Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-01-05

. SKETCH FROM LIFE.
A SENTIMENTAL STORY.

~ Ns"'sNNt ~ AhStCootbk Chi-
phasis..
= 'There is no faith in woman!-and
what woman has taught you TO think
so" said a soft voice near me.
l started, for | had most unconscious
y been uttering my thoughts aloud, while
! leaning on the back Of my cousin Aga
tha's couch, with my eyes resting on
the sheet of music paper which lay be-
Tore her. colou,ed as her glance met
mine.
MAYS it not true? said L.
'Nay,'--she repeated ! will not be
answered by a nay!-cousin Henry
But, my dear ~cOusin-my dear Aga
|tha'-cricd IL you are a woman, and
a beautiful woman-you can be no
judge
And supposing | admit it, said Aga
tina, smiling, what has my beauty to do
with either my w%omanhood or my judg-
ment?
There you may answer it yourself
what woman can Judge of her sex's fail
ings? what beautiful woman can deal
fairly by a sister beauty"
Is this ALP replied she. tThen
you have learned to libel us merely from
the cant Of the dayp
II is the cant Of ages,' said l..
'Surely not! the cant Of the careless
and the urmeaning; but not where there
is a heart and head to think, and to feel
no, my dear cousin, do not repeat it.
There is both trust and truth in woman
Agatha said |, why have you new
er marriedH
Harry returned she, { why have you
this i'll opinion OF our sexp
'Pshaw! but, with your beauty, and
your wit, and your fortune and conse-
quence -
'Tell newly do you quarrel with
US? Harry continued my cousin, inter-
rupting me with more earnestness; { we
must not let our own individual disap-
pointments disgust us with the world at
large, search well and VIC shall discover
our injustice-besides, let us be con-
tent, though we meet but one faithful
heart amidst a crowd Of treachery.'
And how shall we find it? Where
shall VIC meet with this faithful heart in
woman? No, Agatha cried I, you
mistake the character Of woman-you
do not know her-you cannot know her
You, who must always be every way
above the rest of your sex, and as differ
ent as inimitable!'
She was silent-sho was even grave,
for a moment or two, and the shade Of
thought in the expression of her bland
and beautiful countenance, seemed al
most as if II grew into sadness. She
looked at me with a smile
Cousin said she, 6 tell me your his
tory, you have been unfortunately and
she pointed with her small and snow
white hand to the vacant seat beside her
on the sofa.
There was a gentleness, a delicacy,
and tenderness in my cousin Agatha's
disposition, which gave a charm to her
slightest action. 1t was a gracefulness
of character which seemed to have in
spired the gracelulncss of her person
and her every motion, though it was a
something beyond grace which made
her tone Of feeling, both in gsiety and
sorrow, irresistible. l seated myself
beside her on the sofa, and did as she
had bid me.
have been in love- said 1, it is
my whole history
'And what then" she inquired; { was
your mistress un(aithful!'
Il have told you all in one word
woman and infidelity go together!' l
paused for some minutes, and when |
spoke again, l had obtained more self
possession
sWhen ! first went abroad said I, 1
spent some time at Florence. The
fashionable lounge was the picture-gal-
lery, and there was | a daily %visiter; but
went thi!her really to crafty my pas
sion for paintings, and not to gaze, and
be gazed at by the company. One
morning as | was standing as usual be-
fore my favourite study, l was startled
by sone one tapping me lightly on the
shoulder, l suddenly turned round-it
was a lady, and one fthe most besuti-
ful Of earth's creatures; but her look
and attitude were even more striking
than her countenance and figure. She
was, in a manner, stealing a glance into
my face, with such a curiosity, and in
%terest, and earnestness, blended with
such a %fancilul coquetry and intelligence
in her expression, as amazed me. She
enjoyed my surprise and admiration for
about half a second, and then, with the
most natural negligence in the world,
pointed gracefully with the hand which
still rested on my arm, to the ground.
= II was her handkerchief that had fallen
al my feet. and / Instantly STONED and