Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-07-30

quarter OF an hour from The tihe VI
tryal. give me the oaths and prom,
ises you mentioned out OF your bosom,
Sarah, that | may show them to Ga
briel when he comes. And once more
promise, by ali the sunny and the
snowy days we have sat together' IN
the same plaid on the hillside, or IN
the lonesome charcoal plots. and nests
O. green in the woods, that II my ga
briel,-did | say my Gabriel?-has
forsaken you and deceived me thus,
never shall his lips touch mine again,
never shall he put ring on my finger,
never shall this head lie in his bosom,
no, never, never; Notwithstanding
all the happy, 100 happy hours and
DAYS | have been with him, near, or at
a distance,-on the corn.rig,-among
the meadow-hay,-in the singing.school,
at harvest-home.-in this room, aud
in Gods own house So help me God +,
but will keep this vow!'
Poor Sarah told, ip a few hurried
words, the story of her love and deser-
tion--how Gabriel, whose business as
a shepherd often took him into Mon
trath parish, had wooed her. and fixed
every thing about their marriage, near
ly year ago. But that he had become
causelessly jealous of young man
whom she scarcely knew; had accused
her of want of virtue, and for many
months had never once come to see her.
This morning, for the first time, |
heard, for certainty, from one who
knew Gabriel we'll and all his concerns,
that the banus had been proclaimed in
the church between him and you and
that, in day or two, you were 10 be
married. And though felt drowning,
/ determined to make struggle for my
Gfe-for Obi Mary, Mary, my heart is
not like your heart; it wants your wis
dom, your meekness, your piety and
if am to lose Gabriel. will destroy
nv miserable life, and face the wrath
of God sitting in judgment upon sim
ners."
At this burst Of passion Sarah hid
her face with her hands, as if sensible
that she had committed blasphemy.--
Mary, seeing her wearied, hungry,
thirsty, and feverish, spoke to her in
the most soothing manner; led her in
to the little parlour called the Spence,
then removed irso it the table, with
the oaten cakes, butter and milk and
telling her to take some refreshment,
and then lie down on the bed, but on no
account to leave the room till called
for, gave her ssterly kiss and left her.
In few minutes the outer door opened,
and Gabriel entered
The lover said, How is my sweet
Mary ?" with a beaming countenance
and gent y drawing he' to his bosom,
he kissed her cheek. Mary did not
could not-wished not-at once to re-
lease herself from his enfolding arms.
Gabrie! had always treated her as the
woman who was 10 be his wife. and
though at this time her heart knew It's
own bitterness, yet she repealed not en-
dearments that were so lately delight
full, and suffered him to take her almost
in his arms to their accustomed seat.
He held her hand in his and began to
speak in his usual kind and affectionate
language. Kind and affe tionate it was,
for though he ought not to have done
so, he loved her, as he thought, better
than his life. Her heart could not, in
one small short hour, forget whole
year of bliss. She could not yet fling
away with her own hands what, only
few minutes ago, seemed to her the
hope of Paradise. Her soul sickened
within, and she wished that she were
dead, or never had been born.
90 Gabriel! Gabriel! we'll indeed
have | loved you; nor will | say, after
all that has passed between US, that you
are not deserving, after all. of a better
love than mine Vain were it to deny
my love either to you, or to my own
soul. But look me in the face-be not
wrathful-think not to hide the truth
either from yourself or me, for that
now is impossible, but tell me solem.
ly, as you shall answer to God at the
Judgment day, if you know any reason
why | must not be your welded wife ?"
She kept her mild moist eyes fixed upon
him; but he hung down his head, and
uttered not a word for he was guilty be.
fore her, before his own soul, and before
God
Gabriel, never could we have been
happy for you often told me, that all
the secrets Of your heart were known
unto me, yet never did you tell me this.
How could you desert the poor inno-