Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-01-01

she will not be here long but take TO
the play-room and amuse her, while !
make inquiries about her parents
Al'inquires, however, proved IN
satisfactory week after week passed
without alfordiDg any clue to the Dys
terry. Meantime, the articss lnaIners
Of The child won upon the affections
Of the family. DO one was more in
tere:ted in the founding than Frank,
VINO looked upon her as his peculiar
property, and treated her with the
important Kindness OF a patron. When
a month had elapsed, it become neccs
sary to determine the future destiny OF
the deserted child. Frank vas admit
ted to the consultation held OH the sub
jet, and strehuouSly voted for her re-
manning with them.
| Il always wanied sister he urged
'and Bella is just like one , and | am
never lonesome now, as used to be.
Besides, who will take care of her if
we don't how would yol like it if /
was 70 be served so , AS Mrs. B.
inc..led to Franks side, it was deci
| ded that Bella should remain in the ia.
m;ly, and receive an education which
would fit her for The middle walk OF
life, without raising her wishes to a
station superior TO her claims. This
Iprudent course, however, was coun.
teracted by Franks partiality, and
Mrs BIS conviction that the
child was of good parentage; as proof
| OF which she urged the fineEess of her
clotling-her delicate style of beauty,
/ and extreme gentleness and refinement
of manner Thus favored by Mrs
LB--and her nephew, and gradu
Tally securing the affection OF her bene-
factor, Bella grew up, and was treated
as cherished daughter OF the house.
| II was seven years after the adycn
ture in the grove, Bella was thirteen,
and Frank had already passed three
years at couege,) when, one evening
during his vacation, they wandered
through the wood where Bella had
lost and regained her hooking bird
AS. Frank for the thousandth time re
lated every particular OF the scene.
Bella said, where could have wan,
dered from ? 1t is strange replied
her companion, no one for ten miles
round could give us the least insorma
ten yet said Bella, in e mosing
tone, Il have an indist;nct remem-
brance of some other home; often /
dream of it, and esabrace my parents
Do you in your sleep see their fea
mresf Frank inquired
AS plainly as / beheld yours she an
swered; and continuing in serious
nianner-It is three years since you
first left US; | was then a thoughtless
child but as grew older, the singu-
larty OF my situation struck me more
iorcibly. and | have often walked
Through this grove, endeayoring to re-
collect the scenes from which | had
wandered. Three images are impressed
on my memory: my father, tall dark
man my mother, pale and sorrowful
woman and negro, who watched
over me with the tenderest care. These
Iecoilections have sometimes thought
were dreams, excited by much uneasi-
ness and conjecture-but would thew
always recur alike And besides, you
will call me weak, but one Of these f.
cures has appeared TO me-
What can you mean. Bella'
lit was but week since | was here
alone it was broad daylight, when a
rustllng among the trees made me turn
round, and-Oh Frank, | saw that
same blackman-he looked at me with
out speaking, and went away AS she
spoke, sic caught Franks arm, and
trembled with agitation.
| TWAS your imagination
No, no his features are too rcnar-
kable TO he mistaken; feared to tell
your father ; and your mother is not
well enough to be troubled with my sor-
rows
Some days after this conversation.
Frank proposed a ramble, and they
bent their steps to the favorite grove.
They had just sat down on the root OF
large tree, when Bella, with an exclama-
ton of surprise, darted into the wood.
and caught the arm of a person who was
retreating; overcome by intense feeling,
she would have fallen, had not the man
supported her, and Frank approaching
observed that be was a negro. lie did
not see the youth, but incurred bitterly
over Bella.
Il have killed my mistress he ex-