Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/116

Rh that the first blow was to be struck. In one little week she was borne to her grave, and I franticly grasped the sods that covered her beautiful form, and called on her to answer to my agonized prayers. When this first paroxysm was over, for hours I watched in the stupor of insanity beside her grave, vainly expecting some token from the dust beneath to whisper that my affliction was seen, and my love still returned, by the spirit of my angel wife. None came ; and after weeks of such madness, I returned to the home in which I had last seen her. I felt as an alien to my species-henceforth the world could be as nothingto me. I had lost all sympathy with its petty cares and ambition. The first feeling of softness that came to my stony heart, was caused by your infantile cry. I remembered that I had one tie. The child of Helen was a precious bequest, and for the first time since her death, I wept as I held it to my heart. For months I watched beside your cradle, and scarcely suffered you to be taken from my sight. Your health declined, and I thought of the dreadful words of my father's curse : May all you desire be withheld : may those you love be blasted in your sight, and every hope of happiness withered by that God who is about to judge my soul. These were the harrowing words of a parent, and as they were uttered, I felt as if a serpent had coiled itself in tight folds around my heart, and was distilling its deadly venom into its inmost core. His curse had partly fallen, and I was blasted by its effects. I feared to love you, and I left you to the care of servants, and became a wanderer. My father had left me without fortune, and those who had extended the hand of friendship to me in the days of my prosperity, now looked coldly on me. I cared not for this. I turned from them with loathing, and I took a savage joy in freeing myself from the restraints of society. The only pleasure I possessed was occasionally seeing you, and rejoicing in your restored health and improved appearance. How I have lived and supported you since I became an outcast from society, I cannot reveal. I had amassed wealth, but recent reverses have deprived me of all I possessed. Enclosed is a twenty pound note-all your school expences are paid. This is all I can do for you, and alas ! it must for your welfare be the last time I address you. My advice to you is, to enter the school in which you have been educated, as an assistant teacher. You will not hear from me, but I shall continue to watch over your fate. Do you remember last evening when you promenaded with your friend in the shaded walk ? You heard a footstep behind you, and turned. Helen, it was