The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-10-04

served two campaigns in the Low Coun
tries, and gained brilliant reputation as
rising soldier. But Barbara's charms wor
him from war to love, aud at her feet hs
laid his youthful laurcls. Heir to the an
cient titles and estates of family coeva
with the Conquest Sclby might have sougl'
the proudest damsel at the Court of his roy
al master; and old and powerful as thu
house Of Maxwell might account themselves
the lineage Of the bold bride groom in prid,
and antiquity, was equal even to that Of the
lords of Nithsdalc.
And what could cloud union of two
persons thus formed for each other Alas
that which has caused many heart tc
bleed, and flung thorns in the path Of lore
that which has caused the deepest attach
ment to pine away and perish Selby aud
his beautiful bride were professors Of differ
ent creeds, aud both bigoied in their re-
spectlve beliefs on matters Of religion.
George dissented warmly from the errors
of the Italian church-whilc Barbara had
been taught from infancy to consider tha,
of her forfathers the true and apostolic faith,
and that to the shorn priest Of Rome, the
power alone rested to remit her sins, and
point the path that would lead her to saliva
ton.
That lovs-and tcnderly they loved each
other should stife any unhappy misgiving
in two young breasts, might have been ex-
pected, and under common circumstances
such would have been undoubtedly the case.
But fierce and acrimonious temper per-
vadcd the religionists of these uncharitabIc
dsys-a dreadful discovery had just been
made-and accident brought to light the
foulest conspiracy that the demon spirit Of
bigotry had ever fabricated.
Within few days after Selby had we'd
ded Barbara Maxwell the Internal plot to
blow up the king and parliament was ae-
cIdentIy detected, and the chief Of those
concerned arrested, tried, and brought
most justly to the scaffold. A dreadful
sensation was created by the airocity of
the plan, and men, hitherto tolerant, be-
came ruthless prosecutors. The fears of
the timid could not be readily allayed, and
the fiercer minded tnrned them to account.
Determined TO uproot popery from the land,
all of that faith were branded as disloyal
and many, utterly ignorant Of the intended
murder Of the king and council of the ma
tion, were falsely implicated in conspira-
cy from whichin their very souls, they revol-
ted, while every Romanist was obnoxious
to suspicion. Barbara's elder brother, to
whom she was most devotedIy attached,
happened at the time to be travelling abroad
The tenacity with which the Maxwells clung
to their fathers faith and resisted the at-
tempts of the reformcrs, caused them, a.
m net nfbare IN ha cnono.ta1 fHha
ter of Nithsdate was denounced ns a prin-
cpal in the internal plot; and journey,
solely undertaken for pleasure, was totured
into political embassy TO the Court Of
Spain, to inquire for the conspirators coun-
tenance and assistance from abroad.
That Selby's young bride should not feel
unpleasant consequences from this burst of
national Indignation, which the atroclous
designs of popish party so justly drew forth,
would be impossible. All who surrounded
her were uncomp:omising followers Of the
reformers, and were, from old prejudice and
late disclosures, deeply inccnsed against
every disciple of the church of Rome. Bar
bara had been taught to consider Protestant
hostility to her faith as implacable and
ofthe enormity of the recent plot,
with the sensiblity Of soft and fearful ma
ture, she fancied that she perceived an aba
ted arder in George Selby's love, and read
distrust in looks, that were never turned up
on her but in kindness. Even the homage
her charms elected from her husbands
kinsmen was mistaken, and gentle atten-
lions were, as she imagined, used only to
hide concealed dislike.
Lord NthsdaIc had been residing for
some time in the ancient dwelling of the
the castle Of Caerlaverock-r I
and the iDclemancy of the season for many |
weeks prevented Barbara from having any
with her fathers insulated
home. Nothing beyond the genera rumour
had reached her respecting the plot. She
heard that many of those implicated had {
been brought to justice, and paid the pen {
atty Of their treason. In Difference to his
ady's faith, George SeIby, with the tact Of
gentle breeding, seldom alluded to subject
which he knew must pain her feelings, aud
Barbara was perfectly unconscious that '
suspicion had fallen on any of her proud c
name. She grieved that men protesting I
her religion, could have imagined design q
so desperately wicked, and by their crimes ,
brought obIoquy and shame on the anof- $
lending members of their own faith. {
When it was asserted that Ralph Max
we'll was connected with the conspiracy, q
George SeIby behaved as brave man 7
'hould, and stoutIy maintained The inno- c
'ence Of his absent relative. His dcyotio1 q
o his bride was tender and respectful, and o
uch as her birth and beauty demanded $
md though he observed with pain striking :
iteration in her manner, never for mo- d
neni did he permit his own regard to APP
'car nbated. ~
On the tweIfih-night according to the nb- q
ient usage ofthe SeIbys. all that was dis =
lnguished in the north Of Cumberland had Z
ssembIed in the castle hall. Noble rs was }