Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

A FRAGMENT.

Keen blew the wind o'er a waste of snow, when, with vagrant step, and wildly gazing eye, the injured outcast, Delwin, misery's helpless child, heedless of danger careless of life, rushed amidst the terrors of a trackless plain. The world, even highly prized society he fled, tortured by unkindness, perfidy & ingratitude, from those he once loved and trusted. Despair took possession of his soul, and reflection bred distraction.

The cutting blasts of the north scattered the auburn locks that adorned his manly brow, while from the tongue so late all persuasive in eloquence, dropped the incoherencies of a mind lacerated to an eminent degree of anguish. Chill are your winds stern winter,' he cried; 'but not half so chill as the hapless blast of misfortune. Yours but reach the corporeal feelings; her's with tenfold severity strike deep into the mental ones.

Yet had my Ella, faithless, but still beloved, had she, when the black frown of displeasure sat on an angry parent's brow (pardon him, blessed Redeemer!) bitter curse was invoked on my head; dashing me from the height of happiness down the precipice of misery, but welcomed the disowned Delwin, who for her incurred the malediction of his father, still might I have derived some small portion of comfort from the conviction of her constancy. But Ella loved the fortune, not the man. Now, torturing thought! my false friend, and happy rival, revels in bliss; for his. is their wedding day!"

Utterance became painful; wildly he trod the way he had passed, till tired nature demanded a respite. No longer from his eyes beamed the fire which had illumined them. Cold, pale, and benumbed, yet almost unconscious, he continued to walk, till streaming from the window- of a stately mansion, innumerable lights burst on his astonished sight. From the dusky gloom of twilight, to the blaze of an artificial day, was a wondrous change to his visual sense. With a fixed stare he regarded the noble edifice, while a pillar, round whose base the snow had drifted, supported his body almost sinking from the combined effects of the weather, & inward anguish. Some confused idea of having been familiar with the scenes before him, crowded his mind; but ere he could recollect when, a train of melody enchained his attention. Agile forms, decorated with the spoils of the ostrich. &c. tripped with light steps past the windows. Loud peals of laughter reached his ears; and pleasure seemed to reign arbitrary over all, save the sad, sad heart of Delwin. A being, superior to the rest, engaged all his powers of observation. The gems of foreign climes sparkled about her; an arm, white as the snow below was drawn through, a man's at her side, who with delight appeared to dwell on her looks.

They stopped, when suddenly Delwin uttered a cry of agony. My Ella! he exclaimed, (vainly stretching forth his arms,) 'my Ella, my affianced bride!!' A smile of complacency irradiated the countenance of the beauteous girl; her companion pressed her to his bosom.

Madness!' cried the wanderer. 'Wilford too! False perjured woman!—Unworthy William! From my heart, even my memory, I forever exclude ye,

Still he looked, and still were they in sight. A magnificent carriage advanced to the gate, against a pillar of which Delwin leaned. 'Beggar, make room!' said a pampered hireling. The poor youth glanced his eye over the equipage. There, in all the pomp of pride, sat the father of the Beggar;' the haughty vindictive Baron Delwin

Why does the fellow stand there?' vociferated the Peer. Father, gasped the poor convulsed Delwin, 'She's there—but not for me. You, false William—my forgiveness—Oh, Ella— pardon—all every thing. The vital current ceased to flow; misery had its victim; and in innocence and virtue, the soul of Delwin fled to its Savior and its God.

FOS. GRAY,