tales for fifteen-第3部分

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offices；　a　dependence　on　each　other；　and　habit。〃

〃Yes；　and　nature　too；〃　said　the　young　lady　rather
positively；　〃and　I　contend；　that　natural　lore；　and
love　from　sympathy；　are　two　distinct　things。〃

〃Very　different；　I　allow；〃　said　Charles；　〃only　I　very
much　doubt　the　durability　of　that　affection　which
has　no　better　foundation　than　fancy。〃

〃You　use　such　queer　terms；　Charles；　that　you　do
not　treat　the　subject　fairly。　Calling　innate　evidence
of　worth　by　the　name　of　fancy；　is　not　candid。〃

〃Now；　indeed；　your　own　terms　puzzle　me；〃　said
Charles；　smiling。　〃What　is　innate　evidence　of
worth？〃

〃Why；　a　conviction　that　another　possesses　all　that
you　esteem　yourself；　and　is　discovered　by　congenial
feelings　and　natural　sympathies。〃

〃Upon　my　word；　Julia；　you　are　quite　a　casuist　on
this　subject。　Does　love；　then；　between　the　sexes
depend　on　this　congenial　sympathy　and　innate
evidence？〃

〃Now　you　talk　on　a　subject　that　I　do　not
understand；〃　said　Julia；　blushing；　and；　catching　up
the　highly　prized　work；　she　ran　to　her　own　room；
leaving　the　young　man　in　a　state　of　mingled
admiration　and　pity。



CHAPTER　II。

AN　anxious　fortnight　was　passed　by　Julia　Warren；
after　this　conversation；　without　bringing　any　tidings
from　her　friend。　She　watched；　with　feverish
restlessness；　each　steam…boat　that　passed　the
door　on　its　busy　way　towards　the　metropolis；　and
met　the　servant　each　day　at　the　gate　of　the　lawn
on　his　return　from　the　city；　but　it　was　only　to
receive　added　disappointments。　At　length　Charles
Weston　good…naturedly　offered　his　own　services；
laughingly　declaring；　that　his　luck　was　never　known
to　fail。　Julia　herself　had　written　several　long
epistles　to　Anna；　and　it　was　now　the　proper　time
that　some　of　these　should　be　answered；
independently　of　the　thousand　promises　from　her
friend　of　writing　regularly　from　every　post…office
that　she　might　pass　on　her　route　to　the　Gennessee。
But　the　happy　moment　had　arrived　when
disappointments　were　to　cease。

As　usual；　Julia　was　waiting　with　eager　impatience
at　the　gate；　her　lovely　form　occasionally　gliding
from　the　shrubbery　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the
passengers　on　the　highway；　when　Charles　appeared
riding　at　a　full　gallop　towards　the　house；　his　whole
manner　announced　success；　and　Julia　sprang　into
the　middle　of　the　road　to　take　the　letter　which　he
extended　towards　her。

〃I　knew　I　should　be　successful；　and　it　gives　me
almost　as　much　pleasure　as　yourself　that　I　have
been　so；〃　said　the　youth；　dismounting　from　his
horse　and　opening　the　gate　that　his　companion
might　pass。

〃Thank　youthank　you；　dear　Charles；〃　said　Julia
kindly。　〃I　never　can　forget　how　good　you　are　to　me…
…how　much　you　love　to　oblige　not　only　me；　but
every　one　around。　Excuse　me　now；　I　have　this　dear
letter　to　read　another　time；　I　will　thank　you　as　I
ought。〃

So　saying；　Julia　ran　into　the　summer…house；　and
fastening　its　door；　gave　herself　up　to　the　pleasure
of　reading　a　first　letter。　Notes　and　short　epistles
from　her　aunt；　with　divers　letters　from　Anna　written
slyly　in　the　school…room　and　slipped　into　her　lap；
she　was　already　well　acquainted　with；　but　of　real；
genuine　letters；　stamped　by　the　post…office；
rumpled　by　the　mail…bags；　consecrated　by　the
steam…boat；　this　was　certainly　the　first。　This；
indeed；　was　a　real　letter：　rivers　rolled；　and　vast
tracts　of　country　lay；　between　herself　and　its　writer；
and　that　writer　was　a　friend　selected　on　the
testimony　of　innate　evidence。　It　was　necessary　for
Julia　to　pause　and　breathe　before　she　could　open
her　letter；　and　by　the　time　this　was　done；　her　busy
fancy　had　clothed　both　epistle　and　writer　with　so
much　excellence；　that　she　was　prepared　to　peruse
the　contents　with　a　respect　bordering　on
enthusiasm：　every　word　must　be　trueevery　idea
purity　itself。　That　our　readers　may　know　how
accurately　sixteen　and　a　brilliant　fancy　had　qualified
her　to　judge；　we　shall　give　them　the　letter　entire。

