Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-13

opportunity occurred of gratifying my
passion for money. My situation in life
was we'll known, and was cordially re-
ceived as a visiter into her mothers
house. I endeavourcd 20 mako myself
as agreeable as possible, and in short
time had tae salts action ofthinkipg that
was listened to with not an uniavourable
ear. There was only ono bar that stood
in tho way, and this was Mary Elliston.
My faith was plighted TO her in the most
solemn manner; and 1 we'll knew that If
this reached the cars ofmy new mistress,
my prospects in that quarter were at an
end. cared little for exposure, on the
score Of honour or virtue, but dreaded
it on that Of self-in'erest. Let me get
possession ofmy object--let her wealth
be once fairly secured in my iron hand,
and my shame, for aueht cared, might
be trumpetcd on the uttcrmost ends of
the earth. But ill then-till that decis-
ive--that irrcvocabfe moment, it below
ed that all should wear the aspect of in
tegrity-that all should run smooth as
the unruffled sea. l covered my hypoc-
risy with the semblance Of virtue, as the
ashes Of the dead are covered with flow
ers, and crawled, like the viper, under
cover, the better to entrap my prey.
"That no evil report might injure my
reputation till that time, had Mary sent
off about ten miles, to small country
house on the banks ofthe Forth. There
the sorrows of that unhappy girl only
became more pungent-she felt the mis-
cry Of loneliness. Deprived Of my Sis
ter's society and mine-and the last,
strange to say, she priced above all 9TH
er-her heart became more desolatc and
broken. She wrote me q letter: the
paper was stained with tears, and every
word brcathed unutterable affliction. 1t
implored me to take compassion on her
wretched state, and fulfil the promises
l had SO solemnly made: Il know that
you arc addressing another, but if she
has the spirit of women, never will she
listen to you after your conduct TO me-
"Such were the condoling lines other
letter, and they fired me to revenge
Suspicion lowered upon my heart, and
the thought came upon me that they
were but the prelude of a discovery
And must my plans be thus thwarted
by that wretched girl' Must fortune
be torne away from my graso' Shall she
unveiI to my affianced bride what for a
time must remain in darkness-and for
what? to ruin me-to blast my deares.
prospects without benefiting herself?'-
The evil passions we're stirred up with
in me-hell boiled in my bosom, and l
was wrought to an ecstacy of madness.
For half day remained in this tumult
of passion. Towards evening it ceased
to exhibit itself on the outer man, but
ragged within more intensely than ever.
eyes, l remember it well. This day;
and twenty years have rolled away-I
sat by the fire, moody and distracted,
and meditating, apparently, some violent
deed. My sister sat opposite to me-
She was employed at her needle, but
while she sewed, her blue eyes streamed
with tears, and ever and again she cast
upon me looks Of the deepest affliction.
'My dear brother.h has any thing occurred
to distress you" thundered out, Silence,
distr act ME not in voice which made
her start backward with terror; and,
my hand violently against my
burning forehead, left the room, and
mounted up stairs to my bed-chamber.
Ksmail Highland dirk hung over the
1t had been in the FAM
lily for ages. l put it in my pocket, al
most unknow,ng what l did, and de-
scended with portentous speed. Eliza
met me as was going out. She put
her slender arm in mine, and requested
me, with voice of melting tenderness,
to stay at home, for that Twas evidently
very unwclI. With brutal violence I
pushed her aside, and rushed into the
open air.
"Thc evening was fair, beautifully
fair. The sun was sinking down glori-
ously, and, melIowing nature over with
his last departing beams; but remarke cd
it not. saw nothing-I heard nothing
A tumult was in my heart; my ears were
stunned, and hurried over the earth
with reckless fury. Night came down,
and l fcund myself at Mary's door. l
entered, but she was not within. She
had gone out to walk by the banks of
the Forth.
"I went to find her. Her lovely and
interesting form was seated upon rock
which overlooked the stream. When l
came up, she was in tears; but she threw
her arms around me, and kissed me with
unspeakable fondness. How romantic
was the scene! o how unfit for deed of
villainy! The moon was up in the vault
of heaven. The armament was silvered
over with her chaste beams, and the light
of the planet dissolved and lost in flood
C Z, lie, x,d colos4iol uloru 0no solit ar.t