charlotte temple-第13节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and to lead her back to the path of rectitude； she has disgraced her friends； forfeited the good opinion of the world； and undone herself； she feels herself a poor solitary being in the midst of surrounding multitudes； shame bows her to the earth； remorse tears her distracted mind； and guilt； poverty； and disease close the dreadful scene： she sinks unnoticed to oblivion。 The finger of contempt may point out to some passing daughter of youthful mirth； the humble bed where lies this frail sister of mortality； and will she； in the unbounded gaiety of her heart； exult in her own unblemished fame； and triumph over the silent ashes of the dead？ Oh no！ has she a heart of sensibility； she will stop； and thus address the unhappy victim of folly 〃Thou had'st thy faults； but sure thy sufferings have expiated them： thy errors brought thee to an early grave； but thou wert a fellow…creature thou hast been unhappythen be those errors forgotten。 〃 Then； as she stoops to pluck the noxious weed from off the sod； a tear will fall； and consecrate the spot to Charity。 For ever honoured be the sacred drop of humanity； the angel of mercy shall record its source； and the soul from whence it sprang shall be immortal。 My dear Madam； contract not your brow into a frown of disapprobation。 I mean not to extenuate the faults of those unhappy women who fall victims to guilt and folly； but surely； when we reflect how many errors we are ourselves subject to； how many secret faults lie hid in the recesses of our hearts； which we should blush to have brought into open day （and yet those faults require the lenity and pity of a benevolent judge； or awful would be our prospect of futurity） I say； my dear Madam； when we consider this； we surely may pity the faults of others。 Believe me； many an unfortunate female； who has once strayed into the thorny paths of vice； would gladly return to virtue； was any generous friend to endeavour to raise and re…assure her； but alas！ it cannot be； you say； the world would deride and scoff。 Then let me tell you； Madam； 'tis a very unfeeling world； and does not deserve half the blessings which a bountiful Providence showers upon it。 Oh； thou benevolent giver of all good！ how shall we erring mortals dare to look up to thy mercy in the great day of retribution； if we now uncharitably refuse to overlook the errors； or alleviate the miseries； of our fellow…creatures。 CHAPTER XIX。 A MISTAKE DISCOVERED。 JULIA Franklin was the only child of a man of large property； who； at the age of eighteen； left her independent mistress of an unincumbered income of seven hundred a year； she was a girl of a lively disposition； and humane； susceptible heart： she resided in New…York with an uncle； who loved her too well； and had too high an opinion of her prudence； to scrutinize her actions so much as would have been necessary with many young ladies； who were not blest with her discretion： she was； at the time Montraville arrived at New…York； the life of society； and the universal toast。 Montraville was introduced to her by the following accident。 One night when he was upon guard； a dreadful fire broke out near Mr。 Franklin's house； which； in a few hours； reduced that and several others to ashes； fortunately no lives were lost； and； by the assiduity of the soldiers； much valuable property was saved from the flames。 In the midst of the confusion an old gentleman came up to Montraville； and； putting a small box into his hands； cried〃Keep it； my good Sir； till I come to you again；〃 and then rushing again into the thickest of the croud； Montraville saw him no more。 He waited till the fire was quite extinguished and the mob dispersed； but in vain： the old gentleman did not appear to claim his property； and Montraville； fearing to make any enquiry； lest he should meet with impostors who might lay claim； without any legal right； to the box； carried it to his lodgings； and locked it up： he naturally imagined； that the person who committed it to his care knew him； and would； in a day or two； reclaim it； but several weeks passed on； and no enquiry being made； he began to be uneasy； and resolved to examine the contents of the box； and if they were； as he supposed； valuable； to spare no pains to discover； and restore them to the owner。 Upon opening it； he found it contained jewels to a large amount； about two hundred pounds in money； and a miniature picture set for a bracelet。 On examining the picture； he thought he had somewhere seen features very like it； but could not recollect where。 