Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-29
THE VILLAGE BELLE.


Ipects in this story, 20 read OF career
OF glorious coDquests; and her blue
eyes brighten, aud her little heart beats
quicker, at the thought of being, one
day, the heroine, herself Of some Ie-
gendary proser, and Of having her own
victories recorded. Wen, the desire
to be beloved may reign in an aniable
bosom-may possess kind and benz
violent heart--but power IS dangerous,
there are TOO many temptations to its
abuse. These things | would have my
fair readers remember as they go along
with me; and it may be we shall be
wiser, and therefore better, before we
part.
II you should ever go 10 AIesbury,
you will see a sweet little cottage IN
the meadows towards the river valley
half hid away amid d cluster Of black
alders, with its white chimney and
snowy pailings, peeping through the
foliage-and they will tell you that An
nette Morton once lived there, for all
the villagers remember her. 1t was
one of those terrestrial paradises which
the sick heart, weary WI the ropgs
OF men. SO often picturesTo itself--so
often longs for-and she, oh she was
beautiful creature-my heart even
now beats quicker as her image rises
before me.
She was gay, lively girl; with the
polish OF d sumner III the city, and
tine education, and whatever her talents
might have been she at least posed
the power of pleasing: the tact Of win
nlng hearts in most copious measure.
| never could divine exactly how she
lid it-but there was free, frank,
friendly air about her tha, inspired con
fidence; and gifted thus at all times
she played a most mastery game
among the village beaux. Every body
was glad to gallant her-was emulous
which should pay her the most at.
tention, and every young gentlman
III the village who could afford to
spruce himself up a little once in TWEEN
ty four hours, paid her an afternoon Or
an evening visit
1t would have been amusing to
one who went as mere spectator to
have attended Saturday evening levee
at Alder Co,tage-amusing to see the
address practlsed by the competitors
for her smiles, in eliciting some distin
guished mark of her favor they gath
cred round her in the little parlour, and
if she spoke there was strife as to
who should most approve what she
SAID; if she dropped her handkerchief,
two or three heads were thumped to-
gether in the effort to restore it to her
and if she walked, they were happy
who got at her side, and all the rest
were miserable. There were to be
seen all kinds of faces and every de.
scription of temper-and such specta-
tor might have been edefied; but the
principal impression on his mind would
probably have been, that courting un-
der such circumstances was mostpar-
tcularly foolish kind of business.
Bot Annette sung-"The moon had
climed the highest hili'-and told
boarding school stories, and talked ell
oquentiy about love, and poetry, music
and painting-was witty, sentimental,
and good natured--was invincible, al
ways absolute, always the conqueror.
The young ladies of the village saw
themselves undeservedly deserted;-
looked month after month on the sue.
cess of their general rival; and prayed
probably, II young ladies ever pray
about such matters, that Annette might
speedily make choice among her wor.
shippers, and leave them the remainder.
II was a forlorn hope - she intended no
such thing: she was the village belle,
and the village belle she intended TO be.
II so happens however, that great
beauties, like all other great folks, who
have to take their common chances in
the fortunes of humanity, sometimes,
in the end, outwit themselves. 10 pro.
cess of time, one and another, and
again another wedding took place in
the village; the girls whose names were
seldom spoken, whose modest preten-
sions and retiring habits were perfectly
Ieclipsed by the brilliancv of the reign
ing star, secured their favourites; were
wooed, and won, and married; and
still Annette coquetted with all, and
xuac eth ad,,,;raJ b., AL unxxy xS1apy