〃My　dearest　love；

〃Oh；　Julia！　here　I　am；　and　such　a　place！no　town；
no　churches；　no　Broadway；　nothing　that　can　make
life　desirable；　and；　I　may　add；　no　friendnobody　to
see　and　talk　with；　but　papa　and　mamma；　and　a
house　full　of　brothers　and　sisters。　You　can't　think
how　I　miss　you；　every　minute　more　and　more；　but　I
am　not　without　hopes　of　persuading　pa　to　let　me
spend　the　winter　with　your　aunt　in　town。　I　declare
it　makes　me　sick　every　time　I　think　of　her　sweet
house　in　Park…place。　If　ever　I　marry；　and　be　sure　I
will；　it　shall　be　a　man　who　lives　in　the　city；　and
next　door　to　my　Julia。　Oh！　how　charming　that　would
be。　Each　of　us　to　have　one　of　those　delightful　new
houses；　with　the　new…fashioned　basement　stories；
we　would　run　in　and　out　at　all　hours　of　the　day；　and
it　would　be　so　convenient　to　lend　and　borrow　each
other's　things。　I　do　think　there　is　no　pleasure　under
heaven　equal　to　that　of　wearing　things　that　belong
to　your　friend。　Don't　you　remember　how　fond　I　was
of　wearing　your　clothes　at　school；　though　you　were
not　so　fond　of　changing　as　myself；　but　that　was　no
wonder；　for　pa's　stinginess　kept　me　so　shabbily
dressed；　that　I　was　ashamed　to　let　you　be　seen　in
them。　Oh；　Julia！　I　shall　never　forget　those　happy
hours；　nor　you　neither。　AproposI　hope　you　have
not　forgot　the　frock　you　promised　to　work　for　me；　to
remember　you　by。　I　long　for　it　dreadfully；　and　hope
you　will　send　it　before　the　river　shuts。　I　suppose
you　and　Charles　Weston　do　nothing　but　ride　round
among　those　beautiful　villas　on　the　island；　and
take　comfort。　I　do　envy　you　your　happiness；　I　can
tell　you；　for　I　think　any　beau　better　than　none；
though　Mr。　Weston　is　not　to　my　taste。　I　am　going
to　write　you　six　sheets　of　paper；　for　there　is
nothing　that　I　so　delight　in　as　communing　with　a
friend　at　a　distance；　especially　situated　as　I　am
without　a　soul　to　say　a　word　to；　unless　it　be　my
own　sisters。　Adieu；　my　ever；　ever　beloved　Juliabe
to　me　as　I　am　to　you；　a　friend　indeed；　one　tried
and　not　found　wanting。　In　haste；　your

〃ANNA。

〃Gennessee；　June　15；　1816。

〃P。　S。　Don't　forget　to　jog　aunt　Emmerson's　memory
about　asking　me　to　Park…place。

〃P。　S。　June　25th。　Not　having　yet　sent　my　letter；
although　I　am　sure　you　must　be　dying　with　anxiety
to　hear　how　we　get　on；　I　must　add；　that　we　have　a
companion　here　that　would　delight　youa　Mr。
Edward　Stanley。　What　a　delightful　name！　and　he　is
as　delightful　as　his　name：　his　eye；　his　nose；　his
whole　countenance；　are　perfect。　In　short；　Julia；　he
is　just　such　a　man　as　we　used　to　draw　in　our
conversation　at　school。　He　is　rich；　and　brave；　and
sensible；　and　I　do　nothing　but　talk　to　him　of　you。
He　says；　he　longs　to　see　you；　knows　you　must　be
handsome；　is　sure　you　are　sensible；　and　feels　that
you　are　good。　Oh！　he　is　worth　a　dozen　Charles
Westons。　But　you　may　give　my　compliments　to　Mr。
Weston；　though　I　don't　suppose　he　ever　thinks　it
worth　his　while　to　remember　such　a　chick　as　me。　I
should　like　to　hear　what　he　says　about　me；　and　I
will　tell　you　all　Edward　Stanley　says　of　you。　Once
more；　adieu。　Your　letters　got　here　safe　and　in　due
season。　I　let　Edward　take　a　peep　at　them。〃

