CHAPTER XV. THE DESERTED. "She never told her love; "But let concealment, like a worm i'the bud, "And with a green and yellow melancholy, "Sat, like patience on a monument, smiling at grief." Shakespeare. A BRITISH West India colony is never overburthened with news, and trifling incidents generally become the topics of conversation, when there are few matters of vital interest to attract the attention of the inhabitants no inimitable forgeries, no monstrous thefts, no atrocious murders; a total want of new inventions, curious circumstances, and alarming accidents, such as are wont to occupy the minds of the people, and fill the columns of the newspapers of Old England. Indeed there is seldom any thing to talk about, save a little scandal; the arrival of some new governor; the drenching of some unfortunate boat party; the appointment of a new commander in chief; the relieving an old garrison; the reviewing a body of militia troops; a sermon preached by the Bishop; a salute fired on the king's birth-day, accession, coronation, or some event equally memorable, and, (I beg pardon, I had nearly omitted births, marriages, and deaths,)" though last not least," on this, my limited list of small talk topics, a ball, and of these I have found balls, maroons, parties, and festivities of all and every kind, more amusing to the gentlemen, and more attractive to the ladies. On the last day of the old year there were grand doings in the island of St. There had been for some time past, a run of balls, and a continuation of social and amusing evening parties, which had roused the spirits of the inhabitants, making them gay and lively, and full of life; but on this night there was to be a ball-a ball, indeed; something more grand than usual, the entertainment more splendid, the ladies more numerous, the dancing more spirited; people expected more display, more fascination, more beauty and fashion, more "haut ton" than was common; for this was no affair of every day, no usual occurrence; it was one of those balls which happen once a year, and once a year only. It had been the topic of island conversation for a month at least. The gentlemen had time to determine how they should dress, and it was rumoured (oh! that there were any truth in rumours), that a certain well known votary of fashion, handsome and somewhat inconstant to boot, had read, nay, studied with more than ordinary attention, a moral essay on tying cravats, and had actually made sufficient progress to come to a just and discreet decision, as to the manner in which his own should be tied, one whole day before that overwhelming and truly important occasion arrived. Each lady had time to arrange in her own mind, how much Miss So and So, would look better or worse than herself; to determine whether Mr. Timothy Truelove would pay more attention to Miss Emeline Prateapace, or to Miss Adeline Silvertongue; and to wonder if a certain erudite and elaborate author would kick as classically as he was commonly wont. In fact, all began to wish the arrival of the period;-and at last, when it did arrive, Ye gods! the glorious lustre of that night! It shone, the sun shone,-never half as bright. The room was crowded, though not to excess, and the dancing was kept up with spirit; the ladies appeared to enjoy themselves, and the gentlemen were delighted with their fair partners; in short, every thing went well, and the whole was an interesting picture of pleasure and diverting amusement; a fair and characteristic display of Creole beauty, where many were seen (to use the words of Coleridge) "rich in all the fascinations of tropical girlishness." But the demon of misery, who attacks man under all circumstances, and infects every station of life, in a greater or less degree, is often seen in the midst of mirth and revelry, to mar the blossom of some fair flower! and the meek indifference of the resigned and gentle maid, with the mournful smile occasionally playing on her cheek of pain, are signs which too often indicate woe, and seem to show the heart of such a one is not the seat of happiness: and on that night it was thus. In the midst of that beautiful and brilliant scene where mirth reigned,reigned gloriously and gaily, there was one who partook of it without enjoying it; who moved in its very centre without feeling its influence. Young and handsome, yet of mournful aspect, her large dark eyes and glossy ringlets of raven black formed a beautiful contrast with the bleached and deadly paleness of her cheek, while the melancholy sadness that pervaded her countenance, and the stamp of misery that sat upon her brow, created a lively and intense interest in the beholder. After gazing on her for a moment, I inquired her name of a friend who stood near me, asking, at the same time, if she was in a consumption? "She is indeed!" replied my friend, "consuming by unhappiness, and dying from the stings of disappointment! and yet," said he, "I have known "her when she was the gayest of the gay, and "partook as she does now, of the merriment around "her; joining in the dance, but not as now, like a " victim of human misery! she was then a sportive being, frolicsome and joyful; one who had never thought of woe, or dreamt of aught but happi ness. She was sent home to finish her education, "at the age of sixteen, and to find in England that learning and those accomplishments, which she "could not procure here. She had been at home "about two years when her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Musgrave, followed her, and as her education was perfected, took her from school, and repaired to Brighton, determined to introduce Emily, and let "her see a little of the gaiety of the fashionable world, ere they returned to the Island of St. "It was during the height of the season that Emily Musgrave arrived at Brighton: beautiful, fair, lovely, and accomplished; and as such, was soon "beset with admirers,-rich and ancient ones, and young ones without riches: in short, she soon "became the 'belle' of the place. "Among the many lovers who strove to gain her "heart, not forgetting her hand, for she had a large "fortune, a young officer of the "foot, was the only one who could make the least 66 regiment of impression on the feelings of the little beauty, so "much admired by all. Edward combined with a "handsome figure and open countenance, an insinuat 66 ing address, and being withal an enthusiastic ad"mirer of beauty, he used all his endeavours, and at 'length contrived to ingratiate himself in the favor "of Emily, and to win entirely, what none before "could move, her heart. 66 "Love is a flame which seldom burns but to give 'pain; and some accident generally, I may say always, occurs, to render one object miserable by "the inconstancy of the other, or both, by the disappointments of life. "Emily and Edward were warm and ardent lovers; "neither doubted the other's truth: each thought "the other perfect; they were constantly together; they danced together, sang together, walked together; they moved in the same circles of gaiety |