A few days after； being at a public assembly； he saw Miss Franklin； and the likeness was too evident to be mistaken： he enquired among his brother officers if any of them knew her； and found one who was upon terms of intimacy in the family： 〃then introduce me to her immediately；〃 said he； 〃for I am certain I can inform her of something which will give her peculiar pleasure。〃 He was immediately introduced； found she was the owner of the jewels； and was invited to breakfast the next morning in order to their restoration。 This whole evening Montraville was honoured with Julia's hand； the lively sallies of her wit； the elegance of her manner； powerfully charmed him： he forgot Charlotte； and indulged himself in saying every thing that was polite and tender to Julia。 But on retiring； recollection returned。 〃What am I about？〃 said he： 〃though I cannot marry Charlotte； I cannot be villain enough to forsake her； nor must I dare to trifle with the heart of Julia Franklin。 I will return this box；〃 said he； 〃which has been the source of so much uneasiness already； and in the evening pay a visit to my poor melancholy Charlotte； and endeavour to forget this fascinating Julia。〃 He arose； dressed himself； and taking the picture out； 〃I will reserve this from the rest；〃 said he； 〃and by presenting it to her when she thinks it is lost； enhance the value of the obligation。〃 He repaired to Mr。 Franklin's； and found Julia in the breakfast parlour alone。 〃How happy am I； Madam；〃 said he； 〃that being the fortunate instrument of saving these jewels has been the means of procuring me the acquaintance of so amiable a lady。 There are the jewels and money all safe。〃 〃But where is the picture； Sir？〃 said Julia。 〃Here； Madam。 I would not willingly part with it。〃 〃It is the portrait of my mother；〃 said she； taking it from him： 〃'tis all that remains。〃 She pressed it to her lips； and a tear trembled in her eyes。 Montraville glanced his eye on her grey night gown and black ribbon； and his own feelings prevented a reply。 Julia Franklin was the very reverse of Charlotte Temple： she was tall； elegantly shaped； and possessed much of the air and manner of a woman of fashion； her complexion was a clear brown； enlivened with the glow of health； her eyes； full； black； and sparkling； darted their intelligent glances through long silken lashes； her hair was shining brown； and her features regular and striking； there was an air of innocent gaiety that played about her countenance； where good humour sat triumphant。 〃I have been mistaken；〃 said Montraville。 〃I imagined I loved Charlotte： but alas！ I am now too late convinced my attachment to her was merely the impulse of the moment。 I fear I have not only entailed lasting misery on that poor girl； but also thrown a barrier in the way of my own happiness； which it will be impossible to surmount。 I feel I love Julia Franklin with ardour and sincerity； yet； when in her presence； I am sensible of my own inability to offer a heart worthy her acceptance； and remain silent。〃 Full of these painful thoughts； Montraville walked out to see Charlotte： she saw him approach； and ran out to meet him： she banished from her countenance the air of discontent which ever appeared when he was absent； and met him with a smile of joy。 〃I thought you had forgot me； Montraville；〃 said she； 〃and was very unhappy。〃 〃I shall never forget you； Charlotte；〃 he replied； pressing her hand。 The uncommon gravity of his countenance； and the brevity of his reply； alarmed her。 〃You are not well；〃 said she； 〃your hand is hot； your eyes are heavy； you are very ill。 〃 〃I am a villain；〃 said he mentally； as he turned from her to hide his emotions。 〃But come；〃 continued she tenderly； 〃you shall go to bed； and I will sit by； and watch you； you will be better when you have slept。 〃 Montraville was glad to retire； and by pretending sleep； hide the agitation of his mind from her penetrating eye。 Charlotte watched by him till a late hour； and then； lying softly down by his side； sunk into a profound sleep； from whence she awoke not till late the next morning。 CHAPTER XX。 Virtue never appears so amiable as when reaching forth her hand to raise a fallen sister。 CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS。 WHEN Charlotte awoke； she missed Montraville； but thinking he might have arisen early to enjoy the beauties of the morning； she was preparing to follow him； when casting her eye on the table； she saw a note； and opening it hastily； found these words 〃My dear Charlotte must not be surprised； if she does not see me again for some time： unavoidable business will prevent me that pleasure： be assured I am quite well thi
