Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/101

Rh anguiſh on it—the trembling light ſoon diſappeared—wild fancy fluſhed in her eyes, and animated her inceſſant rant. She ſung ſeveral verſes of different ſongs, talked of her huſband's ill-uſage—enquired if he had lately been to ſea; and frequently addreſſed her father as if he were behind her chair, or ſitting by her.

Charles could not bear this ſcene—If I could loſe like her a ſenſe of woe, he cried, this intolerable anguiſh would not tear my heart! The fortune which he had intended for her could not reſtore her reaſon; but, had he ſent for her ſoon after her father’s death, he might have ſaved her and comforted himſelf.

The laſt ſtroke was worſe than the firſt; he retired to this abode; melancholy creeping on him, he let his beard grow, and the garden run wild. One room in the houſe the poor lunatic inhabited; and he had a proper perſon to attend her, and guard her from the dangers ſhe wiſhed to encounter. Every day he viſited her, the ſight of her would almoſt have unhinged a ſound mind Rh