Fostina Woodman, the Wonderful Adventurer | Page 7

in the direction of the Mountain, she beheld Rineldo approaching, who, on seeing his cousin, immediately came forward and seated himself near her, in the mean time, expressing great surprise that she had again ventured out at that late hour alone.
Fostina made but little reply, and rose from her seat to depart; Rineldo soon followed, not a little displeased with her seeming indifference towards him, and the wish that she plainly manifested to avoid his company.
Fostina had ever treated her cousin with respect, and regarded him as a friend for the great kindness which he had ever manifested towards her since she had resided in her uncle's family. She now saw that, by receiving his attentions, she was placing herself in a dangerous situation.
Rineldo sought every opportunity to converse with his cousin; he declared his love and offered his hand, making every effort to win her affections. Fostina in a resolute and determined manner made known to him her love for Lewis Mortimer, which was forever unchangeable. Rineldo, on hearing this declaration from the lips of his cousin, passed the remainder of the day in silence, and made no farther allusion to the subject.
Towards evening Fostina retired to her apartment, and seated herself at an open window which overlooked the gardens belonging to the cottage. The evening zephyrs moved gently the branches of a willow, which shaded the window where she was seated. The lonely maiden sat musing awhile, and then, with a low, musical voice, she sang the following lines:--
"Mournfully, O, mournfully, This midnight wind doth sigh! Like some sweet, plaintive melody Of ages long gone by; It speaks a tale of other years, Of hopes that bloomed to die-- Of sunny smiles that set in tears, And loves that mould'ring lie.
"Mournfully, O, mournfully, This midnight wind doth moan! It stirs some chord of memory, In each dull, heavy tone; The voices of the much-loved dead Seem floating thereupon; All, all my fond heart cherished, Ere death had made it lone.
"Mournfully, O, mournfully, This midnight wind doth swell! With its quaint, pensive minstrelsy, Hope's passionate farewell: To the dreamy joys of early years, Ere yet grief's canker fell On the heart's bloom--ay, well may tears, Start at that parting knell!"
On the following morning, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey proposed riding to the village, and expressed a wish to have Fostina and Rineldo accompany them. It was with great reluctance that she gave her consent, thinking that it would be placing herself in the society of her cousin, whose company she wished to avoid.
At an early hour the carriage was brought to the door, and Mr. Aubrey and his wife seating themselves, their son hastily stepping forward, and taking the hand of Fostina, pressed it gently to his lips, while with the other he raised the trembling girl to the carriage, and taking a seat by her side, drove rapidly away.
They soon arrived at the village, where they stopped at the residence formerly owned by Mr. Aubrey; but since his removal to the Mountain, it had been occupied by a distant relative.
When they arrived at the residence of their friend, they were kindly welcomed by the family, who appeared much delighted on seeing Fostina. The day passed on very pleasantly, without any important occurrence, and after bidding adieu to their friends they again returned home.
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 among 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 made known to them her engagement with Lewis Mortimer, deeply wounded the feelings of the gentle 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 former kindness seemed changed to hatred and revenge. All feeling of love and sympathy, which had been so strongly 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 name was recalled by her lovely daughter.
Rineldo Aubrey was their only son, and had consequently received every indulgence from his parents; and he now thought, by exerting his influence over them, he should obtain their assistance in persuading Fostina to accept his offer. But when he found