Her last cruel
words, and the proud spirit she exhibited towards him, were
constantly before his eyes.
"O," said he, half aloud, "how I have worshipped, how adored that
fairest of God's creatures!"
At moments he had thought that he saw through Isabella's
character-at moments had truly believed that he might by assiduity,
perhaps, if favored by fortune, win her love, and, may be, her hand
in marriage. At any rate, with his light and buoyant heart, there
was sunshine and hope enough in the future to irradiate his soul
with joy, until the last scene in his drama of life, added to that
of her last cold farewell!
He was soon informed that the vessel which was to take him to Spain
would sail on the following morning, and that no further time
would be permitted to him on the island. He resolved to write one
last letter of farewell to Isabella Gonzales, and then to depart;
and calling upon the turnkey for writing materials, which were now
supplied to him, he wrote as follows"
"DEAR LADY: Strange circumstances, with which you are doubtless well
acquainted by this time, have changed my punishment from death to
banishment. Under ordinary circumstances it would hardly be called
banishment for any person to be sent from a foreign clime to the
place of his nativity; nor would it appear to be such to me, were it
not that I leave behind me the only being I have ever really
loved-the idol angel of my heart-she who has been to me life, soul,
everything, until now, when I am wretched beyond description;
because without hope, all things would be as darkness to the human
heart.
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