The　first　time　Julia　read　this　letter　she　was
certainly　disappointed。　It　contained　no　descriptions
of　the　lovely　scenery　of　the　west。　The　moon　had
risen　and　the　sun　had　set　on　the　lakes　of　the
interior；　and　Anna　had　said　not　one　word　of　either。
But　the　third　and　fourth　time　of　reading　began　to
afford　more　pleasure；　and　at　the　thirteenth　perusal
she　pronounced　it　charming。　There　was　evidently
much　to　be　understood；　vacuums　that　the　fancy
could　easily　fill；　and；　before　Julia　had　left　the
summer…house；　the　letter　was　extended；　in　her
imagination；　to　the　promised　six　sheets。　She
walked　slowly　through　the　shrubbery　towards　the
house；　musing　on　the　contents　of　her　letter；　or
rather　what　it　might　be　supposed　to　contain；　and
unconsciously　repeating　to　herself　in　a　low　tone

〃Young；　handsome；　rich；　and　sensiblejust　as　we
used　to　paint　in　our　conversation。　Oh；　how
delightful！〃

〃Delightful　indeed；　to　possess　all　those　fine
qualities；　and　who　is　the　happy　individual　that　is　so
blessed？〃　asked　Charles　Weston；　who　had　been
lingering　in　the　walks　with　an　umbrella　to　shield　her
on　her　return　from　an　approaching　shower。

〃Oh！〃　said　Julia；　starting；　〃I　did　not　know　you　were
near　me。　I　have　been　reading　Anna's　sweet　letter；〃
pressing　the　paper　to　her　bosom　as　she　spoke。

〃Doubtless　you　must　be　done　by　this　time；　Julia；
and；〃　pointing　to　the　clouds；　〃you　had　better　hasten
to　the　house。　I　knew　you　would　be　terrified　at　the
lightning　all　alone　by　yourself　in　that　summer…
house；　so　I　came　to　protect　you。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　Charles；　but　does　it　lighten？〃
said　Julia　in　terror；　and　hastening　her　retreat　to　the
dwelling。

〃Your　letter　must　have　interested　you　deeply　not　to
have　noticed　the　thunderyou；　who　are　so　timid
and　fearful　of　the　flashes。〃

〃Foolishly　fearful；　you　would　say；　if　you　were　not
afraid　of　hurting　my　feelings；　I　know；〃　said　Julia。

〃It　is　a　natural　dread；　and　therefore　not　to　be
laughed　at；〃　answered　Charles　mildly。

〃Then　there　is　natural　fear；　but　no　natural　love；　Mr。
Charles；　now　you　are　finely　caught；〃　cried　Julia
exultingly。

〃Well；　be　it　so。　With　me　fear　is　very　natural；　and　I
can　almost　persuade　myself　love　also。〃

〃I　hope　you　are　not　a　coward；　Charles　Weston。　A
cowardly　man　is　very　despicable。　I　could　never　love
a　cowardly　man；〃　said　Julia；　laughing。

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　am　what　you　call　a　coward；〃
said　Charles　gravely；　〃but　when　in　danger　I　am
always　afraid。〃

The　words　were　hardly　uttered　before　a　flash　of
lightning；　followed　instantly　by　a　tremendously
heavy　clap　of　thunder；　nearly　stupified　them　both。
The　suddenness　of　the　shock　had；　for　a　moment；
paralyzed　the　energy　of　the　youth；　while　Julia　was
nearly　insensible。　Soon　recovering　himself；
however；　Charles　drew　her　after　him　into　the　house；
in　time　to　escape　a　torrent　of　rain。　The　storm　was
soon　over；　and　their　natural　fear　and　surprise　were
a　source　of　mirth　for　Julia。　Women　are　seldom
ashamed　of　their　fears；　for　their　fright　is　thought　to
be　feminine　end　attractive；　but　men　are　less　easy
under　the　imputation　of　terror；　as　it　is　thought　to
indicate　an　absence　of　manly　qualities。

〃Oh！　you　will　never　ma