Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-11

faysur Of Walter Forrest. In Whatever :"
tions Agnes received from her iather' =.
participated. and in all his studies Agnes :
came a nar,ner-To Mr.. Forrest she was
dauphter' and after he bee blind, o'teh NV
she SET for hours together'by has Size, reaa!"s
mr. w.rnlinp in his ear the ballads win whi.n
her r.morv was stored-then pausing 10 s'r'he
h.ct his .ilvery hair, she would throw her arms
aronrd his neck and cover his face with her a.,
c.c,;or,,r xisses-at other times she "oe''
i..a h;,n ont 10 the open air 10 ENJOY the ira,
"..n.s If .nriny. the singing Of the birds ano
o. c.,m sunshine, or guide him to the resi-
dence Of her father, and there leaving niM'
hound off 10 NEE, Walter on his return to MS
dive Hing. or to share the occupation that deIa'"-
ed him. There was not spot OF green woou,
NOR a hill. nor dale, for several miles ROUND, 'na'
they had not ,rodden together, ana OF ""i1n
they did not know the shady eoveits ana se.Ie'
recrsses-amids, the morning dew, at noontioe'
and in the evening twilight, they were 'oge'her
bounding over the green hills, ske'chlhs ,"e
distant prospect, or seated on the banks VI ~
Perkiomen, impaiting TO each oIher 'helr !.
feren, branches of knowledge, Or telling 'he''
early tale Of impassioned iondness.
Thus years rolled on Jill youth succeeded III
fancy and childhood. Al the age OF eighteen,
The DcFSOn oil w 1iltT WI tdi NV Ahe"y1
with the expressive dark eye tina, shed a bright
GLOW Of intelligence over his open animated
eountenance, and the thick black curls that
shaded his high forehead, he might be eonsid-
cred eminent'y handsome. Agnes had bright
laughing blue eyes, and neither the beams OF
the son. nor the breezes that wantoned among
the clustering ringlets of her glossy brown hair
had been able TO deprive her polished brow oil
its ivory tintrthe glow Of health was on her
cheek, and there were
"The ruby lip, the dimpled chin,
The bosom ciin nd pure Ritltn
II need not be said that they loved, they
could not have done otherwisc-and their mar
riage was only delayed, until Walter shouid
reach his twenty-frst year.
Hitherto their lives had been past in almost
u~nrufled happiness, but twelve months again
rolled round, the war Of the revolution came
like an evil planet, and cast o whitening blight
upon their hopes. Patriotism was a master
passion in the soul Of Walter Forrest, and in
the inexpressible swelling of a youthful spirit,
with the sans ton of his father, he volunteered
his services in the cause OF his coun'ry-his
Offer was accepted, and with a swelling heart
he prepared TO fill the station OF a captain III
the American army. The pariinI Of the low
erS Cannot ID utSCTiuVu, out Wv uopN :" '""
sustained the spirits Of Walter, while AgB's
retired 10 shed almost her first tears of.sorrow
Mr.. Peters did no, openly espouse the cause
of either party, bu, his prejudices were secretly
in favor of The English, and from the time OF
Walters departure, he withdrew himself more
than formerly from the society. OF Forrest = Al
moving his daughter 70 psiradflpFia, which
" as a, that Time occupied by the British. he
openly appeared in the character Of an officer
OF he crown.
Captain Forrest still remained ignorant OF
this occurrence. when a ~foraging party ofw hich
he had the command, CHANGED 10 encounter a
part Of Col. Peters, and a'confict ensued. The
ri resemblance of their leader to the father OF Ag-
mes, immediately ARE sied the attention of the
young warrior, but he banished the idea, until
chance threw them together. and the truth
flashed with agonizing certainty upon rs mind
for a moment he recoiled, but he could no,
pause in the path of duty, and dashed forward
into the thickest Of the battie-"On, on, my
brave bows" -ried he in the energy Of despair,
and he next instant the sword Of Col. Peters
was hourished above his head, "Traitor! Re-
he'll" exclaimed he, but Walter with a shndder
Of terror, turned from the comba,-ior he
could not raise his arm agains, the father Of
Agnes-his brain reeled, the scene swan be-
fore him indistinct AMI dim. and almost al the
same moment, u ball entered his bosom, and he
fell on the earth bleeding and insensible.
When he recovered his rec objection, he found
himself in a strange apartment, and learned
that he had been taken prisoner and carried to
Philadel phia, where he had remained several
days in a state Of delirium He anxiously en-
CURED for Colonel Peters, and for Agnes: but
without being able so obtain any satisfactory
Intelligence Of the latter Col. Peters, he was
informed, had called frequently during his i'll
ness, and had expressed much satisfaction that
morning on learning that his fever had abaled.
II was not without chagrin that Waiter re-
ceived information that he had thus lost the
opportunity Of an interview with the Colonel,
especially as he was abou, to leave the CITY; &
the length ofhis absence would BE- uncertain
From his family he could obtain no lid ny. az
tne anxiety of his mind considerable mpe dea
his recovery, which, however, was slowly pro-
crossing. His total ignorance respecting al
who were dear % him. was mex pressibly pain
sui, vet IL was not without mingled sensations,
that on his return from a short ramble, on the
first day he had quilted the house, he found
Col. Peters seated in his apartment. 81 am
batnv er ~ x.iI ka ,,.,l .o. -