Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-01-08
From Ike Trenton Emporium.
THE BROKEN VOW.
A VILLAGE TALE.


4But, let the world say what twill,
Though sorrows may awhile intrude,
Fair wisdom's voice is faithful still,
Still, to be blest, is--to be good"
"He will not come to night" said
Emma, rs she looked out of her cham
Der window on the still and depopula-
ted streets, and saw the dark rain
clouds gathering in the sky; "he will
not come to night is past his hour;
ah, he did not use to be SO careful a
bout the weather but will not indulge
in disqlietui, he has promisedn-
The word del upon her lips, she re-
collected tae coidness-the tone ofam-
biguity, with which that promise had
sbeea repeated, When Theodore last
visited her, aad in cenfu,ed and EN-
karrassed nj amer, though with much
parade OF his regret aud disappoint-
ment, assured her it would be imposs-
bic for him to conform to his engage
rient, and m AIRY her at the time ap
pointed. She remembered, how her
heart sunk within her at the moment,
AMI the strange, mysterious sentiment
that crossed her mind. That then, for
the first time, she thought then how
bitter a thing must be disappointed
love for the first time felt the force
of remark, which she had SO often
heari
@sfen's vows are brittle things"
Sill, the natu.al buoyancy Of her
spirits forbade her to despoad. True,
he hal broken his FIRST engagement,
buthe had represented to her the i'm
perious necessity Of the measure, and
she had acquiescedin it. True, he had
not fixed tne more distant period; he
had left the final hour indefinite, but
she hal his promise; had his oath; she
would rot believe him unfaithful; she
could not believe him perjured. At
last, after an absence of a week which
seemed to her year, he visited the
house again; he once more mingled
with the smiling family circle; he
seemed the same he had always been,
and she was happy. But he retired be-
fore the ia My: this cost her nights
rest; it was not his usual manner, and
she wondered why, al this particular
time. he should have so much more
business than usual. Sill, she endea-
voucel to put the M ost favourable con-
struction upon every thing; she .trove
to acquit him in her heart.
Bat love has eagle eyes, and, from
their p ercin vigilance, duplicity must
be coupled with most consummate art,
il sh, would avoid detection. Emma
was caressed by large circle of &C
quaiatances, and Theodore was also a
favoarite; in parties they frequently
came to gether, and there, when the
spirits are up, and all reserve thrown
off, the heart unmasls itself. There
Theodore often forgot his caution, and,
not only abated his usual display of par
TALLY for Emma, but lavished his fond
ness on another. The generous girl
forgave him until forgiveness became
crime committed against her heart
She resolved to lead a more secluded
life, and in prosecuting her resolve, she
soon found ample evidence of what she
most feared Hisvisits grew less and
less frequent until, at length, they were
discontinued altogether
Woman like, in the deepest of hei
sorrows she retired, as ii were, within
herself, and secure in the confidence
that not even her nearest relatives o,
friends knew any thing of her disap,
pointment, she nursed her grief in Sc
cret, and put on a smile as sweet, if no
as gay, before the world. But heroical
ly as she played this new and deceptive
part, her feelings gradually obtained
the victory over her frame: she pineC
and pined away, day after day; Gh,
saleness of departed heath bleacheC
her young cheek, and she roved in tn,
Stiffness of the evening, among tn,
tombs of her IA theirs in the chureh-yard
like thin shadow of the past None
knew her grief, but he who was it
cause; and he shuddered at the ruin h,
had male.
Her friends perceived with concer
fac rapid decay of her health, and a
the family had some relatives in Der
'Enuda, they resolved TO send her there