Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-16

lntOlerdDIe. ScoD .Uitcr tuSF IiltTO-
duction to the world, Mary, while Oh
a visit to schoolmate, attracted the
admiration ola young gentleman from
New York. He was a merchant, re-
puted rich, and was fashionable and
accomplished; yet ais taste and senti-
ments We're not exactly such as Mary
had dreamed would distinguish the
man she would love,-1nt she had
never seen one she preferred to him,
and her home was disagreeahle, and
his vows of constant affection were
soothing TO her wounded spirit, AMI
finally she consented 10 become the
wife of Mr.. Stamford. This arrange
menl both mortified and angered Mi
randa. She could not endure that
Mary should be first established, and
determined to preven, it. TO effect
her purpose she pretended to love
Stamford herself, and easily prevailed
with her mother to aid her intrigue to
supplant her sister. The merchanl
was a shrewd calculator. He soon
saw Mrs. COurtland welded the scep-
ire of her household, and that Miriam
da was her r.favourite /; and therefore
she would probably have the largest
fortune. Besides she was more bril-
liantly beautiful than her sister; and
in short, he soon transferred his afec-
ton from tie innocent, amiable Mary,
to the imperious and selfish Miranda.
Mary bore the disappointment with
maidenly dignity. Her tears might
flow in secret, but no complaints or
reproaches escaped her. "They have
now," continued the landlady, " "come
to town to purchase the wedding Or
naments. Poor Mary! pity her."
And ! pitied her too, and had been
a marrying man | would have sought
out, and tenderly raised the dropping
flower which had been SO wantonly
crushed. But my steps were bound
to distant land, and | could only
calculate, God bless thee, and send
thee kind friend, my sweet girl, as
the carriage conveyed me away from
the city.
Her idea haunted me for many
months, but new scenes and new faces
weakened the impression, till at length
l entirely forgot the circumstances
Nearly seven years had elapsed before
l again visited Philadelphia. 1t was
OH a Sabbath morning, and both in
clination and duty prompted me to at
tend public worship. Immediately on
entering the church my attention was
arrested by noble looking man seat
ed at a little distance from me, and by
his side one of the most interesting
women l had ever beheld. Her face
was so fair and blooming, should
have doubted her being married, had
not her glances been so often directed
towards a groupe of sweet little child
rem occupying the same pew, and the
expression of a mothers countenance
when regarding her offspring, none
can mistake. ! gazed at her, perhaps
too earnestly, for had vague idea
Of having somewhere beheld resem-
blance.
Her face recalled some face, as 'twere with pain,
once had seen but ne'er should see again."
AT length her dark soul-beaming
eyes met mine-she blushed, and ]
knew her at once. 1t was Mary
Courtland. But how different was
the serene happiness now irradiating
her beautiful features from the dejec-
ton that overspread them when saw
her dragged as victim to grace the
triumph Of her rival sister. That Sis
ter, where was she |! From my land
lord altered the sequel Of her sto-
ry. She married Mr.. Stanford, and
accompanied him to New-York, where
her extraordinary beauty soon attract
ed crowd of1atterers. Miranda was
vain, and the vain are always tickle.
She soon saw men she preferred to her
husband ; and finally, when she found
his affairs were becoming desperate,
Notwithstanding her own extravaganza
had mainly contributed to involve
him, instead Of solacing his anxiety
and sharing his sorrows, she listened
to the overtures of villain, and for
getting every tie Of nature, law of vir-
tue and command of religion, she left
her infant daughter, her husband and