Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-11-18

, ~''@CtAt9o ilNIltIt VA ~ @''f'sN
the glow on her dear beloved cheek
!ac expression of her eye = all came
back upon his remembrance like VIVID
reality. There are beings in this world
who seem Ia WELD superior quality
over others AN unconscious mage
breathing music in their voice, and
flashing from their eye, speaking in
heir every motion, and fiinginga spell
about their form, that makes them fun
grace, and charms, and LONELINESS, ana
fascination. Caroline c. was one oil
these.
The most admirable object in creation
is an amiabIe and beautiful woman, and
such one was e now about to be part
ed from, for ever and ever. 10 let
millions of ages roll on their long heavy
| way, and yet never, never to see that
beloved object again the thought was
madness, and he would not dwell on It.
lie was thus paying the forfeit OF his
former guilt. and absorbed IN the mise
~ of his present situation, when the
clock struck. INVENT through his heart
like a pointed sword-one by one the
strokes sw led through the Still. air, aad
before the last one had died away on
the ear the arm was raised--the pistol
cooked aud his finger on the trigger.
Horrible thoughts giared across bis soul
as he was about to leap off into thai
iathomless and mysterious guipa OF dim
| and shadow gloom, when a loud shout
Of fire startled him So that the pistol fell
from his hand. Immediately the city
was 10 an uproaf; the bells rang, the
engines ratified furiously along the
| streets, and a vivid stream oil red light
glared upon the sky, announcing thai
| the conflagration was very near. lwii'
perish in the flames, where perhaps
may do some good, thought Harry, "a
he started from the scene, reckless, and
in search of danger and death. The
light was his guide for some time, and
| he held his way the hustle every mo-
| ment increasiag--torches glared around
im--engines Numbered by his side =
sealing ladders and long hooks were
borne nnnoiiced before his face -foras
he approached he dared scarcely to be-
lieve his sight it was the dwelling OF
Caroline c. that was wrapped in
the devouring flames. A hope sprung
up in his bosom that he might be the in
srlnent of saving her. and as he APP
preached nearer, he heard The screams
Of Der mother, that her daughter was
burning to death. The fire had become
SO bot that it was scarcely to be borne
by the retire ating crowd--but as all were
falling back from lis scorching power,
one tall form was observed to detach
itself from the multitude, and plunge
into the flames A female figure. at the
same Instant, appeared at high win
dow, and ladder was immediately aud
successfully raised for her relief. Many
voices we're eAerted for The brave beng
who had ventured inside but nothing
was seen or heard except once. as a
heavy part OF the house fell into ruins,
a loud SIR Il was heard above the crash
of timbers, and lnen mingled with it no
more.
The next day a ucangle1 and scorched
body was dragged from under the ruins,
almost crushed by the heavy weight be-
meath which It had been buried. 1t was
for some time exposed to the public
view; aud the happy school-boy, with
his books under the arm, paused and
shuddered as lie eazed upon it; the cod
hearted joled over the lacerated re-
msins; and Caroline wept when she
read the account in the papers. Bat the
still, cold heart beat not under their
gaze, and it throbbed not with pleasure
now tears were falling from eyes IL
had loved SO we'll. Days passed away,
men continued to pursue their various
occupations; new beings rose up to live,
to love. to hope, and to despair; but
Henry Ransom was no more.
Thus goes the world, compound of
happiness aud anguish--of innocence
and guilt-and thus it will continue to
be till nan has learned to practice as
well as to admire virtue. How strange
is the scene to one who, from "the loop
holes of retreat" looks ont upon the
confusion ofthe human kind--dark vice,
misfortune, passion and despair, min
gle d up with virtue, beauty, and Joy
Our simple tale is from nature, such as
IS yearly acted on the stage of life, ill
time drops his dark curtain, aud the
scene is closed.
The guilty companions of Ransom
fled to foreign place, to sin. and in