Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-02
LITER AIRY.

productions that weekly iOdu OUT 'aoie, WV '"o'
we read il with an interest which the re.publlca'
ton Of foreign books can hardly call forth Mar
tin Faber We have perused with close attention.
aud we do DOT hesitate to say, that since Goodwin
carried that singular and impressive style, first
introduced in modern fiction BY our countryman
Charles Brockden Brown, to such perfection IN
Caleb Williams, no work OF that school has come
under our notice which shows more power than
the little tale before u.s. The story is SO brief
that it is difficult to make an extract without Civ.
ing an unfair insight into the whole book; but
there is one scene so strongly wrought up in the
best style of the authors with whom we have com.
pared the author Of Martin Faber, that we can.
not withhold it from our readers.
The incidents are brought on by parting in
terview, on the eve of his marriage with another,
between the hero Of the story and girl whom he
has ruined. The wretched victim Of his remorse.
less passions clings around her destroyer and be-
seeches him, with all the tenderness Of doting
woman, to fulfil his vows and snatch her name,
ere il be too late, from scorn and isnomy:
Istood even this appeal. My heart was steeed
within me, and though | spoke to her less harsh
ly, l spoke as hypocritically as ever. She saw
through the thin veil which l had deemed it ne.
cessary to throw over my dishonesty, and a new
expression took the place Of tenderness in her fea
lures.
at is all true then, as they have said,'' she
exclaimed passionately. "NOw, D God, do
feel my infirmity-now DO know my sin. And
this is the creature have loved-this is the thing
h. ha,, IN foa nd
in soul to utter falsehood and prevaricate-this
is the creature for whom | have sacrificed my
heart-for whom have given up hopeIessly and
hapessly, my own soul. Oh, ~retched fooI-oh,
miserable. NEST miserable folly. Yet think not,'
add as she turned upon me, she looked like the
Pries,ess upon the tripod, influenced with Inspi.
ration" Think not, mean traitor as thou art
think not to triumph 10 thy farther seduction. -
Me thou hast destroyed AM thy victim, and
feel the doom already. But thou shalt 90 no
farther in thy way. | will seek out this lady,
for whose more attractive person, mine and my
honor aud affections, alike, are To be sacrificed
She shall hear from me all the truth. She shall
know whether it be compatible with her honor
and happiness, or the dignity OF her character, to
unite herself, in such bonds with man who has
proved so deadly, SO dishonorsbIe to her SEX
And, oh, God"-she exclaimed, sinking fervent.
w On HeT hnte-u u Shdil 81 Udppcu ltdl j
save one such as |, from such folly as mine,
may it not expiate in thy sight, some portion Of
the sad offence of which have been guilty"
She rose firmly and without tear. Her eyes
were red, her cheeks were burning with the fe-
yer Of her whole frame, and she seemed, in all
respects, the embodiment OF a divine, glorious
inspiration. | was awed-I was alarmed.
had never before seen her exhibit any thing like
daring or frmness of purpose. She was now the
striking personi6cation Of both. She approach.
ed and sought to pass by me. seized her hand.
She withdrew It quickly and Indignantly.
"Begone' she exclaimed-"I scorn, des
pise you. Think not to keep me back. You
have brought death aud shame among my people
in devoting me to both. You shall pollute me no
more. Nay, speak not. No more falsehood, no
more falsehood, for your own souls sake.
would not that you should seem meaner in my
sight, than you already are"
I seized her hand, and retained it BY a fierce
gasp
EMILY" | exclaimed. "what would you do
why is this! ask but for delay, give me but
a month. and all will be well-you shall then
have what you ask-you shall then be satisfied"
L" False-false! these assurances, sir. deceive
me not-they deceive me no more. My hope is
gone. forever gone, that you will do me justice.
l zee tHiOuSh y"ui hJPoS'Sy-i Noo" al Jou'
viliianv, and Constance Claiborne shall know it
too. fla! do you start when her name is but
mentioned. Think you, know it not all-know
l not that you have been bought with money
that, vile and nercenary as you are, you have
not only sold me. aud this unborn pledge Of your
dishonesty aud my dshonor, but you have sold
yourself. Seek not to keep me back. She shall
hear it all from these lips, that thenceafter shall
forever more be silent"
She struggled to free herself from nv grasp,
and endeavored to pass BY me with desperate
effort-her strength was opposed to mine, and in
the heat OF the struggle forgot that victory in
such contest would be the heaviest shame.-
Yet. only sought, at first, to arrest her pro.
gress. As live. had then no other object be.
yond. did not intend violence, Tar less further
crime. But the fate VAS upon me;-she persis.
ted in her design, and in the effort to prevent her
passage, hurled her to the ground. paused, in
deadly stupor, after this. was no longer
reasoning conscious being. She looked up to
me implorlngly-the desperate feeling which had
heretofore neryed and strengthened her, seemed