Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-04

successful was TO give 10 their earnest
sight the phagtom form OF the lover
who was afterwards to become the
husband Their powerful curiosity
had stitled their fear, IioI they were as
timld as beastlaD on their FIRST setting
out on this expedition; bat, on finding
themselves alone 10 N ok aud M
lancholy WOOD. some touches ct COW
afdlce aud compuD, tion assaAea them
together, and they determined by "a
somewhat holy Beginning, TO sanctty
the purpose " hlc., had brought them
lhliher They were 100 young 70 laugh
at this mock compact between God cnd
the Devil, and therefore when Gather
me, the eldest sister, began, III an III
dihle voice to rscte the prayer against
y tchcrait, the others 5oine IN 1t de
ouIy Now then, fortified agalnsi
evil, their courage rose with every ad
aitronal sentence; and when the SOL
ole of,he young Agnes, the level
! est and youngest Of the three, steadily
| responded the '"amen," they were a
courageous as was necessary, and ne
longer fearful o. the power OF the evil
| orc know not my children all the
| forms us,d upon chs occasion; but
Cataar,ne sfler repeating certain words
! IN a solemn Voice, advanced before hei
| SISTERS, and quietly placed upon The
g aund hex offering % the shaae she
had invoked, as by his conduct to
ward il she was 70 Judge OF her fu.
ture prospects 1t was beautiful rose
rec which she had chosen, and the
flowers were full and m.ny; md the
sisters " ere contemplating from a lit
tie distance the richness ei their hue;
when they were startled by the clash
ing of arms, and the loud outcries OF
men in fierce contentlon, breaking up.
on the Stiffness of the nsht FOR mo
men. they hcsilatcd whether to tly or
| remsin concealed. when ths'r doubts
were decided by the rspid approach OF
stately and stern Highland chief,
| who. hrandiahiDe his bread sword,
swept on TO tue rose tree, as 1t he
| would annihilate from the earth hs fair
.nd frsg,le ecauty. Suddonly ne pau
sed--hIs arms was so longer raised 20
destroy .-thc weapon dropped gen'ly
down beside the tree-snd they ss~
his blue eyes locking mildly and kindly
on the flowers, as, beading down to
gather them, he faded lfoel their s'ght
| in the actlon Chataerinc vas by no
means tlispiesscd with her fortune; and
the appearance OF her handsome bride
groom, gave courage TO the othsr two,
to hasten the coming oil theTs Mar
ian, thu second sister, removed The
rose, placed lily Dough liz its stead 4,
and then, with beating heart, and
wandering eve, repeated the charm,
Agsin tbe silence Uas broker, as the
qj,ck bat steady tramp OF e warriors
horse s'ruck upon the car and thr shade
: II noble cavalier, ulsmonntMg from
h.. phantom steed, adeauced slowly =,
very SLOW ~. tow Yards tts NY; his face
was beaul'ui, rot sad-beyond ex
nression sad; and they sn~-a tear fall
uyon The flower, as &c pressed it TO
hi lips. ard ,leposi'ei ii eenity in his
bosom II tno hsd faded like dream
when the besutlf,,! Agnra advanced to
perform her part III the witcherirs OF
thesnigls. Shetrc moiet hut she would
rot recede, and faindy repeating the
charm, hung her white handkerchief
on the branch Of a distant tree T'his
time there WAS No sound, but a dread
and solemn sileucc slow y pshored III
her unexpected fste From the wood
came long advisable procession of
horse ard foot, following coffin, that
was steadily borne towards them, MA
nv were the CHASTITY attendants supper
ting the pail, and mary were the sha
dowy n,onrners who followed ;A9pss
watched VI it'll bieathiess attention, the
march Of the phantom dead; they ad
vanced slowly end steadily till they
came under the tree. " here her white
offering hotered lightly in the air: it
was seen suspended a moment above
theN, then dropped amidst the cavsl
csde, aed Ages hehr!d The pale fin
gers of the chief moufnrr clutch at the
Offering as ii fell
! "O4ys, weeks, months rolled away
and s,ll found Agnes dropping over
her bishtcd hopes, and expecting the
death of which The forest omen had as
sured her. hnt still she died not, end