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

!
to his esquire, " and had not strong heart, and
were not insensbe to superstitous dread, think
should be alarmed whilst travelling these dreary
roads, and shadowy glens but the objects pursue
must be accomplished in the morning, or am lost
! forever. st. Marie preserve us,'' exclaimed the
esquire. and Sir Knight, il thou dost continue to
speak thus STRANGELY and wildly, shall be frightened
| to my wits end" The NORTH BRIToH.
! My good Maria," said Sir George Stack
pole, as he passed along the Cumberland Road,
and was about to enter that dismal vale Of the
Allegheny Mountains, known by the name Of
the Shade of Death" my good Maria, for
( some reason or. other, do not feel very easy,
and if l were superstitous, should be led to
fear that some i'll is about to ovcrtake us!-
Did you not perceive, my love, that as we left
the main road, our horses looked very sinou-
larly-thnt they pricked up their ears, and ap-
pcared as if they were fearful of approaching
danger; and did you not also discover, that
the position wore sombrc countenance, and
fal,ercd in his voice as l spoke to hm-and
did you not further perceive, that the night
bird, as he sat upon the boughs of the withcred
! oak looked sad and goomy!''
lndccd,' Sir George" responded the gay
and lovely Maria, 81 did not perceive any
thing of the kind, and if had, l should have
ascribcd all TO the approa ch of night, and the
loneliness Of the country for my own
part, Sir George, fear nothing, for l have
never injured any living mortal, and as for
spritcs and gobIins, they are not composed Of
material matter, and certain am |, that they
cannot do me any injury And as for you, Sir
George, you are n man; you have an arm
which should ever be capable Of repellng the
foe;-of defending me, and when you quail,
shall throw myself upon the protection of the
Gods and all good spirits; and surely they will
defend one, whose life has been life Of inno-
I ccnce, and who has never injured the fceblcst
insect. But, ie fie! I'm getting sentimental,
and lest enter into long moral disquisition,
let's leave the subject! Sir George, how are
your corns my lovcr'-Thcrc was an unusual
share of lcvity mingled with the manner of
Maria as she spoke, which did not well please
Sir George, and turning to her with frown
upon his countensncc, he exclaimed, "I am
surprised, Maria, that you will indulge in this
levity, when am so unhappy bcsccch thee,
good girl, be little more scdatc, and when
am prepared TO be cheerful and happy, then
will be as giddy and gay as thou art ;-untii
I then, leave me to my melancholy reflections"
! A mixture of anger and forced forbcarance
marked his language;-it was the first time
! that he had spoken unplcasantly since the day
on which the nuptials were celebrated, and
Maria turning from him, gave vent TO her
wounded feelings, in a flood of tears, which
however, she carefully concealed from the
observation of her husband. She wept in ST.
lcnce, and the scaldng tear drops, as they
flowed down her crimsoncd check, told that
her heart was pierced to the core, by the rude
ness of fond, yet an irritable husband.
The carriage slowly descended the Chcsnut
Ridge, and was near that celebrated spot,
known by the name ofthe /" Big Meadows"
! and celebrated in the annals of the nation, as
having been the field on which General Brad
! dock was defeated by the French and Indians,
| when Sir George, as if awaking from a dream,
started with an ejaculation of terror, and said
to his wife, all. all is lost this nights advcn-
propcct ofcscarc; we arc now on the very par
apct Of destruction. Have mercy, kind Heaven.
Spare us, spare us'' AS he spoke, his eye
balls flashed with fire, his whole frame was
! I.oI No Ia. i
and heavy drops of sweat sat upon his fore
head, and bcdewed his face. Maria was
equally homor-strickcn, when sho witnessed
the strange conduct of her husband, and has
tily ordering tho position TO stop, was in the
act of lcapng from the carriage, when her
husband caught her in his arms, and, as with
an iron grasp, held her TO his bosom; and then,
amid dcmoniac laugh, exclaimed, " attempt
not 10 escape, vile sorccrcss, for thou shalt not
avoid Inc may, till the latest day Of thy
life, shalt thou be confined to this icy bosom.
Thou art mine, and am thine, body and soul
forever; nor can the fatcs themselves tear thee
from mc'' Amid the terror which took possess
ion Of her soul, Maria swooncd, and in t. state
of finscnsibility she remained for some moments,
when, she awokc from her moody humor, and
found her husband knccling on tho floor of the
carriage, weeping over her, and soliciting her
forgiveness. Forgive me, Maria," he SAID,
for indeed, did not mean TO alarm thee,
and when thou hast known mo better, thou
wilt not be alarmed by reason OF these sudden
transitions from Joy to madness. Forgive thcc'