Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-07-25

slons she perceived gathering upon
their countenances.
"Peter is just as bad as him." she re.
marked, ''to have gone to seek him
when he kennel the dinner wouldna
keep. And | am sure Thomas ken'd
it would be ready at one O'Clock to a
minute. 1t is sac unthinking and un.
friendly like to keep folk waiting. -
And, endeavouring to smile upon n
beautiful black-haired girl of seven.
teen, who sat by her elbow, she con.
tiaued in an anxious whisper. "Did We
see naething o him, Elizabeth, hinnyl''
The maid Flushed deeply; the ques-
uon evidGntly gave freedom to a tear,
when had for some time been an un.
willing prisoner in the brightest eyes
in the room; and the monosyllable-
"No," that trembled from her lips, was
audible to the ear of the enquirer. In
vain Mrs. Elliot despatched one of her
children after another, in quest of the
father and brother; they came and
went, but brought no tidings more
cheering. than the moaning of the hol-
low wind. Minutes rolled into hours,
yet neither came. She perceived the
prouder of her guests preparing to
withdraw, and observing that "Tho-
mass" absence was so singular and un-
accountable, and so unlike either him
or his father, she didna ken what apollo
logy to make to her friends for such
treatment; but it was needless waiting,
and begged they would use no ceremo-
ny, but just begin"
No second invitation was necessary;
good humor appeared to be restored:
and srloins, pies, pastries and moor
fowl, began to disappear like the lost
son. For a moment Mrs. Elliot ap-
parently partook in the restoration of
cheerfulness; but low sigh at her ell
bow again drove the colour from her
rosy checks. Her eye wandered to
the farther end of the table, and rested
on the uaoccupied seat of her husband,
and the vacant chair of her first born.
Her heart fell heavily within her; all
the mother gushed into her bosom; and
rising from the table, "What in the
world can be the meaning o this!" said
she, as she hurried with q troubled
countenance towards the door. Her
husband met her on the threshold.
"Where have you been, Peterl" said
she, eagerly; shave ye seen naething
o. hint"
"Naething, naethingp replied he;
"is he not cast up yeti" and with mel
ancholy glance, his eyes sought an an
swer in the deserted chair. His lips
quivered, his tongue faltered.
"Gude forgive mel' said he, "and
such day for even an enemy to be out
I'M I've been up and down every way
that could think on, but not living
creature has seen or heard tell of him.
Yen excuse me, neighbors," he added,
leaving the house; 81 must away again,
for Gamma rest"
81 ken by myself, friends" said Ad-
am Bell, a decent looking Northum-
brian, "that a fathers heart is as sem
sitive as the apple o his e'e; and think
we would show want o natural SYM
pathy and respect for our worthy neigh
bour, if we didna every one get his
foot into the stirrup without loss o.
time, and assist him in his search. For,
in my rough, country way o. thinking,
it must be something out of common
that could tempt Thomas to be miss
ing. Indeed, | medina say tempt, for
there could be no inclination in the
way. And our hills" he concluded,
in alower tone, "are not o'wr CLANCY
in other respects besides the breaking
up O. the Storm"
"Ah!" said Mrs. Elliot, wringing
her hands, 81 have had the coming o
this about me for days and days. My
head was growing dizzy with happi-
ness, but this came stealing upon me
like ghosts, and / felt a lonely sough-
ing about my heart, without being
able to tell the cause-but the cause
is come at last! And my dear Thom-
as--the very pride and staff o my life
is lost to me foreverp'
81 ken, Mrs. Elliot" replied the
Northumbrian, sit is an easy matter to
say compose yourself, for them that
dinna ken what it is to feel. But at the
same time, in our plain country way O.
thinking, we are always ready to be-
lieve the worst. I've often heard my
father say, and I've as often remarked
it myself, that, before any thing hap
pens to body, there is something
comes ow'r them, like cloud before
the face O. the sun; sort O. dumb
whispering about the breast from the
other world. And though trust there
is nothing O. the kind in your case, yet,
- ..o ohsorua when / find raorrself