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Cecilia would again have declined hearing hi been excited to know so of his history, and the lad to have it satisfied, and gave him the utmost attention

"I will not speak to you of my family," said he; "historical accuracy would little answer to either of us I am a native of the West Indies, and I was early sent hither to be educated While I was yet at the University, I saw, I adored, and I pursued the fairest flower that ever put forth its sweet buds, the softest heart that ever was broken by ill-usage! She was poor and unprotected, the daughter of a villager; she was untaught and unpretending, the child of simplicity! But fifteen summers had she bloomed, and her heart was an easy conquest; yet, once made mine, it resisted all allurement to infidelity My fellow students attacked her; she was assaulted by all the arts of seduction; flattery, bribery, supplication, all were employed, yet all failed; she holly my own; and with sincerity so attractive, I determined to marry her in defiance of all worldly objections

"The sudden death ofthis treasure unguarded, yet in decency could neither ed my faith, therefore, to return to her, as soon as I had settled my affairs, and I left to a bosom friend the inspection of her conduct in my absence

"To leave her was madness,--to trust in man was madness,--Oh hateful race! how has the world been abhorrent to ht of the sun, I have shrunk from the commerce of ht I have abominated!--but oh, more than all should I be abominated myself!

"When I caot this fair blossom, I revelled in licentiousness and vice, and left it exposed and forlorn Riot succeeded riot, till a fever, incurred by ave ed, for then first reht back to my mind with frantic fondness, and bitterest contrition The land; I flew to claione; the wretch I had trusted pretended to know least of all; yet, after a furious search, I traced her to a cottage, where he had concealed her himself!