Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-15

mrdnaIed design To this George gay.
a ready Affirmative, rxplesssd ia sucl
terms Of warmth against the conduct ol
f those IN the sloop, as the w. uslitiab!t
nature al The Transaction authorized
Turning 10 Fanny, he observed, "Yom
too, Miss Woody,lle, beheid the Who'll,
affair: do you mol agree with me that il
was tn, result vi malicious intention on
tho pait OF Inc sIoopi" Fanny was now
in u dreadful dilrma, but there was no
retreatlng; she tell that the keen ey
ot George mus iivriled ID her glowing
iuc"; and with a blushns cheek aud
iaullern,g voice, nsciIbtd by hun Ia any
but the right cause, acknowledged that
she had Witnessed the disastrous CIR
cumsiance, and fully agreed with MIR.
Audlcy, that the sloop was entirely to
blaine. The Rubicon was now passed!
aud the t~houghiless Fanny had subjected
herself 10 u modification and exposure
which she little anticipated. Before re-
firing to rest that night, Il subpoena was
received by herself and George, sum
noning both of them to attend al Court,
on u specified day, to give their ev-
dence in all action, brought by the pru-
p~rietors Of the damaged steamboat IA
gainst the proprietors Of the slooP.
We must now hasten to the conclu-
sion Of our story. 1t is unhece ssary to
describe the feelings which agitaled the
breast of Fanny, during the interval,
who s%edulousiy concealed from her
companion, May, all knowledge Of The
circumstance. Her father, unfortunate
Iy absent from home, could not inter-
pose his authority to prevent her ap-
pearance at court; and all arguments
urged by the unfortunate girl against be-
coming a witness, were mel by George
with stronger Arguments in favor of It.
A large party, he told her, had been
m~arshaIled for the purpose OF making
tho circumstance appear an accident;
and duty and honour required that they
previdentialIy placed where they had
witnessed the whole occurrence, should
unhesitatingly step forward, and support
tho cause OF truth. His feelings warm
ly enlisted in the subject, the arguments
and persuasions Of George were uttered
with an earnestness and eloquence which
she could not resist; and she consented
to accompany him 10 the dreaded trial,
provided her evidence should not bo
called, unless it became positively neces-
sary, which she secretly prayed might
not be the case.
The appointed day at last arrived.
Fanny would have been glad to plead
in~disposilion as all excuse for remaining
at home; but she feared hat George
would see into her motive, and cast her
off forever. Thus retreating became
as dificnlt and hazardous as continu-
ance in her course Of regeneration;
and with a pale cheek, desperate heart
and a trembling hand, she adjusted her
head dress, and throwing a mantle a
round her shoulders, sailed out with
George TO the appointed place of trial.
Contrary to her hope, she had mot been
loug seated, before she was called to the
Witnesses stand. No language can de-
scril. e the rush Of blood from tho heart
to her cheeks, and back again to her
heart, the cod SILVER that ran through
her veins, and the swelling emotion of
her breast, as with an unsteady step and
a quivering lip, she walked towards the
part Of the room where a seat had been
prepared for her. George, on whose
arm she leaned, felt that she was trem-
bling like an aspen leaf, aud whispered
something in her ear with the purpose
Of reassuring her. But the moment
was one Of too trying a nature for his
and her united efforts to still the tumults
Of her agonizing emotions. Her hand
was on the sacred volume; the words
of the oath we're proposed, and her lips
now nearly as white as its pages, kissed
them in token of affirmation. The fol-
was the first question proposed
10 her. A.,
"Miss Francis Woodville," asked the
Lawyer, "d,d you behold, on a certain
day, (specifying the dats) the sloop
run against the steamboat Enter
prize % 1
With a convulsive effort, that seemed [
% tear her heart out, Fanny answered i
in a scarcely audible voice, 81 did," {
She was required to state from what 4,
point Of view she beheld the occurrence
and whether according to her impression l
{ was the result Of accident or design. {
With much hesitation, and after many J
,auses, her answer to the i~nterrogatory q
at last given, and the lawyer of the b
opposite side rose to question her. There d
had been a considerable stir in the court c
the time Of Fanny's examination, v
,ccasioned by a young farmer who was a
in the ownership OF the sIoops. d
Ind whom report stated to have been a b
'uitor Of Fanny, but rejected after re- Il
several marks of encouragement. d