Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-17

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but as taey always attacked her sincerity,
she was disposed to believe them in err
ror. As Constance advanced in years,
she began to feel tho Inconvenience of
her system; yet sho scorned to lay It
aside. Her enthusiasm in t,iendship
sometimes led her into errors; but true
to her own views, she regarded all the
inconvenicnccs arising from it, as So
many sacrifices which she was called on
TO make; and her romantic feelings led
her to cxult in any proof she could give
of her deyotedness; regardless Of CEN
sure, or real injury. Constance was
sometimes mistaken in her friends, but
she was never untrue to them; never
lukc-warm in the proofs she gave of
affection; which it must be confessed,
were not always merited, or returned
with reciprocal sincerity.
She had one friend whom she loved
for the mildness of her manners, for the
sweetness of her countenance, for her
apparent affection for herself, and above
all, she loved her because she could be
useful to her. More fortunate in her
attainments, than the gentle being whom
she regarded with such sincere attach
ment, Constance impaired to her, with
feelings of the purest pleasure, the
knowledge she had herself acquired;
and imagined that her love was return
ed with ardor and sincerity. Emira,
the friend Of Constance, had lover,
and her enthusiastic friend sometimes
felt little jealous of his superior ascen-
dancy. Change separated the friends
for some months; when Constance re-
turned 10 her native city, she learned
that Elmira's love had deserted her, Oh
the very eve Of marriage:-and that the
unhappy girl was given upto desponden-
cy and despair. Nay, that her life was
despaired of, in consequence of her ex-
treme grief; and that her faithless lover
refused to see her. Censme was busy
with the unfortunate Elmra, and Con-
stance, true to her creed, stood forth her
advocate;-f which act, certainly more
generous than wise, Constance became
herself the mark for censure regard
less Of all, she determined to act up to
her ideas of right" She sought an
interview with the fathless I" Lothario,"
represented the enormity Of his conduct,
the grief and despair of bis victim-and
urged him to return to his Allegiance
More charmed with the speaker, than
with her arguments, he however tempo
that if she could con-
vince him the conduct she advised him
to pursue, would conducc to the happi-
fe, a.
peace she had lost ne would adopt it;
and Constance exulted in the effort she
had made, she exulted in her guirotism,
as her friends chase to call it, in the
cause of fricndship:-but she had not
any cause to rejoice-the faithless and
lover Of Elmira, declared
that he was smitten with the young en-
thusiast, that he never would wed Elmi-
ra-for that Constance had showed him
virtue in its true image; that her he
would gain, or none.
Censure was again busy with Con-
stance, it was said that she wished to
detach from EImira, the lover who was
engaged to her by the most sacred pro-
she was the cause Of his
1csertion, and that her interference had
the breach between them.
There were those who knew the pure
md generous motives which had actuated
Constance; and though they blamed her
stood forth her champions
-Elmira herself believed the idle ru-
nours, and looked on Constance as a
reacherous friend: that friend still found
consolation in the purity Of her motives
with the contempt he deserved,
he worthless lover of her mistaken
[rend-and tho perhaps her quixotism
was little abated, remained firm in her
advocate for sincerity-a
at rthe shrine Of devoted
Still she was sometimes
heard to utter the remark that be our
motives ever so pure to escape censme is
."-How far time may have
'ectified the errors of Constance's creed,
pretend not to say, but doubtless cape
renee has taught her that sincerity mag be
carried to ercess-and that even friends
may be ungrateful. II. M.