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

l did recover, who can paint the Joy that
lighted up her beautiful countenance -
All saw il with delight save one, and that
was her wretched aud ungrateful broth
er.
"She had friend named Mary El-
Iiston, also n beautiful girl. Their friend
ship had commenced in childhood, and
their souls were knit closer by succeed
ing years. Mary lived with US, for she
was an orphan; and being originally of
a respectable, but unfortunate family my
father gladly adopted her as compan-
ion t. his daughter. She was tall, and
exqnisitely made, and all her movements
were full Of female dignity. Her form
wanted the richness Of Eliza's, but it
was more airy, and, if possible, more
graceful. My sisters complexion had
tho brightness and bloom of northern
beauty. Her yellow hair waved like
streaks of sunshine over her temples,
and her blue eyes, deep and lucid as the
sapphire, were full Of animation and
mirth Of soul. Mary had moro of the
Italian cast in her countenance, which
was ofa darker and warmer hue. Her
hair was black and shining, and her
eyes, Of the same complexion, were full
of melancholy. Never were two love-
lier beings associated together under the
same roof. Eliza was all affection, and
smiles, and innocence, and she showed
them Oh every occasion. Ifshe loved,
she expressed in bright and undisguised
language the emotions of her soul. Mary
was not more lovely, for that was impos-
sible, but she was evidently being Of
profou:der and lntenser feelings. Her
spirit was moro full ofpathos. Her fer
YOUR was not so easily excited, but when
once aronsed, it flowed in deeper chan
neIs, and its influence upon ell the pas
sions was most striking and irresistible.
"I know not how it was, but this PURE
minded and intellectual girl, conceived
for me strong affection. God knows,
there was little in my society TO attract
the love Of any one, and, above all Of
such as she. ] never did her all act of
kindness. scarcely ever spoke to her
with common civility; yet, strange to
say, l unknowingly gained her heart,
and she loved me at last as if had been
the most deserving object upon earth.
How my grovelling soul came to be in
vested with such power, remains prob
lem which / have never been able to
solve. In all other respects the mind Of
Mary was pure and heavenly That
spirit so full Of poety and romance, that
mild and enthusiastic spirit, conversant
Only with lofty thoughts, and whose ex-
istence had passed in world Of fancy,
did it descend from its high estate to
seek companionship with a base earth
born heart like mine? In this only she
erred; in this only she showed that tinge
Of humanity which clings to all below.
Perhaps she might have been influenced
by her affection for my sister. But that
as it may, I saw her feelings, and with
the true villariy Of my nature, resolved
to take advantage of them. II would be
sickening to relate all the schemes l
put in practice to ruin this unfortunate
girl She loved me to distraction, and
but too well succeeded. But how was
my poor, hard conquest gainedi BY a
proceeding, the iniquity of which no
language can characterize. l invoked
the Most High to witness that my future
intentions wnre honourable; and swore,
in the name of all that is sacred, to make
her my own. l never intended to keep
my promise. What were oaths to me
What were broken hearts and ruined
hopes to one who looked upon virtue and
honour as baubles, and whose polluted
soul seemed born for the atmosphere of
the blacklist iniquily!
"Time rolled on, but still never felt
remorse. looked on unmoved at the
ruin | had effected, and when the un-
suspecting victim required the perform
ance Of my VOWS, she was answered with
a contemptuous sneer. Her spirit, from
this moment, faded utterly away. She
felt that she had been betrayed, and saw
the dreadful precipice on which she
stood. Had been any thing else than
viIlain-had one spark Of generous
feeling still animated my bosom, | must
have pitied the miserable girl; but com
passion was unhappily feeling to which
| had ever been stranger, and looked
on the wreck of beauty with savage in
difference.
"Eliza 8 tender bosom was moved ,and
she saw her companion with other eyes.
She did not, with the prude-ike barbar-
ity of many Of her sex, cast off this err
ring sister. She saw that she had been
led astray, and knew, that although in
the eyes Of the world she was lost and
worthless thing, yet she was not to be
abandoned to misery and neglect. SO
far from turning away from this object
Of distress, she pressed her to her bosom
L l. IL 1 - :. 4