The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-10-18

| raising her fair hands to Heaven in supplica-
J ton for my recovery. And when did recov-
er, who can paint the Joy that lighted up her
beautiful COuntenance All saw it with de-
| light save one, and that was her wretched
! brother.
! She had friend. named Mary EllistOn, al
SOFA beautifuEgirl. Their friendship had COM
! menced in childhood, and their souls were
knit closer by succeeding years. Mary lived
with us, for she was an orphan and being O.
riginally of respectable but unfortunate fam
lily, my father gladly adopted her as COM
panion to his daughter. She was tall and ex-
Qlisitely well made. and all her movements
were full of female dignity. Her form want
ed the richness and voIuptuous swell of Eli
Zas, but it was more airy and if possible more
graceful. My sisters complexion had the
bloOmsof northern btslty. Her yellow hair
| waved like streaks of sun shine over hertem-
Piles, and her blue eyes, deep and lucid as the
sapphire, were full Of animation. Mary had
! more of the Italian cast in her countenance,
which was of darker and warmer hue. Her
hair was black and shining, and eyes of the
same hue, were full of melancholy. Never
were two lovelier beings associated together
under the same roof. Eliza was all affection
and she showed it on every occasion, IF she
loved, she expressed in undisguised language
the emotions of hersoul. Mary was not more
lovely, for that wasimpossible, but she was
evidently being of profounder and intenscr
feelings. Her spirit was full Of pathos. Herr
fervour was not so easily excited but when
once aroused, it flowed in deeper channels,
and its influence upon all the passions was
most striking and irresistible. 1
Iknow not how it was, but this pure mind
ed and intellectual girl conceived for me a
strong affection. God knows there was little
in my society to attract the love Of any one,
and above all, such as she. | never did her
an act of kindness. I scarcely ever spoke to
her with common civ'ity; yet strange to say
| unknowingly gained her heart, and she low
ed me as if bad been the most deserving OBJ
iect on earth. How my grovellng soul came
to be invested with such power, remains pro-
blem have never been able to solve. In all
other respects the mind of Mary was pure and
heavenly. That spirit so pure and heavenly,
that mild enthusiastic spirit, how did it des-
cend from its high estate to seek companion
ship with base earth-born heart like mine?
In this only she erred; in this only she show
ed that tinge of humanity which cIings to all
below. Perhaps she might have been infu-
enced by her affection for my sister. Be that
as it may, saw her feelings and with the viii
lany of my nature, resolved to take advantage
ofthem. 1t would be sickening to,rcatr all
the schemes put in practice to ruin the vir-
tue of this unfortunate girl. She loved me
to distraction, and but too well succeeded.
But how was my poor, hard conquest gain
ed? BY proceeding the iniquity of which
no language can characterize. invoked the
Most High to witness that my future inten-
tons We're honorable and in the dread
name of all that is sacred, to make her my
own. never intended to keep my promise.
What were oaths to me What were brok
en- hearts and ruined hopes to one who look
ed upon virtue and honor as banbies, and
whose soul seemed born for the atmosphere
of the blacklist iniquity!
Time rolled on, and the state of Mary be-
came apparent but still never felt rcmorse
looked on unmoved at the ruin / had effect
ed and when the unsuspecting victim requir-
ed the performance ofmy VOWS, she was an
swered only by contemptuous sneer. Her
spirit faded utterly away. She felt that she
had been betrayed, and saw the dreadful pre-
cipice on which she stood. Had been any
thing else than villian--had one spark of
| generous feeling warmed my bosom, | must
have pitied the miserable girl; but compass
sion was unhappily feeling to which had
ever been stranger and l looked on the
lonely wreck of beauty with savage indiffer-
.ence. ,
7 Ellza's tender heart was moved, and she
saw Ter companion with other eyes. She did
not with the prude-like barbarity Of many of
her sex, cast of her erring sister. She saw
that she had been led astray, and knew, that
! although IN the eyes of the world she was a
lost and worthless thing, yet she was not to
be abandoned to misery and neglect. So far
from this object of distress, she pressed her
to her bosom-nor did she consider herself
dishonored in so doing. Her pure heart told
her that Mary was innocent, and whatha oc-
Cured was misfortune rather than crime.
She solaced her in the midst Of her misery,
and tried to sustain her broken heart, with
the hope that might one day repair the in
jury had done, and restore her blameless Il
unblemished to society. Nor did she stop
here, for on her knees she conjured me, as
valued the welfare of wretched creature
as valued my own eternal happiness. to rem
der that tardy justice which uprightness de-
manded. The appeal was eloquent as beauty
and affection could make it; but it was in
vain. heard it with contempt.
About this time young lady of consi1era-
BILE fortune came to reside in our part of the
country. She was rich, and considered that
now or never had an opportunity occurred Of
gratifying my passion for money. MY slfua-
| ton in life was well known. and was cordi-