The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-25
designs, ] swear to Keep my promise"

.
n veil. entered an inner apartment, aud the
shades of night envelupsd the capitol Of The
world
The mulritudinous noises of The gay me-
tropoIs had srbsidrd the twilight had
passed away, aud the moon shone brightly
in the cloudless firmament--'twns mid
night.
Each pillar reared It's graceful capital
distinct in the silsery flood which iliumeG the
earth with nearly the brilIarcy of sunshine,
save where It's rays were caus hit and reflrc-
ted hack by the pale marble which rose in
tasteful Observation-Disclosures, around the
princcely mansion of Arnenius.
One object only gave animation TO the
scene, aud even he appeared scarcely living,
for in the darkness of deep shadow he
stood as Il trans6xcd, and made no motion
save now and then the hand, which was
laid np1n his breast, would contract !" if
with nervous action.
I Another figure is added To the scene
she slidrs on tipior, and rapidly flies To
mee, the youth SHE throws herself into his
arms--his lips NEE, hrrs--lhe sudden trans
port Of delight--thc impassioned embrace
declares them to be lovers.
Stealing noiseIessly iuto the deeper shades
Of mn ndjacent wall, they are concealed from
every eve save that of Him who cannnot
look upon such love, 81 pure, so iersid, aud
So disinteresed, but with pity on the sad
fate which separates them.
A Agricnla, lave" whispered the maid.
4" havr fingered too long from thee thon
wilt forgive me II was to avoid detection
that ! tarried."
! The youth seized her ,npering fingers in
his own aud pressed them to his bosom.
No, l"ve," he cried, pressing her hands
20 h. lins. bStbing them in The sen of ago
nv which was rushing from his eyes. " No;
ala, thou hast not fingered lang enough
wonld that thou Iadst never come !"
- Say not So, 4 !ric"ln. Wher, fore dnst
thou weep thus " she inquired, soo,hingly.
Because" he replied, :" this i. the last
time that we meet, Sylvia, and mny not
consccrs,- h Ivy tear as one Of fond re-
rnrn,brsncc p
T" The hi.i, Agricola :" snbbed the ten
der gill. Oh name it not, vc never will
part again"
Alas Whist wouldst thou 2"
"Livc with thee; die with Sylyin
would he thy WIFE"
NO. no !" exclaimed the youth, rs n
pnng of grief dnrt-d through III, soul, "no,
Sylvia, it may no, be !"
+" Thea" said she reprovingly, ",hou
dost moi love me, or thou wuuldst not cns,
me nf."
love you :" cried he, /" it is TINT love
too well, too--,'
Then why not listen to my prayrrr
Alas il is that ! love too deeply"
"No," cried the girl, "no, Aericola.
didN tl,ou love like me like me. adore
thou wouldst cast aside those fears"
Fesrsr" repeated the youth. dropping
his hnnd aud flashing fire from III. eye,
which iIlun-d the space about them, fears
Sylvia thou dost uo, know me. To me
fear is stranger. 'ris not that " bch IN
hnences me; hat rscoIlcct, girI--Agricola
is slave" !"
The mniueninry sternnsss winch he had
assumed did not, however, damp the ardor
of the girl /; IL seemrd to render him still
drarrr ,o her. She placed her fragile nrin
about his manly neck, and IL a tone Of gem
tie rrpronch, " R-buke nc not, my love-"
she said, " thou knnwcst if AgriroIa is u
slave SYLVIA would share his bondage with
him. Her love should make his slavery
swrrrrr Gar than irrsdom."
"D.sisi, ] pray thcr," responded the
youth, -ncircling her waist with hi. arm,
with respectful tenderness, aud sofening
his tofe, /" remember, your father is a Ro-
man !"
nal Il a,.ll al l..y. fl,o.,
she whispered through her tears; "none
hut thee I live or care for. My fathers
wrath heed not, 80 that I possess thee
Il care"
Hist" said her lover. =. he carefully
leaned towsrd the spo, they had iust quit
ted, when, last we met heard n noise like
that ~hich just struck mine esr-Sylvis,
AWAY ~
Never" cried ,lye girl, filled with love''
desperation, aud clinring more, closely to
hun, " never, till tbou'G promised. | will
die with thee, Agricola, but will n"t-lose
thee J"
4 FAINT noise resembling q football broke
on the silence, AS Agricola strove to di.en-
gage himself from the virgin, who twined
her arms wildly about his neck.
Brg"ne, SyIvin, I beseech :"
TIL you PROMISE, never" she artics-
Lated, nearly cl,okcd with emoiion.
Ag1ln The mise was beard-if they we're
discovered ruin would b-flll the idol of his
heart, aud lIc be drQr,d-d by tho lash. A
mon'ent more, it would be too late b. put
his lips to her ra--
= PROMISE"
1n the next instnn, the high, form of the
mail wss lDs, among the columns, aud her
luser, lookirg hastily about saw the ,had-
NV, evidently TIN, of n man, cast on tn.
pavement near him, but So msianinurouS
~a. the disappearance that il had vanished
I ore br WAS G,lIv a su are ,,r tl,. re,,tty lie