The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1841-01-06
SELECTED TALES.
THE FIRST BRIEF.
BY MRS. coRNwLL BARON WILSON,
icosrlNUEDl !


Moraud's guilty passion had been like =
, droam, sudden, wild, and evanescent; il was
, npPed in the very bud, destroyed ere II hsd
fastened itself upon his heart too iudelibly 10
be torn away without a scar. Accident had
done shis, which perhaps had more Of fastidi.
business than romance connected with it: but
Morland's wayward character was not overned
by the stock ideas Of the romancist, and al
though the precepts of the moralisl were c.
qually undeserVing Of the credit of the change
yet he felt his heart lighter at having abandon.
ed pursuit which could only have led to dis
honor and disgrace.
Murray had been his old and well tried friend
he had heard indeed Of the dark circ rcumstances
connected with his union the whirl of the
werld had weakened many of his former feel
ings, aud he had been csptivsted into delrum
Of love by one of the loveliest and most cacina-
ting OF her sex-but the spell almos, without an
effort had been dissolved, and new object il
il did not equally I'll his heart at least equally
engaged his attention. Old sympathies we're
reviving in his bosom, and Morland almost
torgo, that Maria had ever stood 10 any other
relation towards him than that Of the wife of
his friend. Yet he was far from being happy.
Shutting his eyes to all that had lately in!lu-
encd him, he slrove by every means in his pow
er to renew his acquaintance with Lucy, whose c
singular aversion to his society only made him
! the more anxious TO be received with the cor
diality Of former years; he knew not the cause
Of her repugnancc. il was another riddle which
/ puzzled him TO solve. His friends observed
the change which had Of late taken place in his
manner, anu rallied him upon it but il was
from cause which could not be explained ;
and even Maria herself, although too proud TO
droop at such an event, WAS more surprised
than mortified at so sudden a reyulson of feel.
ing.
But Maria had tampered with a scorpion
Two months were now passed, and Sir W,nd.
ham had inperceptLly acquired an influence
over her which her utmost efforts could not
shake of. His insensibiny to her sights, bis
patience 10 all her caprices, and his perfect de-
voton TO her most trivial wish his almost inu .
tive knowledge Of her character, aud correct
dNnatIon Of her best concealed designs com
manded in spite OF herself, the proud beauiy's
attention; and almost she began TO admire a
character, in many respects akin TO her own.
4 ltwas bright June day, and large snnes-
trlan party rode out from Dotville Park, the
seat Of the gay Countess Of that name. And
here too, first in grace and beauty, was Maria
She sat her high -blooded horse with the fear.
lessness of an accustomed horse woman, and
the natural elegance which attended her mosr
trivial act. Her finely moulded figure neve,
appeared TO more advantage than when on
horseback, while the rich blush that mantled
on her cheek, and the excitement that spark led
ia her wild Jetty eyes might have persoui6ed
the ialrest creation Of a poets dream. Sin
Wyndham Fletcher, as usual had attached
himself to her side. Their conversation ap.
peared 10 become more interesting to both, fur
they soon drew birdie and walked their horse,
over the smooth velvet turf
Then you say, or rather you think.
Maria turning her eloquent eyes to his. thu
the worlds maXIms as rules Of life are wrong
| do
They a, least have prudence on their side
To those who 60 through life with no bet.
ter guides than the crsmped maxims OF limited
experience, but to higher INDUS they are worth.
less. They are all isolated, their wisdom is
pe,hdps correct IN the aggregate, but IN iudl.
vidual application 1t IS wrong thousand times
And YET resumed Maria, such as the
world is. We are obliged to live IA 1t; aud II Is
rs we'll TO do so under favor OF It's laws
And raise temple 10 the sober virtue ol
moderation. 1t has d subl'mIty no doubt, but
like all other sublime things. ennui follows n
us tram. Passion and ambition these quicker
impulses OF the heart, laugh at the cold marble
image which the grave world wonhip,, and
crown theirvery sIns with laurel
All. passion and do you, the man ef the
world--ths gambler ia all LIES hazzsrds-tb,
eooI-headed, calculating man OF pleasure
what can you tell Of passionr
This nuch,' said he, looking keenly =, her
tins much the confirmation Of an old saying
that when the heart !, aeta,ed by the rcinain'
Of a passion, 20 matter whether one Of conques
or one Of love, 1t is more susceptible Of new
one than when entirely at rest.
Mara blushed-for the first time since NO.
manhood. Il do no, misinrerpret your sIIu
sion said she, smiling. and yet II may be
wrong.
The world has maxim Nhieh would snp.
port different belief
Nay, nay. nay, then it is wrong said Mari'
abruptly.
Ny argument i. bns Uanseessay.' replied
Fletcher smiling.