Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-22

their cultivation, he had risen to be nd.
mired, the courted, not only Of the IL
terary, but of the gay and fashionable
world; he vas moi handsome, but the
decidedly intellectual EAST of his coun.
tenance, the high pale brow, the dark
expressive eye, even to the casual OBJ
server, spoke a mind of no ordinary
cast. Heretofore engaged in study and
professional duty, he had rarely mixed
in general society his frequent cards
of invitation had been slighted-but
now each day found him a visiter at
Miss Meredith's. 1t was not by her
personal attractions alone, though her
beauty was dazzling, that she had
charmed /; her spells had been thrown
around him, ard every art which co.
quetry, a desire to please, and, we may
add, too, feelings of pique for former
Indifference could call into exercise,
had been used by Amelia to captivate
the talented Ludlow. His heart was
thus besieged by the united power of
beauty and fascination. it yielded at
length TO their influence. Amelia felt,
TOO, that his society was essential TO
her happiness-lf she did not see him
constantly, her depression too plainly
told the VOID she felt but to con.
ceal these sentiments with the mark Of
Indifference was her aim, until her tri-
umph should be complete over one who
ha2 hitbnrfn beer ,p@npc,hta ~ oil r..
male attraction.
In the vicinity ofB - is a beau.
tiful spot called the crescent beach,
whose advancing and receding waves
have given rise to SO many beautiful, and
poetical images /; the high precipices
which rose in some parts, contrasting
their dark brown rugged sides with the
beautiful plains beyond, all presenting
a scene Of singular interest and beauty.
This was a favorite resort during the
summer months, Amelia and Ludlow,
who had joined a large and gay party
to this spot, had wandered alone to n
ofthe widest spots on the coast he had
before often alluded to the nature Of
his sentiments, which Amelia had al.
ways chosen TO misunderstood; he now
resolved to decide the question-and
while his fine face became animated
with feeling as he spoke with the high
sense of honor which eminently char
acterised him, he proudly and with
manly decision spoke of his present
want of fortune, his moderate wishes,
and his plans for domestic happiness.
Amelia secretly felt that poverty with
him would be preferable to s~plendor
with any other. But even then, at The
moment when her answer wasexpected,
an answer which was to decide her
future fate, she gaily turned to him,
saying, leap to yonder cliff and ! am
yours :" for at this moment she percei-
we'd the party advancing, and felt that
the long expected period oftriumph had
arrived.
The spot on which they stood was
separated from the cliff to which she
pointed by a space of several feet be-
tween which was a deep chasm; IT see-
med that some violent CONFUSION ofna-
ture must have sundered the mineral
rocks from their very base, for 1t was
frightfuI TO look down on the yawning
chasm below.
"Will you repeat those Words" ex.
claimed Ludlow, every feature of his
calm face expressive ofthe deepest feel
ing.
81 do repeat them, this spot shall
take its name from the feat-hencefor-
ward we will call it the Lovers Leap"
All were now in GREATNESS expecta-
ton, for their last words almost uncon-
sciously to themselves, had found 9TH
err auditors in some of the party who
were near. 1t was indeed an instant
of GREATNESS suspense, though all who
had heard the challenge, supposed It
rather a thoughtless jest than sober ear
nest but there was n to whom they
we're words Of serious reality. With
the agility Of one accustomed to scale
mountains and ford rivers, to which the
scenes of his early life had familIari-
sed him he leaped from the spot on
which they stood no time was left Tor
remonstrances-he stood on the OPP
posite height, but not long enough
did he remain TO receive their con.
eratulations; taking a %circuitous path
which led around at the distance of a
halfmile, he rejoined the party. Anne
liza, glowing with animation and graft
fed vanity, stood ready to receive him
with cxten ded hand but Ludlow,
with a slight and distant bow, passed
on; he spoke not to her, but with a
hastv Excuse to some ofthe elder men,.
bers ofthe party left them, ere they
could recover from their astonlshment.
y =
II was on a festive eve, that a bril-
liant circle OF the fashionable and the