Page:Tragical history of George Barnwell (1).pdf/20

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You will perceive what a blank there is in my affection. If the glow of social feeling is ever more to warm my frozen breast it must be kindled by you, Amen. May you never feel the torture that racked the bosom of Mental." The narrative ran thus:


"Among others who visited at our cottage was a celebrated painter of that day. He had a person of manly beauty, and his converse was captivating. We delighted in the company of Mr. Linmore, and he seemed to receive an equal satisfaction in ours. His paintings were the ornaments of our room, and the marks of his favour in our company. We passed a year in the utmost bliss I ever saw on earth.—In the course of this period, Mr Nutting died, and smitten with the injustice of possessing a fortune which Ellinor's conduct had bestowed on him, on his death bed made a Will, by which she regained her right, and we became completely independant. My little Elinor was now three years old, and my happiness appeared complete.— But clouds soon darkened the Sunshine of prosperity. Know then that the spacious moralist, Linmore proved himself a villian. He came to our dwelling and found peace, innocence, and love, he saw a fond pair as nature ever designed for each other; what then was that principle, that could excite the vile design to mar such bliss? Oh what a void, I felt in my breast, when suspicion pointed to Ellinor's dishonour. Start not, my jealousy was well founded: virtue was subdued and vice triumphant! One fatal day pretending some hours absence, I concealed myself at home. I saw her enter the chamber and in few moments Linmore followed. All the powers of reason fled, my hand instinctively grasped a dagger that was near me; I rushed into thc room and aiming a just reward at the seducer's heart, he shrunk from my vengence, and it fell on the poor lost