Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-08-05
JENNY KELLEY.

Dy the autnor Oh nyrtie Leaves II oriSinaiiy aP-
peared in the European Magazine, from which able
and interesting publication we copy it, with an
surance that it will please the fair patrons of the
Cadet. 1t is a tale of truth, unadorned by the ex-
crescences of fiction, and is from pen ofa near rel
ative of the unfortunate girl whose melancholy
| history it relates.
In the town of Newry in Ireland, lived
Jenny Kelley, the subject ofthis little mar
rative. AT this distance Of time not any
thing material is known of her parents it
is only known that they were honest and
industrious, and that they brought up their
daughter according to their means Before
she attained the age of eighteen years, she
became the object of affection to two sui
! ters.. This distinction, which would have
been flattering to the vanity Of most young
women Of her age, proved to her the great
set misfortune. She had fine countenance,
an elegant figure, an amiable disposition,
and was of singularly industrious habits
Her voice WIS moreover uncommonly fine,
and she carroled as merrily as the lark and
as sweetly as the nightingale. In short she
could not but make any man a good wife,
| anu uCuSHtiui
Poor girl ! when think of her fate,
tear of pity falls to her memory. Yet Jen-
ny did not become prey to the arts of
seducer; she was reserved for misery of
different kind.
The two rivals who sought her affections,
were brother clerks, to the firm Of Messrs.
Ogle & Thompson well known merchants
in Newry. The circumstances of each were
nearly equal, and they were generally re-
garded with degree of respect, little short
ofthat shown to the partners themselves
Kays was the name of. one lover, McEvoy
that of the other. Kays was very hand
some young man, tall and we'll shaped (; his
rival had not the same advantages of per-
son, and was conscious OF the superiority of
Kays in this respect: but this reflection
only caused him to redoube his attentions
to Jenny, and to do every thing in his pow
er to ingratate himself into her esteem.
Whether or not Kays was less ardent or
persevering in evincing his attachments,
cannot now be known; but after much per-
suason and entreaty, Jenny, though her
heart owned a preference for Kays, yielded
to the opportunities of McEvoy and was
married to him accordingly.
Jenny was young and probably scarcely
knew her own heart at the the time, else
she ought not TO have given her hand to one
lover, and her affections to another. 1t was
a weakness on her part, and she bitterly
atoned for it; yet who shall blame her :
"Women not,
In their best fortunes strong
and might there not be some neglect on the
part ofKays
ly sensible Of the duties and obligations
which her new condition imposed upon her;
| and she determined to do all in her power
not only to retain the affections Of her hus-
band, but to increase her own towards him.
With these feelings, they might have been
happy; but cOnnubial bliss was not to be the
lot of this young creature.
1t may easily be imagined that Kays, who
was not less fond ofJenny than his success
full rival was plunged into state of distrac-
ton as soon as he knew of fhe utter ruin
Of his hopes. In the first paroxysm of his
rage, he threatened destruction to both
but becoming more calm, he conceived a
scheme ofrevenge, which he determined to
carry into effect. He began to affect an
Indifference upon the subject then to ut
ter inuendos that could not but create
strange conjectures ana at last he did not
scruple to insinuate, in plain terms, and in
such way that it was sure to reach Nc
Evoy's ears, that he had previous to her
marriage had an illicit intercourse with the
young bride. Such reports were not slow
in finding circulation they speedily came
to the knowledge of McEvoy and his wife,
and their feelings on the occasion it may
be easily supposed were deeply though very
differently affected. Jenny became mel
ancholy her appetite failed her, she grew
pale and thin, and was frequently caught in
tears. The cruelty of Kays cut her to the
heart McEvoy, though he did not abso-
lutely believe in the prumours Of his wife's
dishonour, was not certain that they were
altogether false. OF all feelings, that of
jealousy is the most easily reused, and when
once awakened,
"Trfes, light as air,
Are to the jealous, confirmation strong
As proofs Of holy writ
Kays and McEvoy were still placed near
each other, and there were mutual heart
burnings and chickering's between them
Both, however, avoided coming to open re-
sentiment the one knowing himself to be