Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-07


the calm, cold, calculating, and brutal
seducer. The starving poyerty-stricken
wretch who steals loaf of bread, may
be excused. The dishonest tradesman
who seeks to deflaud his enemy of his
superfuous trash ray be punished in a
very little while with pain equal TO his
crime, as the injury they have wrought
may be repaired: but who can brighten
the ruin Of female honor; who can pre-
vent the tears which gush from her
Shrinking eyes, or bid back the rose
which has fled for ever from her cheek;
hope has departed from her bosom; and
memory, as She roams in the visionary
world of departed time, and hovers
trembling over scenes of purity and
and love, never TO be repeated or Ie-
called, only gathers a gloom more
horrible TO brood over the utter deSola.
ton Of fond woman's broken heart
These are tie sentiments of honor,
springing up from the idea Of God,
and receiving their whole value fsom his
approysgSmiIe. But Harry Ransom
knew no God! In the wlfulncss of his
soul be had turned from his Maker, and
the beneht Of heavens appreciation was
no longer his.
A few companions in a neighboring
village had persuaded him to accompany
them 10 New York, promising him as
much money as be wanted, large sums
of which he had already received. AL
lured by this temptation, and having no
opposing principle to act against it, he
had agreed TO set off on this night; but
not without Elizabeth Worthington.--
For the purpose of winning her as
companion OF his precarious journey he
had invited her to walk, and now he led
her far from the village, towards deep
forest
His first object was to poison her
mind with has impious opinions. Warily
did he proceed in this delicate underta-
king now venturing smile OF reli-
sious remark then sinug and sheer
and then he launched forth with all
Ire eioquence of bis energetic mind
I'LL the timid girl was almost spelI-bound
in the fascination of his words. With
he cuhiag the subtillest ensnarer,
he opened more and more of his ideas
as he proceeded, and at last permitted
ler to behold the depths of his religion,
and the daring impiety Of his soul
with volubility which surpassed him
self, he unfolded his secret thoughts,
and striving to win a companion along
MS gloomy way of unbelief. At first
she was stunned. A new and horrible
world was opened to her mind, of
which before she had no concep-
lion. So ingenious had been his ar
that for moment they en-
twined themselves around her soul,
and dragged it down into dark abyss
Of despair, as some wreathing serpent
will bind ,its ponderous and loaihsome
folds around beautiful woman, as it
sei1es her convulsed in its nauseous en-
brace. She stood moment with va
cant eye, COMPOUNDED in his snares--
but it was for moment only. As Alex
ander cut the gordian knot he could not
otherwise unite, so did she with the SUI
perior power of right b eak the bands
from which she could not otherwise dis
entangle herself And now did she stand
before her God as serene and devoted
as ever. She had gazed upon the moon,
which was already sailing in the ocean
of night, and tie stars all so brilliant in
their reflected glory. She thought of
the sky as it had appeared little while
since, and from the innermost receSses
of her heart she acknowledged that
there as, there mast be d God. As she
recovered her calmer senses she heard
the breeze murmuring among the foliage
around, and the discoFdant shrek of
some distant owl resounded through the
Still forest In the romance of her young
mind she could almost imagine that the
former was the music of good spirits
whispering joy for her escape, and that
the latter was be disappointed yell of
some malignai-derson, who had vainly
fingered in his dark career to triumph
over the destruction of happy SOUL
She answered his impotent attempt with
a firm voice, little tremulous perhaps
at the delusion of the man she loved.
"Henry-Henry!-you are impious-
you have made me so! On what have
done!"
"You have dared, my dear girl, 10
think for yourself, and to prove your
over the rest of your sex"
''les, Henry, J have thought for my
self. and Ireiulce that | have been able