The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-02
From the Philadelphia Monthly Magazine.
POWER OF CONSCIENCE.

the eastern boundary of the Housatonic val.
} icy, young man, whose name was Yves.
ION Ellis, had early established himself
through the dark ravine flowed stream
winch except during the melting of the
spring SHOWS on the mountain, or the heavy
rains OF autumn, was lost in the alluyial
tract that stretched between the foot OF
tne nils and the river. Up this rayine ran
the path-road it could hardly be called
by which travellers from the towns on the
Connecticut river, made their way to those
on the Hudson and (which passed the Hou-
satonlc about half mile to the west of
Ellls's house, by a wide and shallow ford.
When Weston Ellis first came to the Mace.
be was an unmarried man, of about twentv, .
hve years of age; tall, muscular, and pow-
erful. Every feature marked him for a man
OF strong passions but he was a cold. IN
soclable being, one who neither wished nor
sought communion with his fellow men,
One OF the adventures who settled near
est to Ellis, was Mr.. Wilmaftb. whose
only daughter, Marcia, was one of those
fair wild flowers which are sometimes found
so spotless and lovely, in the most lonely
solltudes; and either from the Circumstance
OF mere propinquity, or some more powerful
cause, the cold, stern, unbending Ellis be-
came her captive. He loved her as we'll as
it was possible for such heart to love: and.
dssimilar as they were in manner and feel
ing, she gave him in return, all that fond.
deep, and con6ding affection, which warns
the bosom Of sweet girl of sixteen, un-
hackneyed in the coquetry of the world, and
whose young heart pours out all its treas
ures on one loved and adored object. They
were married, and number of years passed
away; but of their several children with
which they were blessed, the Youngest only
survived the playful, lovely Marcia viii
marth Ellis. During these years, Marcia
was not entirely happy, though she herself
scarcely knew why. Her husband treated
her with every attention which could be
expected from one OF his temperament and
disposition; for to those thousand nanleless
assiduities, that, 10 the feeling mind. con-
stitute the charm of welded life, he was n
stranger. But Marcia had been educated
in the full belief and practice of those truths
which look beyond time for their consum-
nation, and which have for their base. the
unerrng volume Of inspiration. This mr.
est source of consolation, Ellis contemptu-
| ously rejected; and while on other topics
he paid great Difference to his wife, on this
subject her opinions were the theme of his
coarsest ridicule. Marcia pitied him. INT
believing as she did, could she be happy?
1t was beautiful September evening.
Inc stars shone In cloudless sky. The
line OF white fog that marked the course of
the river, looked like silver thread in the
moonlight Little Marcia had retired IN
rest, and Ellis and his wife were sitting on
the stone steps in front of their dwelling
enjoying the cool air whispering through
the forest trees he had planted, when a
stranger, who had forded the river, stopped
before them. He was we'll mounted or a
fine horse, and his travelling portmanteau
showed that he was on journey.
"Good folks" said he, refining up his
horse, sit is getting somewhat late could
you give stranger to this road, lodging
and mouthful of something to eat %
"To such as we have, you shall be well
come," was the answer of Ellis, and the
stranger dismounted.
His horse was turned into n rich clover
field, near the dwelling; and instead of the
tea, which Marcia was Fastening to provide.
the bowl of milk which the stranger REQUEST
ed, with some of her fine wheat bread, was
set before him. In the course of the even
ing, they leaned fIom the traveller, that his
| name was Hamilton, and that business had
called him from Boston to Albany, from
which place he was now returning. He
stated, that as he was anxious to proceed
on his journey as rapidly as possible, he
should be much obliged to them if they
would call him at two in the morning.
When Ellis lifted the portmanteau 10 place
it in the room where the traveller slept, its
weight convinced him that Mr.. Hamilton
must have been successful in the object of
his visit, and, for the first time in his life,
he felt desire to appropriate to his own
use, that which did not belong to him. Be-
fore two O'Clock, Ellis awoke, and, assuring
Marcia there was no necessity for her arts
! ing, he awoke the traveller, who, after par
taking OF some Slight refreshment, prepared
| by Ellis, mounted his horse, and proceeded
on his journey.
al have forgotten to shut the gate of the
clover field" said Ellis to his wife, as he
opened the door and went out, soon after
the departure of Hamilton.
| He was absent a considerable time, dur
| ing which Marcia fell into a sleep from
which she was awakened by her husband,
who, having laid off his clothes, was again
getting in bed.
"Why, Mr.. Ellis, how cold you are," said
Marcia, as trembling like a person suffering
from an attack of fever and ague, he threw
himself into the bed.
els there any thing strange in that" he
quickly answered, "when have been out
in the night air and dew, without my coat"
In the morning, when Marcia arose, she
perceived that blood was scattered over the
fine linen shirt of her husband, and that his
right hand was red with it. Ellis saw what
attracted her notice, and carelessly remark
ed, that his nose bled profusely when GU,
after Mr.. Hamilton's horse.
AS it became lighter, his wife, was alarm
ed at the pale and ghastly expression of his
features, and eatreatsd him to allow her to
send her brother George for a physician,
thinking him seriously unwell.
I" You will please attend to your own af-
fairs, am well enough" was his abrupt re-