Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-26
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IS. 1929.
From BiackUood's Magszins for January.
THE LAST OF THE MOYsTONS. -,
,ls Oh what look!
oh what truthful steadfast look methought
lie fixed upon my face.--Ny dying hour
Must pass ere forget It.

He fixed upon my face.-Ny dying hour
0HPiey.
The following narrative OF crime and retri'
button, strange as The declaration may appear,
is strictly true, and many now IN existence
know il To be so. Il is given In the words oil
the miserable writer who left this written me-
mortal Of his guilt and suffe rings in the hands
of his executor. who had been his tutor K was
his only friend; by this gentleman it was CONS
municaied TO the Rev author of work which
il is impossible TO read without deligh, ard ed
6ea,ion. "The Living and the Dead" No
confidence is violated by the disclosure, as Il,
was INTENDED for the world. The name Of
Moyston.is, for obvious reasons, substituted
one.
Surrounded with every blessing which ex-
is,ence can afford; possessing prospects oil
brilliant, nay, almost unriv allied nature; lew en-
tered this chequered scene Of being with grea
ter advantages than myself. 1t is true, that
the lapse Of few short years made me- an I'M
conscious orphan. But by a kind and watch
ful guardian and his sister who had been my
mothers early friend, their place was most af-
fectionaiely supplied: and Of such brother as
possessed, few could boast He was eighteen
month. older than myself, and though in our
pursuits and tas,es, and turns Of thought, an
essential difference was percep,ible, we were
warmly aud devoiedly attached. Alone in the
world, we chung TO each other with an intensi
~ Of affection which orphans only can feel l
will describe him--though it cost me bitter
pang More sedat.; more rejecting; more re-
fined and highly cultivated than myself, with
mind slightly Hinged with melancholy, & deep
ly but unaHec,edly impressed by the great
truths Of religion, he exhibited character re-
markabie for mental energy, when exGi,..a'~'''.
which took rare and ,ar ri despite oil an air Of
nensiye gravity and reserve, unusual In one 30
happily eircumstsneed, there were lew VINO
were more generally and dsservedly beloved,
than the young Sir Walter Moys,on, Of Mount
field.
"My brother was about twenty, and l had
lust Quilted Oxford, when an addition was
made to our neighborhood in the person OF
Mrs. De Courtey. She was the WIDOW OF I've
~ gallant officer; and the bravery OF her nus
band-and the circumstance oil his loss redue-
iny her from comfort and independence, to the
loW,;est retirement and the scantiest pittanee,
added 10 her. own noble descsnt s. verg'superior
manners, excited powerful in crest in her favor,
and she was very generally courted on her ap-
pearance among US. Yet, amidst ii all. she was
n cold. calculating, mercenary being; an adept
IN intrigue, aud a heartless man9nverer.
Ina WORD, she was woman OF the world,
and could contrive, at will, to make vice appear
virtue. and art seem Innocence. She was ac-
eompanieG by her daughter, whom to ste ara
lovr-,o love against hope. against reason-to
love with all Jealousy & dependence OF youth
ful heart-with all the intensity and devotion
Of q frs, sfftc,ion-was very speedily mine.
,ay. TO love against hope, against reason, Tor
discovered but too soon, that Adela's heau'y,ner
Innocence, her misfortunes, and The air OF cheer-
full ,esignstion with which she submitted to
their pressure, had made powerful and per
msnsnt i'm preston on my brothers heart
,.wthat had no chance. And yet Adela'
return 10 her lovers passion was cold and tain'
in the extreme. Living in his immediate
peighhorhood- hearing, hour by hour, oil his
uubounded benevolence, his unaffected piey,
his humility, his acknowledgements respect
ed, she esteemed-but no, she never ioSeo MIN
To her mother his wealth, his generous, easy
,emper were irresistible. Mrs. De Courcey
. .,piled upon his suit. was bankrupt in al
fee zion from that very hour? For the hrs, time
now felt that was younger brother; for The
6r,, lime nv heart swelled with envy and ami
mostly towards the transporting Walter: fo
the 6r,l time regarded, with feelings oil salts
faction. his slender form and sickly habit
tre.ured ND the passing indications OF delieac!
of cous,i,v,ion-and calculated, yes, actuall.
calculated, whether il was not possible miga
survive him And then better feelings wosi
return, and I would oppose to those oaneia
but eyanes scent emotions, my own purity oil IN
,ention and reeiitude oil heart!
"Prersra,,ons for the marriage were ia pro
press. Instructions had been issrea tor tn
5, ,,lements; aud the ceremony STOOD hxed 10
the day on which my brother would attain h,
majority. The feelings OF my mind s'rongi
b.rmonised with the season ofthe year. 1t wa
far advanced in autumn, the trees were almoi
stripped of their foliage; the dew lay thick up
on the grass, the landscape was entirely shr'ad
ed Win v.pour, excepting where solitary sur
beam seemed to struggle with the mist; 10
wood. were silent; and rot single sigh oil Ill
enlisened the monotony OF tue scene, ""'
.hrn The dusky livery Of huge old FIR Wa
soutras,ed by ,he brilliant berries OF the mou'
min ash. II was nature in her sePuleh<e.