Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-07-20


Eyening after evening, and often in
her morning walks didshe pass the stran-
ger, who still manifested the same indif-
ference. Accident however at length intro
duced them. Amelia was one of a party
who were returning from an excursion on
horseback, her horse took fright at some
object in the road, and serious accident,
if not death itself, seemed inevitable
when Mr. Ludlow, who happened to be
near, seized the rcins, and saved her from
the impending evil. 1t has been remark
ed, and the experience of every one may
determine with how much truth, thatthose
whom we have aalways claim on our
affections. next morning, ciyility
demanded call OF enquiry, Miss Mere
dth had not wholly recovered from the
alarm of preceding day-she was paler
and more languid than usual--but the
deep blush which sufiused her face as she
received the enquiries Of Mr.. l.. with the
fascinations of her whole manner, excited
an interest which he would gladly have
concealed even from himself.
Henry Ludlow had been born in hum
Bile and indeed obscure situation, but by
the brilliancy Of his natural powers, and
his usual exertion in their cultivation, he
had risen to be the admired, the courted,
not only of the literary, but of the gay
and fashionable world; he was not hand
some, but the decidedly intellectual cast of
his countenance, the high pale brow. the
dark expressive eye, even to the casual
observer, spoke mind Of no ordinary
cast. Hetolore engaged in study and
professional duty, he had rarely mixed in
general society; his frequent cards aofin-
vitation had been slighted-but now each
day found him visiter at Miss Mere
dith's. 1t was not by her personal attrac-
tions alone, though her beauty was daz-
zling, that she had charmed; her spells
had been thrown around him, and every
art which coquetry, desire to please,
and, we may add too, feelings of pique
for former indifference could call into
exercise, had been used by Amelia to cap
tivate the talented Ludlow. His heart
thus beseiged by the united power of beau
| ty and fascination, yielded at length to
| their influence. Amelia felt too that his
society was essential to her happinoss--if
she did not see him constantly her depres-
sion too plainly told the void she had felt;
but to conceal these sentiments with the
mark of indifference was her aim, until
| her triumph was complete over one who
had hitherto been insensible to all female
attraction.
In the vicinity of B. is q beautiful spot
called the crescent beach, whose advancing
and reccding waves heve given rise to SO
many beautiful and poetical images; the
high precipiccs which rose in some parts,
contrasting their dark brown rugged sides
with the beautiful plains beyond, all pre-
sented scene of singular interest and
beauty. This was a fuvorite resort dur
ing the summer months. Amelia and
Ludlow, who had joined a large and gay
party to this spot, had wandered alone to
one of the widest spots on the coast; he
had before often alluded to the nature Of
his sentiments, which Amelia had always
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
emnentIvs characterised him, he proudly
and with manly decision spoke Of his
present want of fortune, his moderate
wishes, and his plans for domestic happi-
ness. Amelia secretly felt that poverty
with him would be prlerable to splendor
with any other. But even then, at the
moment when her answer was expected,
an answer which was to decide her future
fate, she gaily turned to him, saying,
sleap to wonder cliff and Lam yours;' for
at this moment she perceived the party
advancing, and felt that her long expected
period of triumph had arrived.
The spot on which they stood was sep.
arated from the cliff to which she pointed
4 by space of several feet, between which
Was a deep chasni; it seemed that some
violent convulsion Of nature must have
sundered the mineral rock from their very
base, for it was frightful to look down on
the yawning chasm below.
sWill you repeat those words, exclalnl-
| ed Ludlow, every feature Of his usually
calm face expressive ofthe dcepestfeeling.
Il do repeat them; this spot shall take
its name from the feat--henceforward we
will call it the Lovers Leap
All now werein breathless expectation,
| for their last words, almost unconclous-
/ " to themselves, had found other auditors
in some ofthe party who were near. 1t
was indeed an instant Of breathless sus-
pense, though all who had heard the chal-
enge, supposed it rathera thoughtless
| ;asI 4I thnr,a anharE earnest. but there was one