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OR,

WEEKLY

THE

VISITOR.

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lovers. He wisely thought the impassioned adieu of Albert might leave an impression too tender on the heart of Emma, and which, as he foresaw, would endanger her peace of mind, if indulged; he therefore determined to use every argument, which could banish the flattering hope from her bosom.

Albert had listened in silent admiration to the words of Emma's venerable father, when Bernard eeased to speak, he thus replied, Could I offer a diadem to your incomparable daughter, she would by accepting is, confer, and not receive the honour. I would not have presumed to solicit her affections or her hand, could I have admitted a doubt of my father's approbation of a choice directed by reason and sanctioned by viatue. I will renew no more my humble suit till authorized by him to demand the hand of Emma; Farewell! my return hither shall be as rapid as the impatience of love and hope can render it' Thus separated the venerable Bernard and the youthful Albert; nor could the moving rhetorick of the latter prevail upon the father of Emma to permitting it in his pocket, thus ada parting seene between the dressed his trembling daugh

Bernard returned not to his cottage till Albert had quitted the village; when he entered, Emma advanced to meet him, her eyes surcharged with tears; she presented him with a letter which Albert, retiring to write for a few moments before he mounted his horse, had ordered his servant to leave as he passed the door. It breathed the language of eternal love, and assured her, that as he quitted her only to accelerate their union, she might soon expect his return to claim her promised band; Bernard folding up the letter when he had read it, and put

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change for one nient and comfortable. lord,' replied Bernard, in this humble dwelling my infant eyes first opened, and here I would wish to close their aged lids."'

"But,' interrupted the baron, 'you begin to bow under the weight of years, and stand in need of rest and indulgence; I shall feel a true satisfaction in rendering your latter days happy.' 'Permit me to assure you,' said Bernard, 'that a life of honest industry, and uncorrupted innocence, has already insured to me that happiness in its closing scene, which an irreprochable conscience only can bestow, but which riches can never give.' "You have a daughter, how ever,' interrupted the baron, smiling, too young to have adopted your stoical ideas.'

I have a daughter,' retorted Bernard, who inherits her mother's virtue, and has been taught by precept and example, to follow virtue.'

The

baron replied, that he still hoped, maturereflection would induce him to accept the favours he was anxious to confer upon a man, whose respectable character, and long life of unsullid virtue, claimed a singular reward.

So saying, he mounted his horse, and returned to the castle, revolving in his mind, every practicable scheme for the seduction of the devoted Emma. He reflected that he never had beheld a female half so lovely; and as he on no occasion had accustomed himself to combat his inclinations, or subdue his passions, he resolved to lose no time in accomplishing his design. The humble situation of Emma, gave him in his opinion, an uncontrouled right to her submission; but he was solicitous, if possible, to gain an ascendency over her heart, by awakening with her gratitude tenderer sentiments; for this purpose he determined to wear the mask of hypocrisy a little longer, and then to attempt by every art of soft deception, to secure her affections in his favor. A week elapsed after the baron's visit at the cottage, without any renewal of his great offers; a circumstance that contributed to dispel those fears, which had been awakened in the bosom of Bernard, by the interview of the baron with Emma, and his generous professions of friendship to himself,-professions, so opposite to the natural ferocity of his temper. Bernard con

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History of

KITTY WELLS.

(A TRUE STORY.)

(Concluded-)

He no longer doubted her sincerity. Nature was in her face; she had testimonies of truth in her features and behaviour, which could not be feigned, and which he could not mistake. But this was not enough to deter him from an attempt on her virtue. He was the slave of passion. His habits had given such ascendency to his desires over reason, morality and honour, that he was constantly in pursuits of objects of intrigue; and a mind not by nature vicious, was

One morning when he had quitted the cottage about an hour, a hasty messenger from the castle terrified Emma with an account that her father was taken with a sudden indisposition as he passed the gates; and having been supported into the house by some of the domestics, who observed him sinking on the ground, the housekeeper had thought pro-rendered so by indulgence.per to send for his daughter, who, by being accustomed perhaps to those seizures, knew best how to treat them. trembling Emma, alarmed to the utmost degree at a disorder which had never yet attacked her beloved father, delayed not a moment to follow her cenductor; and taking the arm of her friend Agnes, who had been listening

The

her as she was reading aloud, proceed. ed with tottering steps to the castle, distant from her hum. ble cottage about a mile.

of To be Continued:s)

He attacked her with all the violence of ungovernable appetite. He promised her immense sums, threw his purse upon the table, and used every art that desire or gallantry could invent to procure her compliance; but Kitty resisted him with the native dignity of innocence. She broke from his arms, reproached him with the baseness of insulting an unprotected female, whom misfortune, and not error, had put into his power ; and over whelmed with grief and fa

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