Here, however, her feelings overcame her; and, turning round to gaze
on the helpless being that clung to her bosom, tears from her
suffused eyes began to find a ready passage down her pale emaciated
cheek--a channel with which they appeared to be familiar.
"He never saw thee, my little Henry, my sweet boy! Methinks, that
cherub smile of innocence which lies upon that countenance, would be
powerful enough to melt the icy feelings of his soul, and recall--.
Pardon me, kind friends," she continued; "but the name of husband is
associated in my mind with all that human nature can suffer of
unmitigated, hopeless wretchedness. You see before you the victim
of--. But you shall hear all."
She then commenced her history, recounting every circumstance of a
tale of misery but too common. As it is, in some measure, connected
with that of May Darling, we shall give a few of of its leading facts.
She was the daughter of a respectable farmer in the north of England,
and, being an only child, received an accomplished education; and,
from her engaging manners, personal attractions, and skill in music,
she was much courted even by those who moved in the higher circles.
At the house of a neighbouring clergyman, Mr G--, she was a very
frequent visitor; and her charms captivated the heart of Dr G--, a
young medical gentleman, and the nephew of the clergyman. On her
part, however, there was no attachment, although the ardour with
which Dr G-- pressed his suit might have captivated a bosom less
stubborn than hers. But another idol was shrined and secretly
worshipped there. This was a Mr Henry Bolton, a fellow-student of Dr
G--'s, who, in calling at the house of Mr G--, to see his friend the
Doctor, was induced to spend a few days with him. His stay was
protracted to weeks, months--in short, till the farmer's daughter and
he, having come to an understanding with respect to the all important
matter of love, agreed to join hands for better for worse. The
marriage took place at a neighbouring town, where the couple remained
for several months, living in a state of great privacy, for no one
was in the secret of their union, not even the lady's father. The
finances of Mr Bolton became exhausted; and a letter from his father
having shut out all hope of succour from that quarter, he was thrown
into a state of extreme dejection. His temper soured, and harshness
towards his wife soon followed; for an application on her part to her
father, to whom she was compelled by necessity to reveal her
situation, met with a reception similar to the other. One day he
dressed himself with more than usual care, packed up in a small
parcel the principal part of his body clothes, and having told his
wife that he meant to go as far as ----, naming a considerable town,
which was situated at some miles distance, parted from her, like Ajut
in "The Rambler," never to return. The sun arose and set, and arose
again and again, and week after week, but still he came not; nor was
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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