The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-05-01

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could make hef any answer sue hastily tonk
| f,,m her p;ano draw 81 neatly rather sle-
ean,l, bound Albnal aud spreading II on the 's'
bic u here pea aud ink we're previously placed
| .b, ,,,,,ted me- To the task ~ a manner too Sc
r,ons n,t 90 convince mo that the request was
| s,atle more IN earnest Than through courtesy
What sh,a'd do | had not The hsan 10 refuse
| no the gc,lias % comply. My BRAN was a.
:. dry a, the remainder biscuit after voyage.
| Sevsr did stand ~ neetl ofmnd or drploIe IFS
van, 80 much as OF this OCCASION true the
eyeniaq was serene aud beautiful and might
have warmed ihn breast that had the least spark
Of poetic feeling about II. but mime had no dor
mani energies Of that kind to awaken, aud nef
ther the kindling influence Oihne weather, no
the more aspiring ppsei OF tannyt presence
could remove my constitutional inability TO
IRVINE. should attempt it., knew very well
that thc failure would he completely shane-
dil that should lose much OF her est en-. aud
not 10 do il must inevitably incur her most scri-
Gus displrasue determined however TO risk
the attempt aud seating myself by the Table !
seized the pm in despair, dipped IT III the stand
aud turning my eyes (not IN " f'te tfensy roll
! inp'D toward the ceiling. began congraiing
on y bat Ia GN my ianrItul eiiuslon--Suddenly
my musings we're interrupted. The whole
| funly were Ia busy nplOar--all engaged IN
cleaning and decorating The house. some were
hanging new curtains Of dama,k over the win
dows-sumc regulating the glasses upon well
! loaded sidcboard-some replonishlng the Hover
pots with water aud fresh roses, and Fanny 5
Youngest sister was faninstcally ornamenting u
pair Of plated candesiioks with paper leaves
| The turky carpet was removed and the hnor dry
Irnbbed-and indeed all the preparations usually
made for a dancing party were gong on and
a. tI..ifn hon
Presently servant girl came in with bundle
OF ryrrgrcrns with which she commenced de
cogaing the m.ntiopecc. aud then proceeded
10 larger mirror thai hung on the opposite
wall IL such position to me. that II reflected 10
| ny Vi the IMAGE of Fanny rs she rccilncd
on the sofa in thoughtful and pensive manner.
Her countcnance is frequently tnged with a
Ilight melancholy but now II wore ndeep el6 ON.
! certainly had never seen her beautiful face 81
clondcd by sadness before. II was pae--hor
leves porcd upon the noor--shc appeared alb
stracted ia her mud, for she took no notice Of
whit was going on until the servant cnqulred
of her if she intended 10 have the walls OF the
Room frsiooncd with the vines. " DO IA yon
please" she replied aud rising tom hen seat,
she lett the room with n tear, as Thought,
lquyering ~ her soft blue eve. What was the
| cause of all this | saf loss 10 con iectuIe.
ger 10 my heart deaalicr than the seIpenf,
tooth. Twas more than my nature could sus-
tain---lny balm reeled and fell msensioie on
the hoor How long remained in that silua.
| ton know not Suddenly was aroused by
the entrance ola tall young gentleman, ofhand-
come department aud splenddly attrei, with a
F." btoa'Nclicity of lace bespeaSlug - light mind
and happy heart. II was for has coming that
| all these preparations were mnde, for he was
| nv rval who was that very night, unknown
to me, to bc married TO the fair Fanny. Prompt
/ FL BY desperation, | rushed lmpetuous upon
his throat--the villain fcd The was my friend.
| We were born in the same vlagc-educated ut
The same school--hnd been intimate from our
| bnyish days" wore him in my hearts core
and not circumstance had ever TRANSFERRED un-
I'll he present occurrence 10 weaken the band of
diendship that united us together OF all my
FRI, he was the only one to whom ever M
parted the secret of nv attachment to Fanny.
He abused that confidence to supplant me in
he affection. Aud must | bow in degrading
aud Illuminating resignation to the wrong ! No,
rather let me perish Cursed be the coward
whose ann ialtcrs in just revenge. With I'M
precautions ON my rivals head, | fled the habi-
taton.
All iden Of my journey was now bnnishcd
from my mind. My every thought was dcyo-
ted To Icvsugr-my heart was u furnace of eI-
asperltcd passipns---my blood boiled for ven
teance. Retiring to my room whetted my
dagger and reloaded my pistol. will mar
his mrth - said | to myself IL will burst up.
on him in the midst Of his anticipated heaven
like an unexpected 1bciino' Aud let not mis-
taken poty denounce all human vengeance
rs nm Ighteous. The ser pcnt IS crushed in the
earth because of his guile that converted the
bloom of Eden into a wilderness of woe, and
so should the demon still be crushed, when for
sal,lng his reptile shape, he assumes the human
farm aud spreads over the paradise of the heart,
a wmtcry desoatlun. Reader when YOU shall
love as | have loved, and be supplanled by
wretch calling himself yonr friend but whose
smiles are " the very 6end's mock" then will
YOU be ready to exelaim with me
"uA0a steep IA safety That has done this n,0ng ;"
know not how the time rolled off. but night
fall had now come ON. Dressing myself in APP
parel, suitable for the wedding, thher went,
sternly detcrminedto " speak daggers' TO the
BRIDE and 60 use them on the trcacherous author
OF my MISERY. The party was assembled and
the nuptal hour Was almost arrived The
BRIDE s-maid was placing The last flower in the
brides head and as she turned il in the shin
ing curl heard her distinctly singing the
beautiful verse by Ms. Hemans
"Bruc lowers bri ,g lovers for the bride 10 wear
They born to hlush in her shining hair,
"Sho is leaving the place OF her childish mirth,
She has bid farewell o her Fathers hearth,
Her place IS NOW by anothors side,
Bring flowers for the locks uftho fair young bride
The long parlom was spenddly Illuminated.
The silver chandelier suspended in the centre,
threw around IA brilliant light which the mir
rols augmented by reflection, whilst the warm
flashes that glanced from the sparkling eyes of
the laughing girls, added to the blaze and
made the room glow with the lustre of the skies.
The light of Heaven was there. And mcrri-
ment was there. The young voices mngling in
sprghtly conversation were so many separate
tones of meIody-and nirth was in all--all was
gladness, and to those whom despair had not
rendered mpenetrable to joy, it was sweet to
look upon the innocent faces and TO witness the
unaffected yivacity that prevailed. Once
should have enjoyed the scene but the cord in
my bosom that might have vibrated in unison,
was now snapped asunder and amidst all the
splendor, and gaiety, and joy, thatencircled me,