Literary Cadet And Rhode Island Statesman

PROVIDENCE.
HENRY O'CONNOR.
(CONTINUED.)
"I hate him for the lie he spoke,
I hate him for the vow he broke."
MORTON.
"There might have been destiny; but no
Our hearts deny it;—and so young, so fair,
Good without effort, great without a foe
And now there!
How many ties did that stern moment tear!
From thy sires, to his humblest menial's breast
Is linked the electrical chain of that despair,
Whose shock was as an earthquake's, and oppress'd,
The land which lov'd thee so, that none could love
thee best."
CHILDE HAROLD. CANTO IV.
As soon as the lad had received the note, he hastened to O'Connor, who he found busily engaged in thought, promenading the garden in a troubled manner; and then handing him the document he hastened from the garden, lest his master, with whose too irritable disposition he was but too well acquainted, should chastise him for doing, even that, which he was assured, could not be otherwise than grateful to his feelings.
O'Connor took the note, and for a moment gazing on the seal, a smile lit upon his countenance; and then observing the well known impress of Rosalind's seal, he pressed it to his lips, and as if undetermined what to do—whether to read it or not—he held the paquet before him for a moment; and then, hastily tearing open the envelope, read the cordial invitation which Rosalind had given him to visit her dwelling.
He read it again and again; and again and again, did its contents give new hopes and fresh impulses to his bosom; for, though he affected to hate the world and woman's love, still did he cling to the memory of Rosalind, as a last hope, and with a fondness that bordered on platonic enthusiasm, for it yielded all the joy, that the world and its scenes afforded him.
"Yes I will visit her" said he, as he closed the letter, "I will visit the good Rosalind; I will lay at her feet, the history of my sorrowings, my cares, and my way-farings:—I will make her the repository of my sorrows, I will tell her the history of my sufferings, and if she will but smile upon me, listen to my tale and pity my misfortunes, then again shall I be happy; I will defy the tempest, laugh at misery, and contemn the warrings of the elements,
"live, love, and never wander more."
"But this is not the time" he continued, "to visit her, and not until the darkness of night shall have fallen upon creation, will I venture to visit the abiding place of the loveliest of women, or worship at the shrine of matchless purity and love; at the altar of female divinity. But this note requires a reply; and lest I keep the good Rosalind in suspense, I will instantly forward to her an answer;" and then retiring to his lodgings, he addressed her the following letter, which was dispatched to her, by the young Mercury, who had throughout the whole transaction, sustained an active part in the singular and almost unprecedented drama.
At Home, June 21, 1821.
Mr. O'Connor, has the honor to inform Miss Villars, that her very kind note of this morning, has been handed him, and he gladly accepts of her kind and complimentary invitation. He assures Miss Villars, that he would be proud to call upon her this morning, did not insuperable objections present themselves; and thus situated, it will not be possible for him to attend her commands till this evening at 8 o'clock, when he will do himself the honor, to present himself to obey her wishes. Mr. O'Connor, has the honor to salute Miss Villars, with his assurances of reciprocal respect and friendship, and is most faithfully, and obediently, her obliged and most humble servant.
The lad, who, though he had assumed an air of ignorance in relation to the acts that were going on, was too well aware of the importance of the despatches confided to him, to her to whom they were addressed, and to him by whom they were written, to suffer any thing to delay his movements, and in a few moments reached the dwelling of Rosalind;—he found her accompanied by Maria Hardy, and a young gentleman in the arbour, attentively reading Scott's Rob Roy, to the listeners; and unwilling to interrupt her, he held out the note, hoping that she would discover him, without putting him to the necessity of obtruding on her attention, and interrupting her when engaged in reading that interesting passage which describes the last scene, between Francis, and Rashleigh Osbaldistone. Rosalind was too intently engaged in reading the interesting recital, to be diverted by any object that approached her; but Maria, turning to wipe a tear drop from her eye, which the pathetic passage had called forth, discovered the urchin standing near her, in an odd and awkward posture.
"As I live," she exclaimed, with evident surprise, "here is that tardy emissary of a courier, who belongs to that strange mortal, O'Connor, with a love diplomatique dispatch as I suppose!" "Give it me" you young tormentor she added, "and tell me, is it for me or for Rosalind!" Rosalind, diverted from the book, by the ejaculations of Maria, looked up, and on beholding the lad, a deep blush suffused her countenance;—and hastily snatching the billet doux, thrust it into her bosom: and in an angry tone said to Maria, "I am surprised that you should ask if the note is for me or for you!" "And pray Miss, may I be permitted to inquire, why you should for a moment suppose that Mr. O'Connor would add
letter to you!" Miss Hardy, a little disconcerted by the language of Rosalind pettishly replied, "I assure you Miss Villars, that I am not anxious to have the honour of that gentleman's correspondence; and you will excuse me, if I say to you, that your familiarity with that gentleman, and the solicitude you express in his behalf, is neither creditable to your discernment, or honourable to your intelligence; and what is still more, it is by no means calculated to elevate you in the estimation of those, who have heretofore, thrown the veil of partial friendship over your foibles, and ascribed your improprieties, to the extravagances of an inexperienced girl, ardent in her feelings, and governed by the impulses of platonic love. You must now allow me to speak, freely, calmly, dispassionately and frankly, Miss Villars; and I will, in the exercise of the freedom of speech, and in the fulness of my zeal for your welfare, in a word, undisguisedly avow, that your deportment, for the last two months, and ever since this unfortunate and miserable O'Connor returned from the Indies, has been exceedingly improper, indelicate and unjustifiable; and the time has now arrived, when it becomes me, as a friend to you, and your respectable family to say, that my exertions shall be made use of, to put a stop to your extravagant conduct!
