The Arkansas advocate., 1830-05-19
psESCEEsE.ANYs
From Me Philadelphia Album. EDWARD PERCIVAI.-A TAI,

EDWARD PERCIVAL.-A TALE.
 "Not many years after l was estab-
 lished as master of this house, a young
 gentleman, whose name was Edward
 Percigal, came from the Southern part
 of the kingdom to this town, and took
 boarding here, apparently with tho in-
 tention of passing the summer season. in quiet and seelusion. His demeanor
 and appearance, as we'll as the refine
 ment of his manners, were convincing evidences ofhis gentility and rank. He
 seemed studious to avoid the notice of the company of strangers; and carried with him, an air of mystery and reserve
 that indicated the existence of some i'm portant secret. His occupations and a.
 rnusements consisted in reading, and
 rambling through the forests; and occa- E sionly the sports of the field. He was Of agloomy $ melancholy disposition; and
 would often spend hours iiiii his room af3-
 sorbed in his own thoughts. and sadly gazing upon the windows as ifnpon va euity.
 ''Thus he lived and passed his time
 for more than month; when he began toevincea disposition to relax somewhat
 from the systematic reserve in which
 he had been wrapt. He formed ac- quaintanees in several families of Aln-
 wick, and was present at a few evening parties; where, as ! have been subse- quently informed he was admired for the
 urbanity and polteness of his manner.
 " c were much pleased at his alteration Tn his conduet-for indeed we all took much interest in him. In short time, # he began to excite some degree of sur # prise in Us, by the length and frequency ! ofhis visit, abroad in the evenings. He was heard passing cneomians upon the inhabitants, and expatiating upon the I pleasures which he derived from their
 company.
 But the new mystery was soon un- ravelled.-We discovered that his visits were not so general as he would have 1t believed. His unvaried course was now to the house ofMrs. Fenwick, whose
 niece had been spending few weeks with her in the town.
 @Aliee Hamilton was beautiful girl. am not able to do justice to the bril- liancy of her youthful charms, by a des- cription-but always felt--if common with all who knew her-a fascination
 in her presence, which was not excited in the company of any other. She was
 not of a gay disposition; but the cheer # faIness and good humour which seemed
 constantly attendant upon her, amply # supplied the absence of tfElat viyaeity to
 which she was stranger. She was the only child of reputable, though not wealthy farmer, who resided in the q neighborhood of Morpeth, Q small sea coast town few miles distant from Aln- q wick.-She had received better edu- cation than is usual in her station inlife: so that if sine were not endowed with the elegant accomplishments, she was at least mistress of most branches of use
 ful knowledge.
 "Sueh was the precious lovely being @ to whom Perciyal became gradually 2 but ardently attached. Her heart was virtue, and of the purest virgin modesty while she was rendered doubIy interest # ing by the most bewitching noapette. She
 came upon the invitation of her aunt ! to spend fortnight at Ainwicis, few days before Perciyal became acquainted there. Percival soon found a powerful
 and unconquerable inducement to spene
 his evenings at the house of Mrs. Fen S wick. Endowed as he was, by nature A with an ardent and sanguine tempera
 fncnt, it might we'll Dc expected that !; z flame kindied in his breast could glog N < with the most unremitting fiereeness.
 "The effect of his passionate address s es upon the heart of Alice Hamilton
 may easily be conceived. Assured tha A his professions were honorable-grati
 fled with the apparent condescenison ol
 hispart toward one ofinferiorrank-an & above all charmed with his captivatinY
 manner and insinuating address, sh
 could scarcely conceal the satisfactio E which she felt in ranking him seeretl N as the best beloved of her admirers & There was indeed, one youth who had 4 by his previous declarations and unaha
 ting solicitude, established some preter k sions to har affections. Paul Robeso
 the son of a neighboring farmer, va