Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-08-30


loneliness. She thought Of the stern
prejudices of Sir Godfrey, and the de-
pendence Of her blind father on his boun-
ty. How could she reveal to her kind
parent the events Of that evening. She
resolved to keep the whole transaction
to herself; and; if possible, to prevail
on Edward to maintain the same secre-
sy. She placed agreat reliance on the
influence Of time and pbsenco; and
though her heart told her that life
could not survive total estrangement
and forgetiulness of her in one so dear,
yet, fortified with conscious reclitude,
she preferred to undergo every sacrifice
rather than incur the displeasure of Sir
Godfrey, and perhaps cast her blind
father and herself forth, houselcss and
unfriended, on the world. Thus deter
mined, she rose, and turning round -
Percy Owen exclaimed "What alls you
my pretty Miriam' All! some interview
with your Damon;-some little rebuke
from him. by st. GEORGE! he was
cruel fellow to hurt so sweet an angel.
Let me kiss those tears away And
advancing, he endcavoured to put his
arms around her neck. Miriam started
back in surprise-and for a moment for
got her greis in astonishment at the
presence Of one so unexpected. Her
eyes were still wet with weeping, but
Percy Oven had no soul TO pity, and
beauty in tears was more likely to kim
die his passions than excite his sympa-
thy. 'Nay, my sweet creature, not so
fast, he said, as Miriam attempted to
escape. 'Why so sly, my bird Of tho
white cottage' The heart of that low
ly girl burned with shame at such un-
manly conduct; and, strong in the sense
of her own rights, she broke from him
in struggle rendered volen by passion
on one side and women's Indignation
on the other.
That was fatal moment for poor
Miriam Lee. Percy Owen was tho eldest
son of Sir Godfrey, and heir to the whole
family estate. In him nature did not
second tho graciousncss of fortune, and
his poverty Of virtue was equal to abun-
dance of expectation. He was a man
Of little and ignoble spirit, and habitualy
proud and naughty; and used to tho in
dulgence Of his wishes, he never counted
the cost Of any qualification, and to will
with him was TO have done. Percy was,
nevertheless, what might be called a
handsome man; but it was q mere exte-
ror adornment to hide, like a polished
tombstone, the rotteness within. Shame.
pity, or the fear of punishment, wero
objections OF trifling import in the way
Of his pleasures; and his dark passions,
always allowed to riot with indulgence.
acknowledged no obstacle to their com.
plele satisfaction. The rum of Miriam
Lee was quickly determined--and once
resolved on, the means Of success were
easily available.
About north after these occurrences
old Abraham Lee and his daughter were
sitting together in tho white cottage par
lour on the afternoon ofa wet, ,rainy day.
That night Miriam returned to her
chamber much depressed, and her pray
ers were longer and more fervent than
usual The night was dark and dismal
not star was to be seen in the cloudy
sky, and the rain patted fast and mourn
fully against the window Miriam re-
peated her prayers, and with heavy
heart laid down to sleep.
Daylight broke on the white cottage.
dull, dreary and wet, land with every pros
pect Of continued rain. The mournful
cooing of the dove in the garden tree,
was the only solitary sound. that
broke on the ear. Martha, like a good
housewife, was up bctimes-and the Ia
bic set and breakfast prepared, she went
to call up Miriam, the old man having
already appeared below stairs. 'Miri.
ami cried Martha, knocking at the
chamber door; she waited, but no one
answered--she. called again-stil silen.
SHE opened the door, but no Miriam
was there! The report which she car.
ried down alarmed Abraham Lee. Some.
thing extraordinary must have happened,
the morning was too bad to induce an
early walk-and then Miriam was never
so engaged without his company. She
might have gone over to the. mansion
house, and his fears wero in some man.
ner removed by this suggestion. But
hour alter hour passed away, and still
Miriam did not return. Martha had fore
bodlngs OF her own; she whispered the
name of Percy Owen to herself, but
hushed it again in an instant Abraham
Lee at length became restless, and Mar
tha proceeded over to the mansion house
to ascertain if she were there. The
good housewife was terrified to receive
no tidings. The news Of her unaccount-
able absence spread like wildlire through
the family, and thousand different con.
lectures, one after another, were offered