Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-09-19

AT TINS moment a light appeared,
passing rapidly from the bank of the
I Allegheny towards the town. In an
instant it was lost, and again it glim.
mered among the ancient ramparts of
Fort du Quesne, and then disappeared.
He advanced cautiously towards the
ruined fort, and clambering over the
remains of the breast work, entered the
,area-carefully examined the whole
ground by the clear moon light. But
no animate object was to be seen. A
confused mass of misshapen ridges and
broken rocks were alone to be discov.
ered--the vestige of a powerful bull
wark which had once breathed a storm
of war.
at is deserted" said tho bereaved
husband, "like my once happy dwell.
ling. The flag is gone--the music is
silent-the strong towers have fallen
and all is desolate!'
Perplexed by the sudden disappear.
ance ofthe light, and indulging vague
suspicion that it was in some way con.
nected with his own misfortune, he con-
tinued to explore the ruins. A faint
ray Of light now caught his eye, and
he silently approached it. He soon
reached the entrance of an arched
vault, formerly powder magazine,
through which the light emanaied.--
The doorway was closed by few
loose boards, leaned carefully against
it., and evidently intended only to af.
ford brief concealmcnt; but crevice
which had been inadvertently left, per-
| mitted the escape Of that struggling
beam Of light which had attracted his
attention, ana which proceeded from a
small taper placed in dark lantern.
Two persons sat before it, in one of
whom the astonished st. Clair recog-
nized his late companion, the gamblerl
The other was a coarse, addressed
ruffian, with ferocious and sinister
expression Of countenancc, which at
once bespoke his character. They
were busily examining a number of
large keys which seemed newly made.
"Bad, awkward, clumsy work." said
the gambler; "but no odds about that,
if they do but fit"
dts of working in the night, md
| with bad TOOLS" rcjoined the other.--
"Me and Dick has been at 'em for a
week steady--and if them keys wont
do, I'll be hanged if i can make bet
ter"
"Havn't | been working in the night
too, my boy?" said the gambler. 81
have made more money for us since
dark, than clumsy rascal like you
would earn in month";"
"Clumsy or no, you put us in the
danger always, and play gentleman
yourself"
"Well, that's right, don't I always
plan every thing? And don't | always
give you a full sharel Come, don't
get out Of heart. That key will do,
and so will that"-
st. Clair could listen no longer.--l
Under any other circumstances the !
scene before him would have excited
his curiosity; the discovery that he had
been duped by sharper--a mere gro
Yelling felon--added to the sorrow that
already filled his bosom, stung him so
keenly, that he had not patience nor
spirits to push his discoveries any fur
Their.
at was for the company Of such a
wretch" said he, as he again MOURN
fully bent his steps homeward, "that ]
left my Louisa! Perhaps she may
have guessed the truth. Some eyes,
dropper may have whispered to her
| that was the associate Of gamblers
and house, breakers! Shocked at my
| duplicity and guilt, she has fled from
contamination! No, no. She would
not have believed it. She would have
heard my explanation. Her kind
heart would have pitied and forgiven
me. Perhaps my neglect has alineated
her affections. / have left her too Of
ten alone and in doubt! She has suf.
fered what | feel tonight, the pangs of
suspense and jealousy. She could
bear it no longer: my cruelty has dri-
ven her forever from me"
He again entered his habitation.
How changed! No hand was extend
ed to receive him-no smile to well
come him. All was cherries, cold
and silent. A candle, nearly exhaust
ed to the socket, was burning in the
parlor, shedding pale light over the
gloom of the apartment; but the bright,
peculiar orb, that had given warmth
and lusture to this little world, was ex- |
tinguished! st. Clair shuddered as he |
looked round. Every object reminded
him ofthe happiness he had destroyed,
and he felt himself moral suicide
Half dead with cold, fatigue and dis
tress, he approached the fire--when a
note. which had fallen from the card