Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DA.NGER IN THE DARK.
had all the while been perseveringly trying to induce
Maria to go to the St. Mary's Academy; it was
nearly a year, however, from the time he commenced
his importunities, before he effected his object in that
respect.
In the meantime Anna Maria had received the
attentions and won the heart of Alonzo Carleton - a
yonng man worthy of her hand, and to whom "he
solemnly plighted her faith.
After Maria had connected herself with the church,
the sycophant Dupin, who constituted himself her
confessor, took advantage of the confessional to elicit
from the unsuspecting girl all the secrets lodged in
her innocent bosom; and among other things she disclosed
the fact of her engagement to Alonzo Carleton.
'l'hjs her confessor at once resolved on defeating, if
it were in the bounds of. possibility and compass of
his power. But fearing the effectof decided and open
oppoeltion.jhe determined on a more sly and secret
interference. Without expressing the least disapprobation,
or intimating the slightest objection to the
union, he advised procrastinating it a .twelvemonth;
assigning sundry plausible reasons-the unfinished
state of her education, want of age, experience, etc.
This advice was not unpalatable either to Anna Maria
or her mother, as no time had yet been fixed upon for
consummating the marriage; but upon the heels of
this advice, the priest enjoined what seemed less reasonable
and far less agreeable, which was, that Maria
should not see Mr. Oarleton, nor have any eorres-
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