Part 2 (1/2)

That evening Fostina retired at an early hour, feeling as if her troubles were increased, and that instead of finding friends, she saw herself placed a those, who she had every reason to believe would seek to destroy her happiness The unceasing attention of her cousin, and the encouragement which he received from his parents to forward his advances, after she had eentle and loving Fostina, who now felt as if she was alone, as it were, without a friend to cheer her in her forlorn situation She felt that she could no longer repose confidence in those whom she had once considered friends, and to whose care she had been entrusted by her absent brothers

As soon as Mr and Mrs Aubrey observed the cool indifference manifested by Fostina towards their son, their for of love and syly manifested, seemed forever fled from their hearts

Mr Aubrey appeared to have lost all memory of his departed sister, the mother of Fostina, and would shrink as if from her presence, whenever her nahter

Rineldo Aubrey was their only son, and had consequently received every indulgence fro his influence over the Fostina to accept his offer But when he found that all their efforts were in vain, he devised every means in his power to destroy the happiness of his cousin

He vainly endeavored to draw her mind from Lewis, and convince her of the irief, on hearing this from her cousin, was beyond description; she passed thethe fa all conversation with them, as much as her circumstances would admit; and when her situation rendered it necessary for her to be in their society, she nation to her fate, hoping soon to receive intelligence from her absent friends

CHAPTER IV

_Rineldo's sudden Departure--His Return--He pleads in vain for the Love of his Cousin--Sad Intelligence and the Death of Lewis Morti that Rineldo entered the apartment where his father was seated, and inforence fro to see him immediately on business of importance He ly, on the followingto return in a feeeks

Fostina, on hearing this, felt greatly relieved, thinking she should now rest in peace and quietness during his absence But the unfortunate girl found no consolation; although she was no longer annoyed by her cousin's presence, yet his parents were constantly endeavoring to influence her in his favor, and without hesitation informed her, that her future happiness would depend upon her irl, in a firm and decidedthe proposals of her cousin, telling theive her hand to one, while another possessed her love

Rineldo had been absent several weeks, and Mr Aubrey began to be so, as he was riding to the village, he met his son on his return home He rejoiced to hear that he had a safe arrival, and ie

On the followingthe two cousinshis joy on seeing her again after his long absence To this his cousin made little reply, and passed by with cool indifference; he followed, and, with unusual kindness, asked the pleasure of joining her in a walk through the gardens Fostina remained silent, and continued on her way so the coolness hich he was treated, Rineldo turned his steps in another direction, and after walking a short distance, he seated hiht After soe and retired to his chamber

At the close of the afternoon, he hastily descended and entered the parlor where Fostina was seated With tre a paper in his hand which had a fewher attention to soence, requested her to read it She took the paper fro it on the table near her, rose to depart

Her cousin seeing her intention, i to the paper which lay on the table as he closed the door

Fostina, finding herself alone, returned to her seat and took the paper which had been left, and casting a hasty glance over the contents, her eyes fell on the following:--

LEWIS MORTIMER, of S----, died suddenly on board shi+p Essex, on passage from Panama to California

The paper dropped froirl fell senseless fro the room, had returned to his apart the alar insensible on the floor

He rief, and hastily su the apparently lifeless form of his cousin to her apartht restoratives, but there was little hope of again rousing the consciousness of the unfortunate sufferer

Towards evening he called in a physician, who, on seeing the patient, expressed his fears, which greatly alar over his patient, who now see as if fro for Lewis Morti informed of the cause of her sudden illness, expressed his belief that her strength had been greatly reduced by trouble and anxiety of ether with the sudden shock she had received, and her recovery was doubtful

Rineldo, on hearing this, see attention continued to watch over his cousin She had re the physician took his leave On the following day she appeared more calm, and apparently sunk into a quiet slumber; at the close of the afternoon she suddenly started, and gazing wildly around, seemed conscious of her unhappy situation She lay a few moments as if to convince herself of its reality, and then buried her face in her hands, weeping bitter tears of agony Her cousin atterief, but she motioned him from the apartment Soon after the physician entered, and expressed his joy on seeing his patient recovering

For several days she lay without rief in silence; it seeuished, and she well knew that Rineldo would take advantage of her lonely situation to renew his former addresses