Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-12
| mind have never been deliberately

from feelings and impulse. Over the
formation Of my religious opinions !
could exercise 40 control. They are
those winch ,cmanate from the Judg
mcnt with which the Almighty has en-
dowcd me If that judgment is crro-
ncous, let the calumniators Of the skep-
tic beware whose workmanship they
question:"
Such was The language Randolph
held to Adelaide. Her reason was
entanglcd in the web Of his -ophistry.
she gazed upon his youthful connlc
nancc with auaZrmcnt, and lc'l
strongly Interested by the tone of hi,
sentiments. She too Tad sought iJr
something above the ordinary stand
ard man--sonelhing dc!j iag the grow
Cling impulses of her fellow creatures,
something to which she might look up
as 10 IA being Of superior mud. and
now that she had iound IA creature whD
could partially a,simiiale with the ro-
nance OF ,his desire, she stretched ont
her heart to him eagerly and felt her
soul dilate bencath the impulses Of his
language.
She had herself experienced the
cruelty Of mankind, had felt cankcr
worm sna" iag that most delicate phan'
tasm, 4 virgin reputation She there
fore sympalhizcd with him in his scorn
and drank into her soul the poison Of
his philosophy. Randolph saw her
eyes Sash as she listened TO his dis
course.
He took her delicate hand in his
and told her that nc loved her. lie
told her that hers was Il soul that he
had until now sought for in vain. He
tintc1 oat TO her the errors of her
childhood and the faults tl.at had i'm
prroepAbly wou"d themselves around
her heart. ln the consciousness Of
his power he toa>tch of his skill H.
entan- iin. thc scnSbiiltics of womtn.
Ia the ontpourInSS OF hi- spirit h
sighed that he had uot known hrr
sooner, lhtt he mIZht have mouidci
hcr according 10 the creatures Of his
dreams. 1t is not yet too late, he
exclaimed, and pressing her TO his
bosom. he sighed forth his love upon
iiar !ips. For an in-!an! Adelaide
was lost in The dclu>ion of The mo-
mcnt. Her senses had been ie ! astriv
by The hrwil:nrns power of his rly.
qpencc, but when her lip touched his.
they were recalled. and starting from
Ia, embrace. she cast upon him look
of mingled pride and anger. For al
instant ms hold upon her f..iiu2> VA
lost. but il was onIy for an instant. fDr
hc pressed III, SAT- with rchcwrd vr4-
pr. rccounicd over "A thnu-ana circum
.nn",. at hrs hEa, ,".,ch ,n hec vv.go
lrw cXciciucatS. hId again prc,sln.
lcr lor.u to his bosom, she confessed
her do!atry.
A-aIn Was Randolph conqunror,
and Of one who had coltcmncd the
arts Of man aud placed at defiance all
his slratagcms. He had won her in
the midst Of her pride, and when his
name hai bren rcitcraic in her ears
as that of cold bIJolcd and hrarilrs,
lib .rline. TnnS singular in It's IAN
Cics is the heart of woman. She
love; what she cannot respect, and
becomes the victim Of "A passion that
has not It's foundation in virtue. 1t is
true. Randolph had many noble quail.
tics. lis sou! was full Of high and
proud feelings, and his nature was
generous AMI humane. Yet in prin
ci,ln he was an inidel, recognizing no
earthly power as the scrn'aIor OF H.
morals, anl ,pcakiaI OF all hrarcni,
60 .,nizancc, as Of m,,ilfiei par.b!cs.
He would have barlcrcd his hopes Of
immortality for half IA century of love
and youth with Adclaile. La the
midst of his carcsscs, he told her that
life to him was bound by his commnn.
IuL, win her, and wished that wheo.
! thy ceased to move his soal the pul.
sations of that soul would cease to vi
bratc.
Yet his admiration for that girl was
excessive; he doated upon her with
. rhrcHsici fondness, and would have
pcr,shcI fpr her, willns sacrifice.
should such "A request have become
necessary to her happiness. He be-
licvcd her equally 'mpassioncd, aud
sincere, and believing thus, was happy.
Tine sped along. The loves OF
Randolph and Adelaide had been pub
hcly d'iatcd upon. Many rumor,
| oc thn,r ,nurr,,,,, had b,pn rircu,,ipi