The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-24

probably from some absurd cfEeminacy
that had grown upon me, made inquiries
about the mode of conveying letter with
Which he was entrusted, and of which
he conceived that l might be more a
droit conveyer than himself. The ad-
dress was TO my wife. bit my lip till
the blood burst out, but l contriYed TO
check the rage that was ready TO have
torn the carrier and the letter into a
thousand pieces. instantly mounted
nv horse. The fellow discovered by my
muttered curses that he had put his COM
mission into perilious hands, but it was
too late: he followed me- ,'and even struck
me with his wood-knife but ] had got
that which would not have resigned to
all the powers of earth. ] felt neither
wound nor tempest; l rushed along till l
tainted from loss of blood. and when 1
opened my eyes once more. found myself
ia my chamber, with halfthe arch-duke's 8
physicians beside my bed; languid, and
almost lifeless, but with tho letter still
grasped in my hand.
81 had been discovered in the forest
by some of my hunters, and brought home
as dead. ! had lain for fortnight in
my chamber, wandering from one deliri-
um 10 another, but in all ] still grasped
the fatal letter--no force could take it
from me. Such are the poisons which
man prepares for himself-I would not
have parted with that letter Of ruin, to be
made monarch Of Golconda.
IL read the letter. What was il to the
breach Of confidence 7 The secret was
mine and of all the secrets the most es-
sential and overwhelming. Its pages
gave the fullest satisfaction that could be
desiredby mind longing to have grounds
for self-iorment. They were a long de-
tailed, but gentle accusation Of broken
vows, sustained by references to times
and places, and charges of duplicity and
cruelty on tho part offriends and parents,
which told me that my wife (for the wo-
man was mentioned IN every llne) had
long been loved, and had loved in turn.
That she had been the reluctant sacrifice
to the prejudices of her rank and that
my offer had been grasped at by her
family, alike for its own advantages, and
its rescue of the daughter Of SO proud a
line from an alliance beneath her.
~ saw Septimia on that evening.
She had come on the first announcement
of my returning mind, and kneeling by
my bedside, offered dthanksgivingt to Henv-
en- for my recovery. could have stab
bed her on the spot. But she wept at
my averted face, and besought me,in such
language Of soft submission, to think
kindly Of her and her interest in nme. that
felt the tears streaming down my
In that moment l could have
turned to her, confessed all that burdened
my mind, and solicited to have at least
ali that was left to her of her early heart.
But I was born to be victim! Pride
forbade the humiliation. sent her from
my bedside ; and tossing there all mid
night, then started up, feversd and feeble
as w..-, a. tsaad tho corridors with
shuddering, feet, and break open with
frantic jealousy the cabinet in which !
conceived the remainder ofthis cores
pondence to be concealed.
"With sensation of ofssif-reproach that
need not be envied by wretch on the
wheel, broke open the cabinet, found
a packet Of letters. carried them to my
own chamber, and there fed on them
day by day. They gave me feast of
agonies, found there a history Of the
whole development ofyoung passion ;the
stories ofthe country walks, the youth
full employmerts, the presents of flowers;
the first parting of the lover for the ar
my The thanks for his promotion obtain
ed by the beloved ones influence the
little gay anecdotes of the cam mpaign, and
mixed with them sentences repeated
from the answers. which told me bitterly
what these answers were fond, glowing,
con6ding, the outpouring of fine spirit,
all awake with the finest Of all passions.
Yet what was this eloquence to me 7
what the brillinncy of the unconscious
wit, or the loftiness Of the half inspired
feslingl They were all for another |;
and the woman whom l had selected
from the world to be the depository of
my thoughts, had not a thought for me |:
the being in whose loveliness would
have taken q pride, was to mo but a
weeping vestal, the guardian ofa solitary
altar. where the flame never shone to
me. The wife of my bosom, the sharer
in my fate, the partner Of my rank and
fortune, was Mt that hour the scorner Of
them all, wandering in heart far away
after the trials and chances Of another,
shedding tears for another's sorrows, re-
joicing in another's successes and il she
thought Of me still, perhaps only meas