Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-11-28

read characters at a glance. lie did not seem TO
regard the generality of the company present with
a favorable eye. At length, however, something
like q change seemed TO come over the spirit OF his
dream. His eve fell on Emily Somers, and appea-
red to rest where it fell, with no small degree OF
pleasure. No wonder. Emily was not what is
generally beautiful; but there was a sweetness, a
modesty, a gentleness about her, that charmed the
more the longer IL was observed. Her winning
smiles, her unclouded temper, and her ahectionate
disposition, threw their hallowed influence around
her wherever she went. She was the only child OF
a widowed mother. Her father was an officer in
the army, and fell in battle, and the pension OF on
officers widow was all they had to support them.
1t was TO Emily Somers that the stranger first ad-
dressed himself, and asked her 10 dance with him.
Emily had not seen him before Of course; but con-
GLIDING he had come there with some of her friends,
and being little acquainted with the arbitrary rules
of etiquette, she Immediately with a frank aItiess'
ness, smiled an acceptance of his request, and they
Joined the merry dancers on the light fantastic toe.
At the close of the evenings a~musements, the
stranger requested permission TO accompany Mrs.
and Miss Somers to their residence, which was
granted and upon his taking leave of them Tor the
night, be asked if he might be permitted TO visit
them tie next day, which was assented 10 by Miss
Somers. On the following morning he called to
pay his respects to them, and SO won upon their Ia
vor by his pleasing and gentlemanly behaviour that
he was soon allowed to be their daily visitor at Joy
Cottage; but Notwithstanding the apparent intina-
cy, which was observed with no small degree otJea
lousy by some OF the female villagers Of Hoduct, he
remained almost as great a stranger at the Cottage
as when they first became acquainted with him, ex-
cept that be had Informed them that his name was
Frederick Burleigh, that he was a single young
man of a respectable family.
The gossips of the village were not sparing IN
their remarks of wonder and astonishment, that
Mrs. Somers would allow q person, whom she had
never seen in her life before the night OF The ball,
TO become a daily visitor at her house II was very
imprudent, wasn't il; for aught she knew he might
be a married man, a s~win1ler, or what not. Such
was the scandal Of the village. Mrs. Somcrs, how
ever, regarded not the idle talk Of her neighhors
which she looked upon as only the off pring OF en-
w ard jealousy for to a we'll cultivated mind she
added considerable experience Of the world; there
fore, it did not take her long 10 discover that hef
new friend vas, in every sense OF the word a man
whose habits and manners entitled him to the rank
of a gentleman; and she thought, TOO. that she saw
in him. after short intercourse. many of those no
bier qualities which raise the individual to a high
and merited rank among his follow men, As for
Emily, she loved his society, she scarcely knew
why: vet, when she cndesvored TO discover the
cause. she found it no difficult matter 10 convince
herself that there YVES something about him so in
fnitely superior to all the men she had ever seen be-
fore, that she was only obeying the dictates OF rea-
son in admiring and esteemiug him. Her admlra-
ton and esteem continued to increase in proportion
as she became better acquainted with him, and this
sentiment seemed indeed to be mutual; for he now
spent bis time almost continually in her society-
The stranger was fond OF music, and Emily, besides
being proticien. on the piano forte, possessed q very
fine natural voice, which she had cultivated with
great care, and consequently played aud sang with
great taste and judgment. Nor did she sing or
play unrewarded; for Burleigh taught her the Ian
guage of Petrarch and Tasso-the most enchanting
Of all modern languages; and being well versed IN
the use of the pencil, he taught her how to give
land scenes a richer finish and a bolder effect.
They read together; and as they looked with a
smile into each others countenances, the fascina-
ting pages of fiction seemed to acquire ientold inie-
rest. These were evenings not only Of calm and
dear delight, but of deep-felt happiness-long, long
TO be remembered.
Spring flew rapidly on. March, with her winds
and clouds, passed away; April, with her showers
and sunshine, no longer fingered; and May came
smiling up the blue, blue sky, scattering her roses
over the green surface of creation. The stranger
entered the garden, that surrounded Joy Cottage,
one evening, before sunset. Emily saw him from
the window, and came out to meet him. She held
in her hand an open letter. "This is from my
cousin Henry" said she; his regiment has retur-
ned from the continent, and he will be with us to-
morrow or next day. We shall be so glad to see
him! You have often heard US talk of Henryl-
He and | were playmates when we were children !
and though it is a long time since we parted, am
sure / should know him again among a hundred"
Indeed" said the stranger, almost starting. "then
you must have loved him very much and very con-
stantly too" 80 yesl | loved him as a brother"
Buriuigh breathed more easily. II am sure you
will love him too" Emily added. Every body
whom you love, and who loves you, 1 also must love,
" n. 1-n a. ,z,~ --.Asa -
present. ! must leave Hoduct tomorrow" TO
morrow Leave Hoduct tomorrow" Emily grew
very pale and leaned for support on a sun-iial near
which they were standing. GOOD Heavens! this
emotion-can il be possible Miss Somers-Emi-
Wis it to part with me you are thus gtlevedf
q Your departure is 50 sudden" said Emily, $50
unexpected are you never to return again-are We
neeer TO sec you more2" "Do you wish me to re.
turn, do YOU indeed wish 10 sec me again.! IN!
how can YOU ask i'll" Emily, hitherto l have
been known to YOU under a cloud Of mystery-as a
solitary being, without a friend or acquaintance in
the world-an outcast apparently from society
either sinned against, or shining without fortune
or expectancy Of fortune and with all these disad-
y~aDtages to contend with, how can I suppose that l
am indebted TO any thing but your pity for the kind
ness YOU have shown me? PITY. what! ply
YOU. Oh! Frederick do not wrong yoursetfthus'
MOI though you were a thousand tunes less "or-
thy than | know you are, should not pity YOU |
should-." She stopped, confused, and a deep
blush spreading over her face, she burst into tears
and would have sunk to the ground had not her 10.
yer caught her in his arms. "Think OF me thus,
he whispered, I'LL we meet again, aud we may be
ho,b hapny." ooh, | viii think Of thee thus for
everr' They had reached the eottnge door. "6od
bless YOU, Emily" said the stranger. al dare not
ace your mother: tell her ofmy departure, but tell
her that whea autumn has faded into winter, | shall
he here again. Farewell, dearest, farewell" she
felt a hot and burning kiss upon her cheek and
when she ventured TO look round, he was gone.
Henry arrived next day, but there was a gloom
anon the spirit of boih mother and daughter, when
!, ,ook some time TO dispel. Mrs. Somers felt for