separated with desires sanc⚫ tioned by virtue, and hopes that could not easily be depressed. Steinfort daily continued his visits, and every evening returned with brighter prospects of happiness, barred with new difficulties of access. A week being elapsed in removing obstructions and obviating objections, without any decisive measures being adopted, they met to determine on some mode of conduct, and agree either to act independent of friends, or forego each other's company till circumstances were more favourable to their union. Clandestine means were canvassed and dismissed with this remark; "that, though they sometimes conferred security, they did not infallibly secure happiness; for those who adopted them must ever offend the judicious and experienced part of mankind, the good opinion of which is so necessary to public approbation, and public approbation best consolidates private enjoyment." "Well," observed Eliza, as she tendered Steinfort her hand "this the world may prevent me making a present of for a time, but shall never prevail upon me to give it to another." Steinfort pressed it to his lips. At that instant the parlour door opened, and Mr. Dalton appeared. Steinfort felt a little confused at first at this singular intrusion; but, unconscious of any impropriety, he avoided, by any aukward evasions, to create the appearance of one. Eliza, when she saw her father, shrunk for a moment from herself, and as she expected to encounter offended honour. on his brow, and every feature alive with revenge, was not a little surprized, when, after gazing on them for a moment with doubtful surprize, he famili arly stepped forward, and shaking hands with Steinfort, hoped he found him well. An appearance so unexpected and conduct so mysterious, filled them both with astonishment, and was mistaken at first for some low cunning of insult. Mr. Dalton soon undeceived them, by making. suitable concessions to Steinfort for the injury he had done his character, and briefly informing him that his seclusion from the world had given rise to an inquiry into his character and circumstances; and it too plainly appeared that his actions had been aggravated, and the pursuits of virtue tortured into those of vice. He likewise informed him, that having heard them." "On this supposition that you are obliged to me," answered Steinfort, "I know but of one favour you can grant me, in the refusal of which you deny me every thing I desire, but in conferring it, you give me every thing I want; and that is," continued he, "the hand of this lady," taking hold of Eliza. "How now," retorted Mr. from his friends of the amendment of his daughter's health, he had been induced to fetch her home, to assist him in concerting measures to seek out his retirement, and make him what reparation was left in his power. That on his arrival, he was informed of the perilous situation from which his daughter had been snatched by the signal bravery and interposi-Dalton, "you are contriving to get tion of a young man, who was then with her in the parlour; and that thus he had without any apology intruded upon them, but expected not to find in the deliverer of his daughter, one whom he had given sufficient provocation to convert into the deadliest foe. Steinfort and Eliza heard his narrative with looks expressive of the satisfaction they felt; and after a moment's pause, Steinfort observed, "that as a link in the chain of mortality, and subject with his fellow beings to all the terrors and weaknesses of humanity, he had no just claims to distinction from the rest of mankind; that when extenuation was the business of the world, after Its revenge had been glutted, and the object of its displeasure removed, virtue was magnified in its turn as much as vice had been, and applause was as frequently injudiciously bestowed as censure." "Well, well," replied Mr. Dalton, "that may be as you please, but you shall not moralize me out of the notion that I am under great obligations to you, and therefore I hope you will consider of some method by which I may repay me deeper in debt, by taking the trouble off my hands of seeking her a suitable husband; but since you are resolved to be generous, I will not be left behind; therefore, if you have her, it must be only on this condition, that you permit me to entail upon her a fortune of 5000l." His ready consent, together with his generosity, rather surprized Steinfort ; but it is often observed, that those who are warm and hasty in their resentments, are, on conviction of having done wrong, equally zealous and eager to make all possible amends. Steinfort paying him a compliment on his liberality, observed, that as proposals of that nature were so seldom rejected, he would not be so affectedly singular as to hesitate on the conditions. "Well then," said Mr. Dalton, taking hold of Eliza's hand, and attempting to give it to Steinfort. cried Eliza, "is my consent then entirely out of the question?”—-—.. "Your eyes have told me you have not been an indifferent spectator," replied Mr. Dalton-Eliza reddened-" Nay, those cheeks confirm it," added he, "colouring as it Hold," were for the frailty of your eyes; practice of duelling." "I am Mr. Dalton laugh DURING an excursion I recently, made a few miles into the country, I stopt at the house of a gentleman with whom I had formerly been acquainted, and whose real name, I shall conceal under that of Merlin. It was at the close of the afternoon when I arrived at his place of residence, and several persons in some disorder were just then leaving the door-way; upon enter ing, observed, " that he hoped her philosophical lover would teach her something of gravity." Steinfort observed, that he had no claiming I observed my acquaintance to to the title of philosopher. "What but philosophy has enabled you to endure the evils of life with patience ?" asked Mr. Dalton. "That 1 am afraid has not been the case," replied Steinfort; " but I have a still more difficult task before me," continued he, "to enjoy the pleasures of life with temperance." The evening was spent in a reciprocation of civilities, and after some entreaty on the side of Mr. Dalton, and solicitation on Steinfort, the nuptials were agreed to be solemnized on the approaching be in some degree of passion and confusion:-After the customary salutations, etc. I inquired into the cause that had ruffled his temper? and was given to understand, that one of the persons I had seen depart was a worthless scoundrel, who had frequently revelled upon his bounty, and had but the moment before been displaying to him the basest ingratitude and insolence Yes, said he, my friend (addressing himself to me) would you believe it? that puppy I have relieved hundreds of times from the most dire distress; had it not been for |