The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-30
rom " Lights and .Skddo,oS Of Scott,
LITE"
THE LOVERS LAST VISIT.

| nlTCn-Woou, seeming 10 lfaNeirfs M us
lance IN the long valley, below, Who knew
II not, To be- Il star in the sky. \ hriSh,
fire was in the Kitchen of that small tcnc-
ment the floor was washed, swept, aud
sandcd, and not Il footstcp had marked is
perfect ncatntss II small table Wis cover
ed near the ingle, with a snow White cloth
on which was placed frugal evening
meal ; and in happy, but penslse mood, sal
there all alone tie Wuodcuittr's only
daughter, comely and gentle creature II
not beau'liul--such an one as difltises plea
sure ro,,ld her in the hay field, and scrcni-
| ~ over the seat IN which she sits attentive
| ~ ON the Sabbath, listening To the word ol
God, or Joining With mellow vince in his
PRAISE apd worship. On this night, she ex-
Pectcd visit from her lover, thai they
plight fix her marriage day aud her pa
rents, satisfied and happy that their child
was about To be welded TO a respectable
shepherd, had gone 10 pay "A visit TO their
nearest neighbour IN the glen.
A feeble and hesitstins knock was heard
at the door, not like the glad and JOY flu
touch of u lovers hand aud cautiously o.
pcnng it, Nary Robinson bcheld a female
figure wrapped up III a black bonnet. The
stranger, whoever she might be, seem, d
wearled and Worn out, and her feet bore
witness to long days travel asross the
marshy mountains. Although she could
scarcely help considering her an unwcl-
come visitor al such an hour, y.i Mary had
too much sweetness of dispostion--too
much humanity, not 10 request her Ia stel,
forward into the hut for il seemed as if TIA.
weMied woman had lost her way, aud haG
come towards the shining window 10 br
put right upon her Journey TO the low coun-
TRY.
The stranger tuck OF her bonnet on
reaching the iirr and Mary Robinson be
held the face oil one Nhrm, IN youth, sh,
had 50 tendcrly loscd--althoug lor som,
years past, the distance at which lhey lived
from each other had Kept them from meet
ing, and only letter or two written III tlrn
simple way, had given them few notice.
ofcach others existence. And now Mary
had an opportunity, IN the first speeches.
| gaze oircoa,qnlion, To mark the altered face
| OF her friend--aad her heart was touched
with an ignorant compassion. For mel-
chy's sake ! ST down, Sarah aud tell me
what evil has botallrn you for You are ~
| white as ghost. Fear moi 10 conlide any
thing 70 my bosom: We have hefdcd
| sheep together on the lonesome braes--wc
have stripped the bari, together in the more
lonesome Woods-we have PLACED laugh
ed, suNs, danced togpthcr--Wc have talked
mcrrlIy and gais, but nnoccntly enough
surely, of sweetllearts togothcr--and Sarah
graycr thoughts, too, have We shared for
I. H..
frosted ilo~es, nept as if had been his
sister nor can ever be so happy in this
world as 10 forget him. Tell mc, my
freud, why are you here? and why is your
| sweet face 81 ghaslly ~
Hhe heart oftiis unexpected visitor died
within her al these klud aud ailetlionatr
inquiries. For she had come ON an GRAND
that Was likely 10 dash the Joy from thnl
happy COuneiauce. Her heart upbraided
her with the mranncss of the purpose for
which she had paid this visit =; bat thai was
only passing thought for was she inno-
cent and free from sin, TO submit, moi onl,
to drsr1lon, bud 10 disgrace, and moi trust
| herself and ll.r wrongs, aud her hopes OF
| redress 10 her whom she loved a5 sister,
aud whose generous nature she well knew,
not even love, the changer Of 50 man,
| things, could change utterly though, in
deed, it might render it colder. ihan vi old
| 10 the anguish Of the female friend
80 Mary, must speak YET must my
words makeyon grleNe, far less for me than
| Tor Yourself Wretch, that am bring
evil tidings into the dwelling of my dearest
| friend These rlbbons--thcy are worn for
| his sake--they become well, as he thinks,
| the auburn of your bonny lialr--'hat blue
gown is worn Tonight because he likes it.
but Mary, will you CURSE me To my face,
when declare before the God thai made
us, that the man is pledged unto me by all
| that is sacred between mortal creatures
aud that have here in my bosom written
promises and oath5 OF love from him who.
| was this morning told, is in few DAYS tn
be your husband, Turn me out of the hut
if YOU choose, and let nv, ii YOU choose, iii,
OF hunger and fatigue, IN the woods where
we have 30 often walked together; FOR such
death would br mercy To me, In compari-
sou with your marriage with him who is
mine forever, il there he God who
heeds the oalhs of the creatures he has
made"
! Mary Robinson had led happy life, but
a life or quiet thoughts, tranquil hopes, aud
meek desirea. Tepder.y and truly did She
love the man 10 whom She was now be-
throthch but II Vas because she had tho'l
him gentle, manly, upright, sincere, and
one that feared God. liIs character was
nIIjnipe her his behaviour had al
ways been fond, aiicctionate, and respect
iul that he was fue looking man, and
could show himself among the bcst OF the
country round at church, and market, and
fair day, she saw and fen with pleasure and
with pride. But in the heart Of this poor,
humble, coniented, and pious girl, love was
not violent passion, but an affection sweet
and profound. She looked forward 10 her
marriage 18th joyful scdateness, knowing
that she would have to toI for her family.
L :.