Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-18

lentiy musical decent, was heard 1t no greatdstnnce, I
rs II calling to him. He opened his eyes once more,
raised his head, aud looked towards the place from
whence the sounds seemed 10 come, though far from
oeipg certain that they existed saving in his own
aisordered imagination. The vision which appeared
mad almost confirmed him in the opinion that his
mind was unsettled, and his senses in no state to
servo him accurately.
upon tho very summit of a p~yramidical rock that
rose out of the depth of the valley, was seen a famalc
ingure, so obscurcd by mist, that only the outline could
DC traced. The form. reflected against the sky, APP
peared rather the undefined lineaments of a spirit than
Oh a mortal msidcn; for her person seemed as light, 81
.ca'cSiy more Opaque, than the thin cloud that sur
,oonueo ner pedestal. Arthur's first belief was, that
lhe virgin had he ,rd his VOWS, and had descended in
person TO ms rescue; and he was about to rccitc his
ave mara, when the voice again called TO him with
,He singular shrill meditation of the mountain haloo,
oy whicn the natives of the Alps can hold conference
with eash other from one mountain ridge to another,
across ravines of great depth and width.
While ne debated how to address this unexpected
SEPARATION, It disappeared from the point which il at
hrst occupied. and presently after became again visi-
ole, perched on the cliff out of which projected the
tree IN which Arthur had taken refuge. Her pcrso-
haiappearance, rs well ~ herdress, made il then appa-
rent that she was u maiden ofthese mountains, familiar
with their dangerous paths. He saw that "a beauti-
III young woman stood bctor re- him, who regarded him
WIN n mixture of pity and wonder,
stranger she 1t length said, who are YOU, and
whence CONE you?'
iN.hAN as ~ w NNAA III IlNs
answered the young man, raising himself as well rs he
could. Il left Lucerne this morning with my father,
ana a guidc. parted with them not three furlongs
from hence. May it please you, geutle maiden, 10
warn them of my safety, for i know my father will be
IN despair upon my account.
"Wilhngly," said the maiden; but l think my un-
Gle, or some one of my kinsmen. must have already
found them, and Will prove thi,lful guides. Can |
not aid you?-are you wounded-are you hurt We
were alarmed by the fall of n ruck-aye, and Wonder
1t lies, a mass OF no ordinary size"
AS the Swiss maiden spoke thus, she approached
SO cioseio the verge ot the p%reclpicc, and looked with
sucn indifference into the gull, that the sympathy
winch connects the actor and spectator upon such
occasions brought back the sickness and vertigo from
which Arthur had Just recovered, and he sunk back
INTO ms former more IN posture, with some
thing like a faint groan.
.Iou are then ill?" said the maiden. who observed
him turn pale-"Whore and what is the harm YOU
have received
None, gentle maiden, saving some bruises of little
import but my head turns, and my heart grows sick,
when l see yon so near the verge of the cliff"
"ls that alp" replied the Swiss maiden. Know
stranger, that / do not stand on my uucle's hearth
with more security than | have stood upon precipices,
compared to which this is n child's leap. You, too,
stranger, If, as | Judge from the traces. Won have
come along the edge ofthe p~recipice which the earth
slide hath laid bare, ought to be far beyond such
weakness. since surely you must be well entitled to
call yourself cragsrDan."
al might have called myself so half m hour since"
answered Arthur, "but ] think [ shall hardly venture
to assume the name in future"
"Be not downcast," said his kind adviser. "for n
passing quahn, which will at all times cloud the spir-
u ana dazzle the eyesight of the bravest and most
experienced. Raise yourself upon the trunk of the
tree, and advance closer TO the rock out of which II
grows. Observe the place well. II is casy for Won
when You have attained lie lover part of the pro-
jectng stem, to gasn by one bold step the solid rock
upon winch | Stand after which there is no danger or
difficulty worthy Of mention to a young man, whose
limbs are Whole, and whose courage is active"
My limbs are indeed sound, - replied the youth;
nut am ashamed TO think how much my courage
- broken. Yet | will not disgrace the interest YOU
haze taken IN an unhappy wanderer. by listening lon
ger to the dastardly suggestions of u feeling, which
I'll 10 -day has been u stranger to my BOSOM"
The maiden looked on him anxiously, and with
much interest, as, raising himself cautiously, and
moving along the trunk of the tree, which Law near
iy horizontal from the rock, and seemed TO bend as he
changed Lis posture, the youth, at length stood IN
night, within what, on level ground, had been but an
extended stride 70 the cliff on which the Swiss mai
den stood. But, instead of being a step TO be taken
On the level and firm ground, it was one which must
cross 4 dark abyss, at the bottom of which n torrent
surged und boiled with incredible fury. Arthur's
Knees Knocked against each other, his feet became of
lead and seemed no longer at his command: and he
IN Il stronger degree than ever, that u1-
neIVinS influence, which those who have been over
~hclned By 1t IN d situation of like peril never can
forget ana which o;hera happily strangers TO its DOW.
or, may nave difficulty even in comprchending.
ine young woman disccrned his emotion. and fore
stw Its probable consequence. As tie only mode in
per power to restore his confidence, she sprung light-
~ from The rock to the stem or the tree. ~, yvficb
'he aiightcd with the ease and security of a bird. and
m the same instant back 10 the cliff, and extending
Ier hand to the stranger, my arn," she said. as
a slight 6alustrade; yet do but step forward with
and you VIII find it a. secure AZ the hat.
cement OF Bernie" But shame now oyercarne terror
30 much, that Arthur. declining assistance which no
QUA not have accepted without feeling lowered in
ms own eyes, took heart of grace, and successfully
The formidable step which placed him upon
he same cliff with his kind assistant.
10 seize hoT hand and raise il 10 his lbs. in aAec-
ions'e token Of gratitude and respect. was naturally
ne youths first action; nor vas IL possible for the
iaiH.n 80 nave prevented him from doing so. without
.ssuminga degree Of prudcry foreign 10 her cbarsc-
CT 'Hd occasion q acrimonious debate upon Il matter
j no great consequence, where the scene of action
vas q rock scarce five feet long by three in width.
WT. az Mrs. HscarInan
AND Il
MR. FRANCIS
II VIZ lgaVI tstl. e.