Delusion; or, The Witch of New England

t not, but I

hy pleasant b

of my yout

too beauti

ya

y as the birds sing, because she could not help it, at nineteen had learned to reflect and to analyze; a sensitive conscience had taken the place of spontaneous and impulsive virtue; and the same heart that c

d the story of the Lady Ursula, she began to solve some of the mysteries of life. She had since turned over many of i

er, but not so apparent. Externally, he was the same beautiful youth

en his greatest temptation. He could not indeed hope to be exempt fr

rvals of their preparation for the university. How many poor mothers have striven, and labored, and denied themselves all but th

ll his subsequent dreams in solitude, and his lonely reveries, had only served to deepen. She seemed to embody all his imaginations of

thought of the darkened chamber, the pale, faint smile, her hand on his head, and her solemn consecra

uish himself were redoubled. Mr. Grafton aided in every way; and with the sympathy of his kind friend came the image of

th and vigorous health, this was hardly felt as an evil. But we have seen, in our first chapt

ighter literature, in poetry, and even his dreams of Edith, seemed to him like sins. A darker and less joyous spirit was gradually overshadowing him. A morb

a little time. Edith received him as a valued friend, and he return

as her sympathy and her approbation that came first to his mind; and, when he sent his thoughts forward to a settlement and a pars

ed, and it was his custom to visit them on horseback; and, in the deepest snows, and most severe storms, he had never refused to appear at their bedsides, or

ext morning he found himself ill with a lung fever. It left him debilitated, and much impaired i