The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-05-22
SELECTED TALES.
From the Metropolitan Magazine.
THE BROKEN MINIATURE.
FOUNDED ON FACT.

Two young officers belonging to tht
same regiment aspired to the hand of th,
same young lady. We will conceal thei
real names under those of Albert and Hor.
ace. Two youths more noble never saw
the untarnished cOlors of their country
, wave over their heads, or took more uu.
daunted hearts into the field, or purer forms
or more polished address, into drawing
room.
Yet thero was a marked difference ia
their characters, and each wore his virtues
so becominsly, and one of them at less
concealed his vices so becomingly also, tha,
the maiden who saw them both, was puz-
zled where to give the preference; and
stood, as it were, between two flowers OF
very opposite colors and perfumes, and ye,
each of equal beauty. Horace, who wa,
: the superior officer, was more commanding
IN his figure than, but not SO beautiful in
his features as Albert. Horace was the
more vivacious, but Albert spoke with more
eloquence upon all subjects. If Horace
made the more agreeable companion, Al
bert made the better friend. Horace did
not claim the praise Of being sentimental
nor Albert the fame of being jovial. Hor.
ace was the more nebly born, yet Alber,
had the better fortune, the mind tina, could
acquire, and the circumspection that could
preserve one.
Whom of the two did Matilda prefer
Yes she had secret, an underlined prefer
ence, yet did her inclination walk so sister
ly hand in hand with her other duties, tha,
her spotess mind could not divide them
from each other. She talked the more of
Horace, YET thought the more of Albert
As yet neither Of the aspirauts had declar-
ed themselves. Sir Oliver, Matilda's faith
er, soon pnt the matter to rest. He had
his private and family reasons for wishing
Horace to be her favorite lover; but ms III
by no means wished TO lese to himself an,
to his daughter the valued friendship Of
man Of probity and honor, he took deli
cate method Of letting Albert understand
that every thing he possessed, his grounds
his house and all that belonged to them
was at his service. He excepted only hi
daughter.
When the two soldiers called, as they
were in the habit of doing together, Sit
Oliver had always some dog for him to ad.
mire, or some horse for him to try ane
even in wet weather, there was never want.
ing a manuscript for him to decipher, SC
that he was sure to take him out of the
room, or out of The house, and leave Hor.
ace alene with his daughter, sttcring some
dsparaging remark in q jocular tone, to
the effect that Horace was fit only to dance
attendance upon the ladies. Albert under.
stood all this, and submitted. He did moi
strive to violate the rites of hospitality, to
seduce the affections Of the daughter, and
outrage the feelings of the father. lie wa,
pie of beauty, and under pretence of wor.
shipping at the shrine, to destroy it,
A commonplace lover might have done
so, but Albert had no common place mind
But did he not suffer; o that he suffered
and suffered acutely, his altered looks, his
heroic silence, and at times his forced
gaiety too plainly testified. He kept hi.
fame in the ininost recessses Of his heart,
like a lamp in sepulchre, and which light.
ed up the ruin of his happiness alone.
To his daughter, Sir Oliver spoke more
explicitly. Her affections, had not been
engaged and the slight preference that
she began to feel stealing in her heart for
Albert had its nature changed at once.
When che found that he could not ap-
proach her as u lover, she found to spring
up for him in her b1som a regard as sister
I ly, and as ardent, as il the snme cradle had
rocked them both. She felt, and her father
knew, that Albert was character that
must be loved, If not as husband, as q
brother.
The only point on which Matilda differ
ed with her father, was as to the degree ol
encouragement that ought to be gwen to
Horace. Let US, my dear father she
would entreatingly say, be free at least for
one year Let us for that period, stand
committed by no engagement we are both
young, myself extremely SO. A pcssan,
maiden would lay longer probation upon
her swain. Do but ask Albert if an, no,
in the rightr
The appeal which she made to Albert,
which ought to have assured her father Of
the purity Of her sentiments, frightened him
into suspicion Of n lurking affection hay
ing crept into her bosom.
Affairs were at this crisis when Napoleon
returned from EIba, and burst like the de-
mon Of war, from thunder cloud, upon
the plains Of France; and all the warike,
and the vslorous srose and walled him in with
their veteran breasts. The returned hero
lifted up his red right hand, and the united
force Of France rushed with him to battle.
The regiment Of our rivals was ordered
to Belgium. After many enireatics from
her father, Matilda at length consented to
sit for her miniature TO an eminent artist I;
but upon the express, stipulation, when il
should be given 10 Horace, that they were