Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-23

behind her, as her delicate fingers,
bleached with sorrow, were finishing the
last line; and who can describe my as
tonishment, when leaning over her
shoulder, l beheld the miniature of Le-
ander!-Thc fair maniac was the beau
tiful Elmira! Pity, sorrow, and every
finer feeling Of my soul, rushed to my
eyes, and l stood for a moment the sub
ject of grieflike the monument before
me. Recollccting myself, again leaned
over her, and read the verses which she
had written, upon the last line Of which
rested her fixed eye. They were as
follows:-
Ah little dream'd this beating breast,
When by thy soothing voice twas blest,
That it should part from thee;
And little thought this throbbing heart,
That it should know the gnawing smart,
Of mourning misery.
Away! thou spirit Of the dead,
Haunt not the dreams, that round my head
In dread distraction rave;
For, OH he sleeps where roaring rolls,
The tide of human hearts and souls,
Wild DER his CORY grave.
To witness what effect it might have
upon her rapid tide of thought, (for it
may be observed in the verses that her
mind was in disjointed state, l took
up her pencil and wrote under the lines
-Lcander lves!!-She started at the
name, and darted at me glance from
those once lovely dark blue eyes, that
penetrated to my heart like the chill Of
dissolving nature. A wild hysteric
laugh succeeded il, and in the next
breath deep sigh escaped from her bo-
som 1t was the echo of desOlate
heart Never shall forget that sigh
even now the sound fingers upon the
zephyr that sweeps by my ear. Even
nov see her-even now | dwell upon
her faded loveliness. Years may whit
en- my head, and furrow my cheek, but
never while memory remains shall for
get her image. The blasted hopes of
my friend, my own hopes of his happi-
ness, and the ruins of the sprightly mind
of Elmira, were all present like so many
spirits in that dark hour. What may be
considered remarkable is, that Elmira,
though she had taste for poetry, had
never evinced a talent in her happier
days. 1t had now been brought into ex-
istence by those dark and gloomy con-
vulsions OF the mind, as the vivid light
ening proceeds from the stormy bosom of
the cloud, or as the earthquake in its
heaving throws up shining jewels.
6" How did you rest last night, Elmi-
ra'" said the kind hearted keeper of her
cell.
"Ihave no ray of rest, (returned she,
save when that spirit speaks (pointin.. to
the miniature) and whispers" Thou
shalt still be happy" Last night, while
was thinking Of hours long gone by,
and departed never to return, an angel
lowered above my bed and smiled, but
would not speak. | called it by its name,
and YET it only smiled.
"And where did it go'" said I.
GAS l still gazcd," said Elmira,
another descended and hung upon the
curtain, and said in language that made
me almost happy" Ere yon bright
moon shall three times take her rounds,
the young Elmira shall be made bride"
Then as ! attempted to take its hand,
they both vanished into air."
"You must not think Of those things,
(said l. they will distract your mind"
"Do you then suppose" said she, as
her face resumed its former bloom,
"that Elmira can be more wretched than
she isl Alas alas! the poor heart brok-
en- Elvirap' Reason appeared to dawn
for moment upon her mind, and tear
stole from her eye down her pale cheek.
Then uttering the name Of Leander,
with pathetic voice, she appeared to
be lost in the maze Of revere.
With bosom ready to burst, left the
Hospital, and PASSED through the yard,
musing upon her unhappy fate. Twice
every week ! saw the departed beauty
of the ill-fated Elmira. l saw her when
her judgment had become entirely sub
verted, and she no longer knew the OBJ
jects which surrounded her. One eve
ming as | passed out at Ne gate, in mel
ancholy musing as usual, suddenly a tall
commanding officer stood before me-
lie pressed my hand eagerly, ere I
could arouse from my reverie, and with
an earnestness that was not familiar to
me. l raised my eye full in his face,
and good heavens! recognized my
fricnd-Leandor! But he stood before
me as an altered being-fed was the
gaiety Of the spriohtly Leander. He