Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-07-01
MISCELLANY.
A FRAG MENT.

AHc evening DeIOre tne
happy day that was to bless me with the
hand Of Clara, stood on the back piazza
of my fathers country seat, viewing the
starry armament, and admiring the order
and beauty of the objects arou me. The
clear, serene air, the moon shining with
all her splendor, as though endeavoring to
rival the king Of day--the cloudless and
bespangled heavens, the romantic scenery
around, all seemed to accord with the pre-
sent state of my mind, and to allure me
forth to feast myself in meditations on the
morrow. Such an influence had these cir
cumstances, as well as my own thoughts,
over me, that l had unconsciously strayed
much further than Ihad at first intended,
and when l began to collect my thoughts,
found myself on the skirts Of forest,
which extended some distance along the
back ground Of my fathers habitaton.
Fearing my absence might create alarm, |
| turned hastily to depart, when my pur-
pose was arrested by gentle blast of
wind, which bore to my ears the sounds Of
human voices. AT first l thought it only
the effect of my heated Imagination, or the
sound produced by the wind playing among
the leaves Of the trees. l however deter
mined to be convinced on this point No
sooner had made this determination, than
| again heard the sound Of voices, and
now no longer doubling the fact, deter
mined to discover from whence they pro-
ceeded. With this intention l advanced
cautiously forward, keeping my eyes stea-
dily directed towards the quarter from
whence the sounds still continued to issue.
| had proceeded but few steps, when, on
turning small copse, which concealed the
objects of my search from my view, the
moon shone full upon two persons engaged
in earnest conversation, the one of whom
easily distinguished to be a female /
now advanced with still more caution, in
hopes Of finding out the subject of so
| mysterious an interview. l could not call
| to my recollection the face of the person
who first met my view, though his counte-
nance seemed familiar to me. But who
can describe my feelings when distinctly
recognised in the female the known fea-
lures Of my beloved Clara. could not
believe my own eyes. "It cannot be-
thought |, "it must be some enchantment
| Oouiu IL De poSSiDie tndt was the INQUEST
the unassuming Clara, who knew no de-
ceit, and who was all simplicity and can
DOR" But in moment my apprehensions
were confirmed, when the soft and mild
tones of her voice fell upon my ears
Surely both my senses could not be de-
ceived. My blood boiled within me at the
sight--my first impulse was to rush sudden
ly upon them; but, upon further reflection
| determined to await the result of the in.
terview, IN hopes of getting some explana.
ton. Suppressing, with difficulty, my vi
olent and conflicting passions, listened
with breathlcss anxiety and eager ears
to catch every sound that escaped hel
lips. At intervals | could distinguish sin.
gle words, but the wind rustling among the
leaves, prevented me from making out any
whole sentence. Lnow began to be impa
tient, when the stranger, whose action,
had been all along cool and deliberate, ant
who seemed to be urging suit, with
which the other party was reluctant tc
comply, raised his voice to higher pitch