charlotte temple-第13章

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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