The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. I

and the half-stifled sigh evinced the recollection of events painful to remembrance. Frederick vainly endeavoured to divert his attention, but his voice

o his cabin, whence he was summoned in the morning, on the arrival of Mr. Talton. His pallid countenance su

oncern, and took the occasion of his ab

your question; my uncle is frequently-nay generall

et it may: the enmity of his brother was too deeply rooted to yield to time-And shall I own my surprise at finding the son of that brothe

ther, sir, knows and app

er a moment's pause, "acquainted

I was nearly fourteen; when I accompanied my father to a race near Salisbury; and, where my uncle, without knowing who I was, saved my life, by extricating me from an unruly horse, which my curiosity to see the course had tempted me to mount. He afterwards accompanied me to my father, who was beginning coolly to thank him, when he recalled to mind, his brother in my preserver, and rage, in an instant, took possession of every faculty. He struck me down, and severely should I have suffered for the involuntary offe

s rendered him an object of dread, and repressed every sentiment of filial affection. My uncle wrote twice to my father; the first letter he answered, saying, he was glad I behaved to

nt the Capta

choly, and for some time strove to divert it; but f

it, and but little accords with your professions of friendship, or the honest pleasure that yesterday enlivened your features. I know

severely hurt at the reproach of his friend. "Sh

rd, I do not understand you, or your sentiments are strangely altere

y God, what ideas does that name recall! Yes, far above my life I prized her: but those days

r. Talton. "There is a mystery i

d; and when you hear my tale, you will not wonder why, on beholding the friend of my earlier

wish should only reach the knowledge of his friend; but the Captain bade him resume his

the Captain, addressin

Thomas Gratton, the father of the lady my brother espoused, refused his consent to their union, unless Arthur's fortune were made adequate to the one he gave his daughter; and my father, overcome by the entreaties of my brother, and perhaps da

brother, with ten thousand pounds each, on our coming of age, or at the death of his fathe

ll, being at an assembly at Lavington, my ill fortune led me, through whim, ridicule, and the gaiety of youth, to pay particular attentions to a Miss Deborah Tangress, a ma

s to my father, offering to resign herself and fortune to my disposal. I was laughing at the effects of my evening's mirth, when my

d my brother: 'the offer is advantageous, far beyond what you have a right to expect;

' I repeated. 'What, and chain

r, 'it is of very little consequence. You will recolle

rtune he is entitled to from your hands, though small, will

for future supplies. I have nearer ties; my children--.' "But excuse me, Talton, here is one"-(looking at Frederick, who appeared surprised and shocked at this account of his father) "too nearly interested to be pleased with this part of my narrative. Suffice it to say,-the

would reconsider the proposal of Miss Tangress, before I absolutely rejected it. In all probability, he said, a few years would terminate her existence; I had no p

ration determined me; I complied-and in less tha

d attentions to please could not twice succeed in the same particular. Certain I had not married for love, her rancorous disposition soon led her to resent, or rather to revenge, my want of affection. My expenditu

y, after having been severely reproached with the favour she had conferred in uniting herself

ball given in honour of Sir Henry Beechton, where I beca

ne with all the graces of a fabled goddess, which, added to the benignity that beamed in her eyes, and the ineffable sweetness of her manner, fixed her at once supremely in my heart. Impelled by love, I pursued the acquaintance; Ellenor owned her regard for me to her friend; and as neither that lady nor s

ing a comparison, added to my love for her, and detestation for my wife. Hard was the conflict-but love prevailed: and I strove, by fallacious reasoning, to persuade myself, that my marriage with Miss Tangress was of no effect, as I was led into

ily, sought not for farther information than I gave; the banns were published in a village a few miles

ard my father was dangerously ill; when filial affection for that best of parents, resumed its sway; an

ut as I prized them, not for their intrinsic value, but the affection of him who gave them, and, looking on him as the primary cause of my marrying Deborah, I not only refused to resign them, but upbraided him with his sordidness on that occasion. This produced a quarrel which has never been h

for the West Indies. Love, however, overcame these afflictions; my Ellenor became pregnant, and I was in expectation of soon being hailed by the name of father;

d reviled me with every opprobrious epithet the wildest passion, heightened by jealousy, could dictate; nor ceased-till Ellenor, overcome by the disclosure of the baleful secret, faint

ess, she regarded me with a look of mingled anguish and despair. Tears at last relieved her, and she requested to be conducted to her chamber; I supported her there, and, leaving her to the care of her maid, returned to the parlour, my bosom filled with a sorrow and remorse that have never since deserted it! I was roused from reflections painful in the extreme, by a message from Deborah, demanding my presence, with which I was weak enough to comply, and for an hour and a half sustained the fury of her rage and repr

d you may judge of what

case from his bosom, and, takin

tion; or, by unavailing complaints, add to the sorrow that already fills your bosom. No-rather let me speak peace to your mind, and,

be injustice to myself. No, Edward-pure has ever been my affection; and if Heaven should release you from your vows, remember the hand, the heart of Ellenor, may be demanded. Till then attempt not to discover me; the search would be fruitless. Justice demands the sacrifice, and it must be made! Yet how can I say

t cannot proceed. Oh, Edward! think of your Ellenor; doubt

God! what years of anxiety and painful

a chair, and, but for the officious attentions of Mary, should ha

ntly exclaimed, when recollecti

sobbed Mary. 'Perhaps, sir,

London I immediately directed my course; and at last descried a carriage, my sanguine hopes led me to think was that containing the sum of my earthly happiness: I instantly spurred my horse, when, owing to the bad

r, brought on a fever which confined me to my apartment for nearly a fortnight. As soon as I was in a state to travel,

one evening, returning to my lodging, I was surprised by the appearance of Deborah's equipage, who had likewise been seeking for, and at last traced me to

or! At first I discredited the evidence of my senses, till reiterated examinations convinced me I was not mistaken. I flew to the mistress of the house, and, in answer to my incoherent inquiries, gained intelligence, that she had left those apartments but a few days before I took them;

never enjoy a portion of her wealth without her. I would then have resigned all pretensions to her fortune; but she started into phrensy, vowed she would follow me to the utmost extremity of the globe, and sooner deprive herself of every comfort in life, than leave me at liberty to renew an acquaintance with a woman I preferred to herself. Finding it in vain to gain her accordance to my proposal, I desisted from the attempt, and again commenced a search after Ellenor; Deborah, like my evil genius, still

e distraction of my mind at that time prevented me from answering it. When I had in some degree regained my tranquillity, I wrote; but the person to whose charge I intrusted my packet, nearly two years af

sooner did I quit you, than remembrance, with the keenest powers, revived every former scene, and added not o