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

TRoM THE CRITIC.
NEAR SIGHTED.

su'O ssbS 81 sho ~ '
Gsorge Audley I q Fanny we're fiequcn
iy rrpestcd, aud IN The course oi u IL
weeks lac was ruceI, ed AZ The uvuwe
su,ior Tor her hand. Accustomed {
the blaze Of her beauty, he could no,
look through 1t With u less dazziec eye
and began 10 discern, nvt~ tito, andln
the imputed blindness Of love, thai eve
Fanny's character had It's blemi.hes
Dut love, though not So bind as poet
teign, Is al eloquent pIeader; aud Ia
every defect that observation lound, oil
Tered at least fifty xcuses Be
SIDES, thought our hero, no human
being is perfect; there are spots on TIT
sun; but with them, as ia the case Of ~,
Fanny, they are surrounded by sucl
"xerpowerIng brightness, as to be- obvi
only to the mlnutest inspection
Thus deIuding himself, aud happy IN tn,
dclusioh, Tho infatuated lover was con
tinually by the side of his mistress, rea
ding, or playing Oh his flute, Or whisper.
ing those delightful nollings, which are
said to Constitute SC large IA part OF court.
ship.
Ono evening, invited by the balm,
freshness Of the breeze, and the beautI.
ful appearance Of nature, they rambleC
out, arm in arm, TO enjoy u stroll in Q
romantic path along the brink Of the
sound. The fragrance Of the new
mown hay filled the air with a deliciou.
odour, and the gorgeous clouds OF sun.
set, which floated IN the western heaven
like large bodies Of transparent gold,
beautifully enanielled, were rich beyond
description. Enlivened by a scene 50
in unison with his feelings, George poin-
ted out, with voluble earnestness, as they
rambled on, whatever claimed his eye
as beautiful IN the landscape; and by
the ardour Of his question:, unconscious
y drew the blushing girl at his side into
the utterance Of many an untruth. Poor
Fanny was thus gradually and inextrica.
bly, %sntangIsd in a 'nosch Of equivocation
from winch she might at frs, have bro
ken by a noble effort of irtuou resolu-
ton: but she suffered herself TO become
more std more deeply involved, till eve
~ opportunity OF disenthraIment was
past. Alter all, thought she, these ibs
OF mine do no harm, my acquiesence
gratifes George, and why should ! damp
his feelings, by avow,ng that | cannot
sec those things, which 1t gives him SO
much delight to contemplated Still, her
own heart was not satisfied; and she
began to trembls least a discovery Of
her duplicity, which must inevitably take
place at some time or other, might. If
Prcn'a:ureiy made, ruin the bright matri-
monisl prospect before her. 1t was al
this stage Of her feelings that her com
panion aroused her FROM her reverie, by
calling her attention to u ste amboat,
which, emerging from a little inlet a few
miles above, snoi out with graceful ce-
lerily InIo the midst Of the Sound, aud
the waters like a thing OF life."
The steamboat mad recently been built,
and had just commenced her trips be-
tween New-York and a small village,
situated in a valley at tho head Of the
inlet we have mentioned. The innova.
ton had given great umbrage to those
who were concerned in the s!oop navi-
Of the place, and one Of the cap
had been heard to insinuate that
he would revenge himself for this inter-
ference with his interest.
As the eye of George followed the
beautiful object, which indeed justified
line Of the poet, and seemed to act
by its w volition, his attention was
suddenly aroused by a sIoop, that had
been standing in anothsr direction, but
now tackled about, and headed directly
for the steamboat.
See, Fanny; see! those two ~vesses
will surely come in contact" cried he
To his ipsincsre companion. "By heav-
en-! as the steamboat alters her course,
so does the sloop, as ii determined 10
run her down
"That surely cannot be their design
responded the embarrassed girl, whose
optics could not distinguish the objects
towards which they were directed.
"But it is their design cried George,
bis face reddening with anger at this un-
manly outrage; "and see," continued
no, "they have stopped the wheels Of
he steamboat, and are waving t. the
10 bear away-but all to no pur.
pose, for she has actually run into them.
The eyes of George had moi deceived
him. Enraeed by what they deemed
IN unwarrantable Interference in their
business, the captains Of the sloop-line
lad determined to revenge themselves
q tn ' way which we have seen, aud the
opportunity they chose appeared pecu-
iarly we'll adapted to their purpose.
There were but few persons on board
he steamboat at the time to bear wit
ess against them, and no other vessel
,as in sight. Hid from the observa-
ON Of the villagers, by the promoniory