18
took that opportunity to perpetrate his design; and I was called to life again by the report of the fatal pistol that gave him his death. How can I paint the crnel situation in which I was left? it cannot be deseribcd. The tears that must for ever flow; the sighs that suffocate my voice, give but a faint idea of my distress. I passed the night over the bloody corpse quite stupified with grief. My first thoughts were, as soon as I was able, to bury it and my shame together. These hands dug his grave. Depressed with grief, deprived of food, my feeble hands were two days employed in performing this last sad duty; and I then formed a dctermined resolution, to remain in this solitude till death unite us.
'You see with what sincerity I open to you my inmost soul. Heneeforth I may weep in your presence without restrain—a relief my over-burdened heart stands much in need of. I expect you will put the same confidence in me, that I have put in you. Don't imagine that I am imposed upon: I am certain that you are no more a shepherd than I am shepherdess. You are young, perhaps in love: for it I guess aright, our misfortunes flow from the same source. The similitude of our conditions will make us feel the more for each other. I look upon you as one whom heaven, moved with my afflietions, has sent into this solitude to save ne from despair. I look upon you as a sincere friend, capable of giving, if not satisfactory advice, at least a firm example of true resignation to the Divine will.
Ah! madam, said Fonrose, overwhelmed with what he heard, whatever tender sensibility my
