Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-02
alive, that she was sure of-she know

IT,. t
sBut why, Jessyp
%, because William was SO much too
good for this world: there was nobody
ike William, and he was gone for a SOL
der. Old General Lucas, her fathers
uncle, had sent Tor him abroad had
given him a commission in his regiment;
and he would never come home; at least
they should never meet again-of that
she was sure-she knew it,
This persuasion was evidently The
mastcr-grie! of poor Jessy's life, the
cause thai, far more than her blindness.
faded her cheek, and saddened her spir-
il. How it had arisen no one knew
partly, perhaps, from some lurking SUI
perstition, some idle word, or idler omen
which had taken root in her mind, nour-
ished by the calamity which in other re-
spects she bore SO calmly, but which left
her so often in darkness and loneliness
to brood over her own gloomy forebo6-
ings; partly from her trembling sensibiL
ity, and partly from the delicacy. Of
frame and Of habit which had always
characterized the object of her love-a
slender youth, whose ardent spirit was
but too apt to overtask his body.
However it found admittance, there
the presentiment was, hanging like a
dark cloud over Jessy's young life.
Reasoning was useless. They know
little of the passions who seek to argue
with that most intractable Of them all,
the fear that is born of love; SO Mrs,
Lucas and Emma tried to amuse away
these sad thoughts, trusting to time, to
Williams letters, and, above all, to Will
liam's return, to eradicate the evil.
The letters came punctually and dali
ly; letters that might have quoted the
heart Of any sister in England, except
the futtering heart of Jessy Lucas.
William spoke of improved health, of in
creased strength, Of actual promotion,
and expected recall. At last he even
announced his return under auspices the
most gratifying to his mother, and the
most beneficial to her family. The reg
iment was ordered home, and the old and
wealthy relation, under whose protection
he had already risen SO rapidly, had ex-
pressed his intention to his nephew's
widow and daughters, especially Jessy,
for whom he expressed himself greatly
Interested. A letter from General Lucas
himself, which arrived by the same post
was still. more explicit: il adduced the
sons admirable character and exemplary
conduct as reasons for belriendipg the
mother, and avowed his design of pro-
viding for each OF his young relations,
and of making William his heir.
For half an hour after the first hear
ing Of the letters, Jessy was happy-till
the period of a winter voyage (for it was
deep january crossed her Imagination,
and checked her joy. At length, long
before they were expected, another
epistle arrived, dated Portsmouth. They
had sailed by the next vessel to that
which conveyed their previous despatch
es, and might be expected hourly at
Klbe's Farm. Tho voyage was past,
safely past, and the weight seemed now
really taken away from Jessy's heart.
She raised her sweet face and smiled;
yet still it was a fearful and a trembling
joy, and somewhat of fear..was mingled
even with the very intensity other hope.
1t had be Ell a time of rain and wind:
and the Loddon, the beautiful Loddon,
always so a~ffluent Of water, had over
flowed its boundaries, and swelled the
smaller stream which i! fed, into tor
rents.
All the day she paced the little lane.
and stopped, and listened, and stopped.
About sunset, with the nice sense of
sound which seemed to come with her
fearful calamity, and that fine sense
quickened by anxiety, expectation, and
love, she heard, or thought she heard,
the sound of a carriage rapidly advance
ing on the other side Of the stream
1t is only the noise of rushing waters
cried Emma. Il hear a carriage-the
horses-tbe wheelsv replied Jessy, and
darted offa once with the double pur-
pose Of meeting William and warning
the position against the stream. EN-
ma and her mother followed fast! fast!
But what speed could vic with Jessy's,
when the object was William? They cal
led, but she neither heard nor answered.
Before they had run to the bend in the
lane, she had reached the brook; and
long before either of her p~ursuers had
gained the bridge, her foot had slipped
from the wet and tottering plank, and
and she was borne resistlessly down the
stream. Assistance was Immediately
procured: men and ropes and boats-for
the sweet blind girl was beloved Of all,
and many a poor man risked his life
in a f%ruitless cndeavour TO save Jes-
sy Lucas-and William, too, was there: