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togetherhave you spoken to your dear； dear aunt；
about it？〃
〃You shall know in good time； my Anna；〃 said Julia；
mindful of the wishes of her aunt； and speaking
with a smile that gave Anna an assurance of her
success。
〃Oh！ what a delightful winter we will have！〃 cried
Anna； in rapture。
〃I am tongue…tied at present；〃 said Julia； laughing；
〃but not on every subject；〃 she continued； blushing
to the eyes； 〃do tell me of St。 Albansof Regulus
who is he？〃
〃Who is he？〃 echoed Anna〃why； nobody！one
must have something to write about； you know； to
a friend。〃
Julia felt sick and fainther colour left her cheeks
as she forced a smile； and uttered； in a low voice
〃But AntonioStanley？〃
〃A man of straw；〃 cried Anna； with unfeeling levity；
〃no such creature in the world； I do assure you！〃
Julia made a mighty effort to conquer her emotion；
and wildly seizing Anna by the arm； she pointed to
her aunt's coachman； who was at work on his
carriage at no great distance； and uttered〃For
God's sake； who is HE？〃
〃He！〃 cried Anna； in surprise； 〃why； your driverand
an ugly wretch he is！don't you know your own
driver yet？〃
Julia burst from her treacherous friendrushed into
the room of her aunt…and throwing herself into the
arms of Miss Emmerson； wept for an hour as if her
heart would break。 Miss Emmerson saw that
something had hurt her feelings excessively； and
that it was something she would not reveal。
Believing that it was a quarrel with her friend； and
hoping at all events that it would interrupt their
intercourse； Miss Emmerson； instead of trying to
discover her niece's secret； employed herself in
persuading her to appear before the family with
composure； and to take leave of them with decency
and respect。 In this she succeeded； and the happy
moment arrived。 Anna in vain pressed near her
friend to receive the invitationand her mother
more than once hinted at the thousand pities it was
to separate two that loved one another so fondly。
No invitation was givenand although Anna spent
half a day in searching for a letter； that she
insisted must be left in some romantic place； none
was ever found； nor did any ever arrive。
While resting with her foot on the step of the
carriage； about to enter it； Julia； whose looks were
depressed from shame； saw a fluid that was
discoloured with tobacco fall on her shoe and soil
her stocking。 Raising her eyes with disgust； she
perceived that the wind had wafted it from the
mouth of Antonio； as he held open the doorand
the same blast throwing aside his screen of silk；
discovered a face that was deformed with disease；
and wanting of an eye！
Our travellers returned to the city by the way of
Montreal and Lake Champlain； nor was it until Julia
had been the happy wife of Charles Weston for
more than a year； that she could summon
resolution to own that she had once been in love；
like thousands of her sex； 〃with a man of straw！〃
=
=
HEART。
…oOo…
〃Some live in airy fantasies；
And in the clouds do move；
And some do burn with inward flames
But few know how to love。〃
ANON。 BALLAD
CHAPTER I。
ON one of those clear； cold days of December；
which so frequently occur in our climate； two very
young women were walking on the fashionable
promenade of New…York。 In the person of the elder
of these females there was exhibited nothing more
than the usual indications of youth and health； but
there were a delicacy and an expression of
exquisite feeling in the countenance of her
companion； that caused many a plodding or idle
passenger to turn and renew the gaze； which had
been attracted by so lovely a person。 Her figure
was light； and possessed rather a character of
aerial grace； than the usual rounded lines of earthly
beauty； and her face was beaming more with the
sentiments of the soul within； than with the
ordinary charms of complexion and features。 It was
precisely that kind of youthful loveliness that a
childless husband would pause to contemplate as
the reality of the visions which his thoughts had
often portrayed； and which his nature coveted as
the only treasure wanting to complete the sum of
his earthly bliss。 It truly looked a being to be loved
without the usual alloy of our passions； and there
was a modest ingenuousness which shone in her
air； that gently impelled the hearts of others to
regard its possessor with a species of holy
affection。 Amongst the gay throng； however； that
thoughtlessly glided along the Broadway； even this
image of female perfection was suffered to move
unnoticed by hundreds； and it was owing to the
obstruction offered to the passage of the ladies； by
a small crowd that had gathered on the side…walk；
that a gentleman of uncommon personal
endowments enjoyed an opportunity of examining it
with more than ordinary attention。 The eldest of
the females drew her companion away from this
impediment to their passage； by moving towards
the opposite side of the street； and observing； as
they crossed； with an indifference in her manner
〃It is nothing； Charlotte； but a drunken man； if
people will drink； they must abide the
consequences。〃
〃He does not seem intoxicated； Maria；〃 replied the
other； in a voice whose tones corresponded with her
appearance； 〃it is some sudden illness。〃
〃One that； I dare say； he is accustomed to；〃 said
Maria； without having even taken such a look at the
sufferer as would enable her to identify his colour；
〃he will be well enough after he has slept。〃
〃But is the pavement a place for him to sleep on？〃
rejoined her companion； still gazing towards the
miserable object； 〃and if he should be ill！why do
they not raise him？Why do they suffer him to
injure himself as he does？〃
The speaker； at the same time that she shrunk in a
kind of sensitive horror from this exhibition of
human infirmities； now unconsciously stopped； with
an interest in the man that she could not controul；
and thus compelled Maria to pause also。 The crowd
had withdrawn from the man； giving him sufficient
room to roll over； in evident pain； while they yet
stood gazing at him； with that indefinable feeling
of curiosity and nerveless sympathy； which
characterises man when not called on to act； by
emulation； vanity； or the practice of well…doing。 No
one offered to assist the sufferer； although many
said it ought to be done； some spoke of sending for
those who monopolized the official charity of the
city； many； having satisfied their curiosity； and
finding that the moment for action was arriving；
quietly withdrew from a trouble that would interfere
with their comforts or their businesswhile a few
felt an impulse to aid the man； but hesitated in
being foremost in doing that which would be
honourable to their feelings； but might not accord
with their condition； or might seem as the
ostentatious display of unusual benevolence。
Where men are congregated； conduct must be
regulated by the touchstone of public opinion； and；
although it is the fashion of New…York to applaud
acts of charity； and to do them too in a particular
mannerit is by no means usual to run to the
assistance of a fellow creature who is lying in
distress on a pavement。
｛those who monopol