The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 3, November, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
He took the little orphan to his home, and in her found the object he
had sought. Upon her he lavished all his bounty--bestowed upon her the
best education the capabilities of the country afforded--and at a
proper age, placed her in an eligible seminary in the city of ----,
whence indeed, at the time of Heywood's first interview with her, she
had just returned.--Perhaps the disposition of Miss Willis--that of
great sweetness with very little energy or passion, was particularly
calculated to win upon such a man as Heywood. Himself all passion,
burning with the consciousness of uncommon powers, urged into action by
the ever goading stimulus of a brain that teemed with strong and
beautiful thought,--now breaking out into commanding eloquence--now
running over with sparkling wit,--it was enjoyment to him to find
repose in another. His mind self taxed to its utmost limit, was
refreshed, and soothed, and solaced by the calm and even purity which
dwelt within that form of intoxicating loveliness. Perhaps with persons
constituted like Heywood, the same ardor of passion might be exhibited
towards any object, "in whose fresh cheek" they might "meet the power
of fancy;" perhaps their glowing temperament would vest with beauty
both of mind and person, those who to common eyes had nothing to
distinguish them. Be this as it may, it is certain that he loved Miss
Willis, deeply, devotedly, ardently--with tender delicacy and with
manly passion. Whether his feelings were reciprocated by her, to the
extent of which she was capable, it is not for me to say: that secret
lies within her own bosom. Heywood thought so. He was constant in his
attentions to her, which seemed to be well received, and were certainly
encouraged by Willis. The only annoyance Heywood experienced, arose
from his feelings towards the latter. Greater familiarity with his
character had not, it is true, increased his abhorrence of it; perhaps
it had diminished it;--for as the visual eye becomes accustomed to look
without winking upon the disgusting and even the terrible, so does the
mental, and sad to say, the constant recurrence of deeds of vice,
lessens the sense of detestation which they at first inspired. But
there was something very galling to his pride, in the idea of
connecting himself in so close a manner with Willis as he must
necessarily do, if he married his daughter; only his adopted daughter,
it is true: but still in no action that could evince a parent's
fondness and a parent's care, had he been wanting to her--and he was
unquestionably entitled to a full return of that affection that might
be looked for from a properly disposed child; and as certainly did he
receive it from Miss Willis, whose respectful love for him was without
stint or measure. The struggle between pride and passion, seldom
eventuates in favor of the former, particularly where our feelings are
uninfluenced by the effect our actions may produce upon the minds of
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