Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-17
side of her adopted parent, assisting
him in the duties of his office, her in

s'oS VI "S' aooP'~N .
him in the duties of his Office, her in
telllgcnt couutenance lit up with ai!cc-
ton and picty-but Adela at such
moments could not be described. Her
loveliness was far from being the total
dowry of her beautiful person. That
Immaculate charm Of purity which
floats around vcstal-and is blended
as it were with her slightest action,
belonged in Prcemincnt degree to
this delicious creature. Her form was
slight and fantastc-hcr hand held af-
fnity with the lilly; her foot "might
have crushed violct' and her smile
dazzlcd a sunbeam.
Bat it was not external beauty that
would have conquered the stubborn
heart of Augustus Staunton. This
might have enchanted his fancy for
a moment, even as the product of
the statuary wins upon the external
senses, but to wind into his heart, he
must become acquainted with her soul
with the most secret thoughts of that
soul-and he did so. Time flew on
eagles pinions for a tweIvemonth.
Augustus became the idol of Adclia's
heart tho very essence of her being.
She felt that she adorcd the NAH
she knew not why or wherefore, yet
she dcspised his character. Her pure
pious soul shrunk from the contem-
pation Of that character, with hor-
ror. In his moments of pride, he
had traced to her, the secret impulse
of every action. He had pointed out
all the dark lines Of his principlcs,with
the wild fervency Of ShclIy-had
declared that he felt himself phren-
sled in intellect, yet it was rather the
phrensy Of imagination, than madness
and that whilst he felt his brain burn
ing with eccentric fancics, he also felt
his soul swelling with strange impul-
scs. AdeIia gazcd upon him, as IA
child would gaze upon mother in
Mysteries. She rejoiced and wcpt BY
turns, and kissed the burning temples
Of her lover, as the tears gushcd over
her beautiful features. She presscu
her lips to his forehead with mo
mcntary insanity, then rcpulscd hIs
carcsscs, with fear and dismay. A
one moment she confessed that she
loved him; at another, that she never
could love an inlidcl. AT one mo.
mcnt, she threw the black ringlc'.
from off his high forehead, at another
she started back. and bcsought the
forgiveness Of God, for her uncoD
tronlable passion. Away from Au.
gus,us she was miserable; in his pres
cncc she soug LIT him to turn from the
error ofhlS ways. She quoted the
trltb> of the scriptures, he .azri up
~ her bilc aad inpIoring eye, WI
.he smiles Of derision She poined
out ~ his observation the bursting.
flowers, the sparkling stars, the chan.-
iAg mooa. ard the burning sun, ana
asked, if they were not symbols and
evidences of God. He drew her to
his bosom, and kissed the lips that
spoke, but shook his head in skepti.
ci'm. He gazcd upon the sun, aud
gazcd upon Adelia. "Thou art my
God" he exclaimed. "m my hc,vcn-
and absence from thee, my hcil."-
The fair girl trembled with terror. In
vain she supplicatcd, that he would
not speak thus; in vain she strovc to
win him TO religion. TO her dcscrlp-
tons of the creatlon; of the finding of
Moses; of the prophecy of Isaiah; of
the coming, the suflerngs, and the
death of Christ, he listened with atten-
ton, but when she had finished, he
exclaimed, ''thesc arc all parallels the
fallacies Of tradition, enhanced in
power by the magic Of superstition. -
Talk Of them no more, Adelia. lest !
blasphemc. Talk Of them no more
my angel, lest invoke the vengeance
Of the God thou worshiPpcst. Was
not Luciier an angel high and hol y
is he not now a devil, surrounded with
torment, and struggling against his
Maker. Avaunt such mockeries, l
know ye not"
Thus awful were the interviews OF
Augustus and Adelia. In the secret
and solitary moments Of the latter, her
heart was filled with unutterable an
guish. She prayed to God in the sin
cerity of her spirit, to preserve her
from the awful destiny Of living to
the sacrifice Ct her religion-even in
the midst Of her prayers her thoughts
wandered to an earthly idol, and her
lips refused TO breathe the dictates of