Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-05-12
From the Dumfries Monthly Mas axine.
SCOTTISH COURFSHIP.

Vs. u
rented one of the large sheep farms into
which that part of the country is divided; &
his son was entrusted with the Choking Of the
HILL and the care of his several shepherds.
Robert was young; and, from the age of
seventeen, his time pas sed JOY fully along. un
der the influence of first love. The object
OF his attachment was half year Younger
than himself, and truly beautiful creature.
No tabled Sylvia or Della ever had any right
to compare with her for sweetness Of temper,
handsome form, dark locks, and dark eyes,
and face which made every other maiden
eBvious who beheld it Her name also was
sweet one, at least to a Scottish car-Ag-
mes Hswthorn.-She lived at a distance of a
miles IN what may be called the interior of
the pastoral district, where her father rented
also large farm, bordering, on the one side,
with that Of Mr.. Thompson. Houses are al
ways scattered In a country OF that descrip-
ton. but those of farmers In particular; and,
with the exception OF one that interviewed a
bout midway betwixt them, Mr. Hawthorn s.
Mr. Thompson were nearest neighbours to
each ether. Two high mountains, with a
deep valley between, reared themselves in
opposition to Roberts nightly visits to bis fair
one; but he was an adept in the art of sur
mounting such obstacles, and aware OF the
endearments that awaited him beyond them,
be valued not the MOSES, the stream, or the
rocks that lay in his path, or whether the
night was clear or a gloomy one.
No place can be desert where beautiful
woman resides, and upon this principle, tho
the houses around the dwelling of Agnes
Hawthorn were ''fcw s. far ietween," hard
~ night passed ever her head sn which her
dwelling was not beleaguered 10y host Of
woocrs. But Robert Thompson was the cap
pie Of her eye" 70 him alone she would
withdraw the curtain Of the window, in order
TO whispcr that her parents we've net yet
sleeping sound enough to permit her to I'M
bar the door, or to ask him il no other youth
was lurking near, who might discover her
eat hein, or his entrance into, the house.
1his was most Necessary preeauiien, and
ole which Robert never iaIlett to use upon G.
very vlsit-always nco,ppsssag the house
once or twice before he approached The WIN
dow, and never pettcrng upon the glass I'M
I'll he had satisfied himself tl,at no human eye
was privy to his movements. But men see
not, like cats or owls. in the dark; and Ro-
bert. with all his vigilance, was one evening
SO unfortunate as to DE discovered by par
ty OF three other shepherds, who, though all
come awsoing fer their "ain hand, had club
bed together for the purpose OF watching,
when they found their several efforts TO gam
Abundance, or even an answer To their en-
treaties, III vain.
peat stack, as is common in such pla-
ces, was built against one OF the gables ei
the house; and upon datSs 'of it, which was
brought a good way down by frequent sub
fractions for the fire, the watchful triumvI
rate sl,Iy pslched themselves. The colour
OF iht pcats and Of their clothes happened to
be 50 similar that discovery was almost inn
possible; and there they had the pleasure, or
rather the modification, OF scelDs their Sue
cesslul rival in shors whhr, make his ap-
pearanee, and, after completing his uustonia-
~ search, gain aGn4ittal.ce title door: Ihey
had no certain knowledge, however OF The
person whom they had seen, for pEiId to.
tally concealed him, from the crown OF the
head TO the knees. But whomsoever he might
be, they were resolved ler once TO turn the
sweets Of his courtship into bitterness.
No sooner had she door been cautiously
closed, and all within sunk into pei feet still
ness, than the whole three, with heavy
trump, advanced to the window, and, Wet'ing
the tips Of their fingers, and rubbing them re
peatodly along the glass, kept up squeakihg
noise--so loud AS TO be heard at consider
able distance. The lovers were, by this time,
seated at the parlor table, with a candle bur
HiDS peIOre tnetu. n large odktu press, uis-
playing on its front the rude carving OF form
er times, stood behind them in corner from
which the youn. and innocent Agnes had ia
ken, in the open simplicity of her affection,
new silk handkerchief. Oh which, with nice
art, she had sewcd the name OF her Robert;
; and this she had just presented to bim, and
breathed a wish that he would wear it for her
/ sake.
Robert had pressed the sweet lips by which
the wish MAS uttered, and was grading her
head upon his breast and vowing how much,
! for her sake, he valued the present. when fhe
! sound of the spies without interrupted him
| "Do you hear that?" said A5ncs, starting
"Can il re the tread Of men or do you think
! il is some of the cattle that lie without"
81 saw nobody when ! came in. Ii must
| be Some of the cattle" The loud squeaking
upon the glass of the window instantly resolv
| ed their doubts. "You have been observed"
! said Agnes, alan med. "Some men were here
before yoa came, and tapped long at the win
dow without my answering them; and they
have no doubt been watching, and now mean
to be revcnged."
1T can only be me that they wish to mo
lest" replied Robert, With an encouraging
smile; "and," added he, rising and casting
his plaid over the left shoulder, and knottng
it beneath his right ann, "ii can only get
out to the beat, they'll be fleeter than any
person have yet seen if they catch me-"
Stay said Agnes, clinginS to his arm
"The, nay cause a stone, or perhaps shot