New-York daily tribune., 1843-05-23
From Graham's Magazine FOR Jan-
81 Storp I AM inclined to Belie0e.
By n. +. WILLIS.


yeed, and leaving a servant to make arrange
menta for their lodging. linked arms and stro}lct
up the road toward the banks of the Lima. The
moon was chequered at the moment with the
poised leaf of tree.top, and as it passed from
her face, she rose and stood alone in the el-buc
Of the uncloudcd Heavens-a luminous and tre-
mulous plate of gold. And you know how beau.
tiful must have been the night-a June night IN
Italy, with moon al the full
A lady, with servant following her at little
distance, passed the travellers on the bndge OF the
Lima. She dropped her veil and went by in 81
lence But the Frcvhcrr felt the arm of his friend
trcmble within his own.
Do you know her, then ?" asked Won Leistcn.
"By the thrill in my veins we have met be-
FORE" said Clay; but whether this involuntary
sensation was pleasu-able or painful, have not
yet decided. There are none | care to meet
none who can be here" He added the last few
words after moments pause, and sadly.
They walked in silence TO the base of the
mountain, busy each with such coloring as the
moonlight threw on their thoughts, but neither of
them was happy.
Clay was humane and lover OF nature--a poet,
that il to say-and in world so beautiful, could
never be prey to disgust; but he was satiated
with the common emotions of life. His heart,
forever overiowing, had filled many cup with
love, but with strange tenacity he turned back
forever to the first. Hc was weary of the begin
nings Of love-wcary Of its probations and
changes He had passed that period Of life when
Inconsistency was tempting. He ionged, now, ior
an affection that would continue into another
world--holy and pure enough to pass gate guard
ed by angels. And his first love-rccklcssy as
he had thrown 1t away-was now the thirst OF his
existence.
1t was two o'clock that night. The moon lay
broad upon the southern balconies Of the hotel,
and every easement was open to its luminous and
fragrant stiffness. Clay and the Freyhcrr Won
Leisen, each in his apartment, were awake, un-
willing to lose the luxury ofthc night. And there
was one other under that rooi, waking, with her
eyes fixed on the moon.
AS Clay leaned his head on his hand, and
looked outward to the sky, his heart began to be
troubled. There was point in the path of the
moons rays where his spirit turned back. There
was ali influence abroad III the dssolving moon
light around him which resiStlcssIy awakened the
past-the sealed but uniorgotten past. lie could
not single out the emotion. He knew no, whether
it was fear or hopc--pain or pleasure. He called
through the open window, to Won l.eisten
The FrcyhcYr, like himself, and like all who
have outlivcd the eAcrvescencc Of life, was enam-
ored of the night. A moment OF untathomahlc
moonlight was dca1er to HIM than hours dlsen-
chantcd with the He, too, had been look
ing outward and upward-but with no trouble at
his heart.
The night is inconcevahly sweet" he said,
as he entered, "and your voicc called IN my
though. and sense from the intoXicutlon OF revel.
What would you my friend ~
an restless, Won teiStsn. There Is some
one near US whose glances cross nnne on the
moonlight, and agitate and perpieN me. Yet
there is but one on earth deep enough IN the hte
blood of my being to move me thns--evcn were
she here And she is rot here ~
His voice tren,blcd and soitened, and the last
word was scarcely audible on his closing lips, for
the Frcyherr had passed his hands over him
while he spoke, and hc had fallen INTO the trance
of the spirit-worll.
Clay ana Won LeiStcn had retired from the ac
tive passions of life together, and had met anI;
mingled a, that monent OF void and thirst when
each supplied the want of the other. The Frey
herr was German noble, OF character pas
sionatcly poetic and OF singular requirement IN
the mystic fields Of knowledge. Too wealthy TO
need labor, and too proud to submit his thoughts
or his attainmentS TO the criticism or judgement
of the world he aviShed on his own HE, und on
chose linked 10 hun IN friendship. the strange
powers he had acquired. and the proGissl over
flow of his daily thought and feeling. Clay was
his superior, perhaps, in genius, and necessity
had driven INN to develop the type OF his inner
soul, and leave its impress on the time but he
was interior to Won Leisen IN the power of will,
and he lay In his control like 3 child in It's mo-
ther's, -Four years they had passed together
much OF il IN the secluded castle Of Won I.cSten,
busted with the occult studies 10 which the Frey
herr was secretly devoted--but travelling down 10
Italy TO meet the luxurious summer. and dividing
their lives between the enjoyment OF nature ana
the ideal world they had unlocked. Won Laistsn
had lost, by death, the human altar on which his
heart could alone burn the incense Of love, and
Clay had t!ung aside in an hour of intoxicated
passion the one pure affection in which his hsp-
piness was sealed-and both were dcSollie. But
in the world Of the past, Won Leisien. though
more irrevocably lonely, was more TRANQUILITY
blcst.
/: The Freyhcrr released the en,ranced spin, Of
his friend, and bsde him follow back the rays Of
the moon 10 the source OF his agitation
s,nile crep; slowly over the sleeper's bps.
In an apartment flooded with the silver lrstrc
OF the night, reclned, in an invald's char, prop
ped with pillows, woman of singular, though
most fragile beauty. Eooks anG music lay s;rewn
around, and lamp, sabdued 10 the tone OF the
moonlight BY an orb OF aiahaster, burned beside
her. She lay bathing her blue eyes in the round
cha!ce of the moon. A profusion OF brown ring.
lets fell over the white dress that enveioped her,
and hsr oval cheek lay supported on the palm OF
her hand, and her bright red lips Were parted
The pure yet passionate spell of that soft nigh,
possessed her
Over he. leaned the disen,bodied spirit OF him