Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-09-16

1 az
When the dance was finished, the
young people all crowded around her,
and the bride seemed almost forgotten.
| Wherever she stood she was surround
ed by circle Of admiring listeners, and
she either displayed her tale for con-
versation, her strong mind and great in
| formation in some argument with one oil
! the circle, or her wit and humour in a
J musing discourse and repartees. All
| felt they had never known her before.
and all were equally surprised at the
change in her. The strangers in the
| room were charmed with her, and won
dered how the bridegroom could have
chosen Henrietta when there was such
a delightful creature IN the place. There
were several there that night, who re-
| membered afterwards that Christiana
had followed Virginia round the room,
| wherever she went, looking at her with
o uiuch anxiety expressed ia her coun-
teHance, that they were pu1zed what 10
attribute it to; and there a few who al
| forwards recolecied observing that
heneyer Virginia passed the brlde-
groom, gaiTy smiling and talking; or
when he turned his eyes towards the
spot where she stood, SO brilliant and
lively, charming her auditors with her
wild animation. that he would turn away
with sigh; aud cold shudder seemed
to creep over him.
At the time this excited bat slight sur
prise, but circumstances afterwards
| brought it to their minds Cotlllons
were now called, but as Virginia could
| not dance them, she said she would stand
| by and look on. Christiana had been
prevailed on to Join. and she now took
her place with Wander Dolen. 1t was
not long, however, before she glanced
her eye round the room, and Virginia
was nowhere to be seen. She laid her
hand on her partners arm, herface was
as pale as death
"Guysebert," she said, "you must get
another lady to take my place. must
'ook after Nirginia"-and darling out of
the room before he could ask her any
questions.
The windows of the room onened out
on balcony which ran quite round the
house. Christiana hastily traversed this,
until she came to the opposite end to the
ballroom. The bright moon shone o.
yer half the bal .ony, and left the rest
in dark shade. 1t was all stiffness and
repose here. As Christiana gazcd "a
round, she saw something white in the
dark end beyond her, and darling to-
! wards it, beheld the beautiful, brilliant
Virginia, cold and lifeIess; her clothes
damp with the dew, and the night air
blowing over her. Unwilling to disturb
the company, she ran to the hall and
procured some water and vinegar, with
which she bathed Virginia's hands and
temples, long while before she re-
covered. AT last she revived. and rails
ing herself up, ooked round and said,
"Am here yet? All. when found
myself falling, hoped | should never
rise again. hope it is not sinful to say
wish for now so much as that | couli
close my eyes on this world for ever
and ever. For it is in vain it is in vain!
| cannot f.isn longer. OH my Fathern'
she exclaimed. in a wild, mournful tone,
what have done, that this sorrow and
anguish should fall upon mes Why
should there be so many happy and joy
! full around me, and alone plunged in
the depth of misery? Oh! thou knowest
, how have struggled TO overcome this
! weakness untilmy heart strings are bro
ken"
! Christiana, sobbing, threw her arms
around her, and Sirginia's head rested
on her shoulder
"Oh!'' she continued, in such a low
tone of misery that it went to Christia-
mas heart, lis it not hard to be so soon
forgotten-to be deceived and rejected
where | loved so truly? Christiana, |
left that room because was afraid |
should scream out in the agony of my
feelings, even when stood so smiling
and so gay-but it is worse here, what
a fnghttul calmness there is around 1t
strikes chill on my heart, it is such q
contrast on all that is going on within me,
How immoveabIe those dark trees stand
- not all the sighs in the universe can
stir them. Oh, let's 60, Christiana," she
said, wildly; ooh, think could bear
the noise and happiness of ballroom,
rather than look on them, and that cold
moon, who goes on her course, round
and round, and shines on weeping ewes
and arhino Learfs &c cold ond br;ob4 nc