Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-20
THE GRAVE.
IcoNCLUDED

The dead"
CONCLUDED
Tho face Of the hermit was turned from me /,
but ! could perceive that he was violently agi-
| taed "Maria,' he ut length muttcred, in a
low but solemn and impressive voice. "Oh,
lost murdered nnocence How long shall
gricve' how long shall l noun thy injuries'
Heaven may forgive; but will never ask par
don Of thy creator, while have thee for my
accuser Oh what could harrow my soul moro
than 10 gaze upon those tender love beaming
eyes, those balm dis,illing lips from which
once flowed the ravishing sounds Of heavenly
musc' Twas that cut thee down in thy
bloom, and sent thee TO thy grave; have sent
that warm heart to the cold, cold earth Oh,
could those lips speak and pronounce my par
don then, then, might indeed be happy
bat no, never more shall l start at the sound Of
thy dulcet voice, never more" here he be-
came so much agitated that he could not 60 on
| and ], having no doubt that NY time was come,
descended from my bed, and slowly approach
ed him" Fa.her!" cried l. lie slar,edup and
turning towards me with furious gesture
cried, Who art thou that thus breaks in upon
the sorrows ofthe damnsd?'
81 am one " said |, commissioned By that
murdered nymph TO bear thee her full pardon
and unfeigned forgiveness.
"Thou!" said he, laughing scornfully in my
face, "when and where dds, thou see herr
The dagger entered her heart ere thou hadst a
place amongst the living
Bear with me little, unfortunate man.
said |, "and l will disclose TO you a secret
which has rested securely in my bosom ill
now" He sat down "Know then, that
travelling several years ego through the village
Of -, in America, (here the hermit started)
was over,aken by the night, and as all the
inhabitants had retired to rest
$50 the point! TO the point!' hastily 10.
! terrup!ed he.
then, in a brief manner, related TO him my
droam and the accompanying particulars.
"'Tis enough" cried he, " It's enough-I
feel it here" pointing to his breast. MY load
is gone--there! there!'-polnting upward
eve shall meet again" His features relaxed
"a heavenly serenity beamed in his venerable
countenance, and overcome with the weight Of
joy which pressed upon his soul, he fell back
and was soon lost in pea c.ful slumbers. re-
tired to my cot and followed his example.
was awakened early in tho morning, by Will
liam, who begged me 10 walk Out with him a
short distance, as he desired to have a private
interview with me. I told him would attend
him. We walked silently over the brow of the
mountain and entering small grove, he ask ed
me to be seated on Il fiat rock on which was
rudely chizelled these letters A. I.
"Tell me-" said he, sole,nnly, "wero you
ever in love?"
"Never!'' was the answer.
"Were you ever in tho village Of -, in
North Amerca!'
Eyes"
" We're you ever acquainted with A.
T--!'
"I have seen her," replied; "but never
exchanged word with her in my ifc."
"Oh God!' cried he clasping his hands in
agony, " then have injured her indeed! Oh,
trea cherry, trca chcry, what hast thou done!'
Surprised and affected at his conduct,
begged him to explain.
My name," said he, is c."
" lndeedr' said /, starting, "then surely
you were the lover Of that beautiful girl!'
"Alas," rejoined he, ." ~as-and still. still
am her lover. From my earliest acqualn-
tance with her have entertained the highest
respect for her virtues and hor understanding;
but her friends being aversc to our union, ] was
banshcd hor presence, and during my absence
from the peerless nymph, every thing which
malice could invent was urged against me; but
her constancy remained-no insnuation could
shake her trust in one whom she had deigned
10 accept as a lover. Would TO boavea had
been as firm! But was continually tortured
by nsidious foes who strove to awaken my
jealousy-I treated all those surmises with
contempt. At length I heard from several
sources that her afle ctions rested upon another
u saw YOU with her in The pow, and thought