The amazed Rosalind, listened to the rude language of Maria;—the book fell from her hands; a tear watered her soft blue eye, and a half suppressed sigh, escaped her throbbing bosom;—she attempted to speak but could not, for the language of unkindness from one to whom she had ever looked up for consolation and support, was too poignant to be borne; and as she knew not how she had merited it, it was rendered still more painful to her sensitive heart.
At length, however, recovering herself sufficiently, to articulate audible words, she bade the courier return to his master;—and then turning to Maria said to her, "in all my sufferings, sorrows and distresses, I had looked up to you Maria, as my friend and solace; but how sadly have I been disappointed. In a moment of apparent excitement, have you in the presence of this gentleman, charged me with offences;—with the commission of indelicacies of which heaven truly knows I am not guilty; and have placed yourself in the posture of my accuser. How have I deserved this; how have I incited this unexpected unkindness! Tell me Maria, for mercy's sake tell me, if in the course of my life, I have committed any act of impropriety; or have I ever done that which justly entitles me to your indignation, or disrespect."
"If I must then be candid," responded Maria, and a haughty look of austerity beclouded her countenance as she spoke, "ever since the return of this worthless misanthrope, yet confirmed and artful libertine, I have watched your actions: and I have discovered that your whole mind has been bent on a romantic amour, and as a friend to you and your family, I have felt myself bound to nip it in its bud and though you may charge me with being your accuser, and despise me ever after, I now avow, that no effort shall be wanting on my part, to put an end to it. You must know Miss what are the designs of your parents;—they have designated a gentleman, suitable to your age and fortune—he is at hand you know the rest." Thus saying she significantly pointed to the young gentleman present; and would have retired, had she not been detained by Rosalind, who begged her to explain herself and added, "though my father may control my actions, he cannot control the feelings of my heart;—they are governed by the Almighty only: and though I regard the wishes of a fond and doating parent, I cannot and I will not surrender to him the control of my heart's best wishes. I know not what are his designs; nor do I care—my determinations are made up, and they cannot be altered."
There was an air of firmness and honest indignation in her manner, which Miss Hardy had never before witnessed; and though she affected to look upon the irritated feelings of Rosalind with ineffable disdain, still she watched them with indescribable interest, and dreaded the effervescence they might produce.
"As I find Miss Villars, that you are not in a suitable mood to talk of a subject of so much importance to yourself, as the one which I have perhaps indiscreetly introduced" said Maria, "I will leave you for the moment to entertain this gentleman, Mr. Charles Sexton and hope when next I see you, I shall have the satisfaction of finding you in a far more complacent humour, and prepared to reflect upon the fatal consequences, which your adhesion to Mr. O'Connor, must have on your happiness; and now for a moment, I bid you adieu, and hope that you will find in the society of Mr. Sexton, a sovereign remedy for that platonic passion which you have too long indulged,"— and thus in the most awkward situation conceivable, did she leave the half melancholy and half indignant Rosalind, to overcome in the best way she could, the embarrassments in which she was necessarily involved, by being thus left alone with a gentleman, who was almost a stranger to her, and of whom, till within a few days she had never heard.
After some moments' silence, Mr. Sexton attempted to speak, and assuming his face
regret, that he, of all men, should be so singularly unfortunate, as to embarrass a lady; begged leave to make some inquiries, relative to the fortunes of the Mr. O'Connor of whom Miss Hardy spoke; and added if he were not fearful of incurring displeasure and of being considered rather too inquisitive, he should take the liberty to ask the privilege of reading the letter which had given rise to the unpleasantries of the morning, and to those heated feelings, which had been so forcibly uttered, by Miss Hardy and Miss Villars.
"As to your inquiries relative to Mr. O'Connor," said Rosalind, "did I suppose Sir, that you could have any possible interest in making them, beyond what is elicited by curiosity;—did I suppose you to be a friend, either to that gentleman or myself, I should not hesitate to render a prompt and candid reply to any thing you might ask; but as I cannot conceive you to be the friend of either, you will not, I trust Sir, consider me to be rude or uncivil, if I refuse your requests, and treat them as ill-timed and improper. But lest you should become absolutely dissatisfied with my deportment, I am willing to reply to one of your questions, and shall for your information, inform you that Mr. O'Connor is a near relative of mine, for whom I entertain the utmost regard; and that you may not be deceived by the rude epithets applied to him by Miss Hardy, I inform you Sir, that he is by birth, by education, and by principle, a gentleman; and thus far in life, has not been guilty of any improprieties. As to the letter, it is my individual property, and not being aware that you have any just claim to the perusal of my private correspondence, I shall decline placing it in your hands; and in thus declining, I will add, that I not only consider your request ungentlemanly, but exceedingly impertinent. Sir, allow me to bid you adieu"—and she added, as she left the arbor, "as I hope—forever." Being thus relieved, she proceeded to her room, to make preparations for the reception of Mr. O'Connor.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]