, 1842-09-17

PNSt III tilOSe NOluS Will Tx
had designed for 50 contrary an ell
feet. He strove by the expression
OF that respect with which this digni'
fled course had truly inspired him, to
remove the impression that he had
been guilty Of breach Of courtesy.
Whether the interest excited by first
impressions was TIE cause of his cul-
uivating an acquaintance thus begun,
or that he had already formed the
ab%ominable design. which he after
wards confessed, is known only TO
Him who juSseth in secret. Certaia
i IS, that hs became>R suitt for len
regard, which he was mildly though
firmly assured could only be won by
conduct far different from his. He
persisted however, until he received
a repulse, rendered by his importuni-
ty, more stern than the natural mild
ness of her disposition would have
dictated; but less severe than his sub
sequent conduct showed him worthy
to receive. But he had committed
himself in the eyes Of the community,
and pride, and that high sense OF his
own powers, which the gratulations
of friends, (and perhaps a slight pecu-
liarity in his own p%henologE) caused
him to entertain, came in to dictate
his course. Was he, the talented,
proud, and gifted -, to have the
name of this? Should it be said that
his manners had failed to engage, his
~eloquence to pursuade; should the eff
forts of his lofty Powerless
before the prudd rs of a young
girl? Should genius car-
ry of the prize f6s winch he had os-
tensiily entered the listsl This
would never do; and he resolved iea
compass Heaven and earth TO wipe
away the insinuation agaln1 Ecs
power ofhis address. He continued
his visits where be had been earheyt-
ly requested, and at length positively
commanded not TO appear. He
swore TO her and others, that she
should never marry any other than
himself-that as for one whom he
supposed a rival, he would put an end
10 his life before he should receive
the hand for which he himself sued.
At the same time he continued to
plead with an elosaence worthy OF a
better cause, which he knew, well
knew how to command, the strength
and purity Of his passion, whilst he
reviled her name. in many Of the
drunken brawls in which 1t was his
WON'T to engage. He illuminated her
character, and assaIled her fair name.
but could not give credence to the
stories which he originated. An an
onvmous letter aimed at her reputa-
ton appeared about this time; but
though he to whom it was addressed.
was either weak or malicious enough
to exhibit it, few were found TO pol
lutte their lips by a repetition of its
contents, and none 50 silly as TO be-
lieve them. Whether our hero had
any hand in this, was not publicly
known; but he was her only known
enemy, unless it were some shadow
of his actions and echo Of his opin-
ions.
Still good and holy men were num-
bered among his friends. Some were
charmed with the power of bis elo-
quence, and others kindly attributed
all his errors to his unfortunate habits
of intemperance, upon which they
with sad regret; thinking less
of the c~riminality than the misfor-
tune of a course, that seemed about
to blast the opening blossoms of his
youthful mind. They thought too,
that he was on the first heights Of cart
" fame, and when he had Worn off
the giddiness thus induced, he would
walk with "a frmer step, and in a
path. Subsequently. he
abandoned, with noble firmness, these
and the hopes Of his friends
were more sanpIine than ever. But