Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-11

| wholly destitute that he had not the
means Of supporting existence; and he
used to visit alternately Ragusa and the
island Of Mezo, to solicit charity.
1t happened that one day, when The
odere had game to the latter place to
seek his daily bread by begging, accord
Ing to lis ordinary custom, II circum-
STAGE beiel him such as he could never
have expected A young and beauti-
iul maiden, whose name was Malghcrita
saw him, and, being struck with his per-
son, which was manly and elegant, and
with the wretchedness Of his condition,
which was euough to move the pity oi
any tender heart she became onamOured
OF him, and thought it was unfit that so
charming young man as ho seemed in
| her eyes should spend his days IN sor-
row and solitude. The fair Ma!gherita
suffered these ,honghts to take possess
ion of her bosom so entirely, that she
thought Of nothing bat Theodore by
night or by day.
lie, who as yet knew nothing OF the
impression he had made, continued to
| carry OH his necessary trade of begging
and often went, among other places, to
MalgherIta's house to implore charity.
Ma'gherita, upon all these occasions,
gave him aims, although size did not
dare to discover the passion she felt for
HIM.
But love, who soon becomes the ty-
rant of all who put on his seemingly
gentle yoke, urged her to disclose her
affection, and prompted her to address
Theodore in the following manner:
Theodore, my brother, and the only
Joy Of my heart, so strong is the passion
which consumes me, that, unless you
take pity on me, my life will soon be at
an end | can resist it no longer; and
if, therefore, you would not cause my
death, tell me that your love for me
equals mine for you"
A burst of bitter and scalding tears
followed this passionate declaration.
Theodore, who had never imagined
that he was likely to inspire any one
with love, was thunderstruck at this
news, and remained mute with astonisI-
ment He, however, soon recovered
himself and, replying to the lady, he
displa efas much ardour as she herself
had expressed There were however
so many obstacles in the way oftheir in
duIging their passion, that he was full OF
despair; and represented them iorclbly,
and with great sorrow to the maiden.
She, who was of lively invention,
replied" DO not doubt, my love, but
that | will show you way by which We
shall overcome all the difficulties which
beset us. 1t shall be thus: 1.-THE fourth
hour of the night you shall set up u
light in the window Of your CABIN, and
as soon see it, will hasten to join
you"
But how is that possible?" said
Theodore; chow can you, a timid ten
der girl, pass across the sea: you knew
that neither you nor | have boat; and
if we had,so rapid is the current between
this island and the rock ON which
dwell, that the attempt to row across
would probably cost your life, and must
certainly be discovered"
"Fear not" she replied; 'leave the
whole affair to me, and | will find a way
of coming to you without putting my
life or my honour in peril, and without
the sm alest danger to you. When you
put up the light, | will plunge into the
sea, aid swim over to your rock. This
can do with great ease, and without
the possibility Of being discovered
"Indecd," cried Theodore, 'you
mistake the dangers which you will have
to encounter. Your strength is not sul-
fcient to hold out so great distance;- .
you will fail and die in the attempt.
81 am not afraid" she replied, and
| am bent upon doing it. | know my
own strength, and can swim like a
fish,
Theodore endcavourcd to dissuade
the maiden from a resolution which he
thought little better than madness; but
IN vain. He was at length obliged to
promise that he would comply with her
directions; and they then parted.
The night being come, he set up the
light as she had directed him; and, pre-
pairing every thing for her reception, he
went to the edge ofthe rock to wait her
coming.
As soon as Malgherita saw the light,
for which she had been waiting in all
the anxiety of that passion which alb
sorbed her whole soul, she began to put
her resolution in practice She divcst-
ed herself Of the greater part of her
clothes, leaving only such garment as
would not impede the motion Of her
limbsn swimming, and then, plunging
into the sea, she boldly breasted its tide.