Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-01

EMMA.

lage OF Berkeley, he was necessarily de-
tanned several days, and all the leisure
hours he could command, we're engerly
spent in aLmiring the picturesque beau
ties of the place. Aud in the calm
serenity OF its shades, he felt the early
Impressions Of his heart and lmagina-
ton, return with much Of their pristine
force. The one had bccom deadcncd
in the tumulluous and varying scenes
IN which for several years he had been
engaged, and the other, warped from
its original sensibili.y and acute per-
ception of all that is lovely and good,
by the force Of habit aud example.
Horace had changed from the enthusi.
aslic high sculed youth, to a mere man
OF the world, wholly engrossed by
worldly pursuits, aud views Of person.
al interest, and aDibition-at least so
he himself thought, and SO he appeared
to those around him, but there was still
in his soul some sparks ofdormant fire.
some chords of tenderness which,
though seldom called into action, some
times warned him that there were
higher pleasures than those of interest
or ambition
In n Of his walks around the viii
laGe, Horace had ramb!ed to a COLI
siderable distance, and returning
through a shady lane which led to the
principal road, he was overtaken by i
violent shower, the appearance Of
which, had FASTENED his return horne.
There was but one habitaiion in sight,
rs he approached it, a beautiful girl
threw up the sash of the windows, and
invited him t take shelter from the
rain. Horace gladly accepted the
shelter offered, while on ushering him
nto a small parlour the fair inviter
seemed half ashamed Of her own hos
pitable feelings, aud looking as if she
feared her action had been too hasty;
after desiring the stranger to be seated,
she suddenly left the room, but almost,
Immediately returned, accompanied
by a female, somewhat advanced in
years, who politely accosted their I'M
expected guest, and began conversing
IN that cheerful and unembarrassed
manner, which at once sets a stranger
at ease-encoaraged at the presence
of the elder lady, whom Horace found
was her aunt, the young lady soon
joined in the conversation, and once
ventured archly to remark OH his dis
consulate and perplexed look, before
she had offered him shelter. Horace
g~allantly answered, hat 6 in future, he
should bless the effect of that disconso-
late appearance, since it had inspired
pity in her bosom; and had produced
lnr him the happiness of making such
agreeable acquaintances.' The shower
at length abated, and Horace reluctant
ly took leave of his hospitable enter
t%ainers, with a promise of repeating his
visit.-During the remainder Of his
stay a, the village, Horace called daily
OH his new acquaintance, and each
succeeding interview discovered to him
some new chrrm in the young and
interesting Emma, while her aunt,
Mrs. lrby, treated him with all the
agreeable familiarity Of a friend
Emma had never before seen a mar
like Horace lMellvile, his appearance,
manners, and conversation, excited her
admiration, and his insinua,ing, vel
respectful attentions to herself awaken.
ed the first preference her tender, guilt.
less heart had ever felt.
When Horace called 10 take leave
Immediately before his departure, the
involuntary tear which sprang to En-.
mas eye, carried to his heart the swee,
conviction that she would regret him
And on Der artiessly remarking, "I
almost wish you had never come, since
you are so o to leave u.s." he Eel,
that he could almost give up every
thing else to continue near her. And
even after his return TO the metropolis
where he was immersed in a constal,
succession of occupation and muse
ment, his thoughts frequently wander
ed o the quiet village !; and the lovely
form Of Emma as he had first seen her
throwing up the sash to bid him enter.
Her dark halt floating carelessly on
her snowy neck, and her simple white
dress contrasted with its shining ebony
rose to his remembrance as the sweet
ILLUSION Of some fairy dream. 81