The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1839-07-19

but her mind. supported BY highland fre-
quent conmunion with the memory Of her
lsainfed patent, escaped the thraldol which
habit might otherwise have secured.
At the age of fifteen, Isabel accompanied
an invalid friend to the medicinal springs of
Ballston This village at that time, was q
place Of fashionable resort and to 4 mind
like that Of Isabel Courtney's afforded
themes Of hmitless reflection. The buoy
Eancy of health was here contrasted with the
langour of disease-the hectic of death
with the laugh ofreyelry -palpabie images
of mortality mingled with the votaries Of
lpleasure-the listless who stroye to annihi.
late time, and the dying, who sought to add
a few days to those they had to number.-
Soon after the arrival of Isabel, she was one
day struck on entering the common sitting
room, by the appearance of an old man, who
sat alone and apparently unnoticed. His
sightless eyes, his palsied limbs, and the
white locks that were thinly scattered over
pallld temples, all at once riveted her atten.
ton. Herheart throbbed with pity, but re-
verence mingled with compassion as she
marked the settled and placid expression Of
his countnance. AT no great distance a
group of hdies were indulging in bursts Of
levity thatat this moment struck most dis
cordantly IN her ear. She felt that the pre-
scnce of unfortunate age should at least In
spire respect; and invoiuntarily approached
the unheeaed old man, she was half resoly-
ed to address him. Her natural timidity,
however, still withheld her, till at length she
was called by one of the hoyden group to
partake Of some strawberries. The irreso-
lutte expression of her countenance at once
changed p that of pleasure. 81 will beg
some," she said unhesitatingly presenting
her work basket, tsfor this old gentleman!'
and she low approached him without en-
barrassment-"Will you accept some straw
berries, siI?'' The voice of Isabel was like
the low, dying notes of an instrument; it
touched every chord of the soul. The old
man received them with smile, that spoke
4 benediction, while an elegant, though
youthful stranger, who stood reading a news
paper with his back towards them suddenly
turned round and fixed his eyes on the
blushing girl with mingled admiration AMI
surprise. She Immediately rose and joined
the group she had hitherto summed. and
mingled in their trifing. Soon after the
Presenting with a look of indescrbabIe
import he said, "accept Miss the thanks and
blessings of age for your delicate atten-
tion." He then disappeared. In a short
time he returned and addressed the old man
in tone Of respect and tenderness. 81
have at length found more quiet lodgings,
sir, and will attend you whenever you feel
able to walk.n The old man rose and lean
ing on the ann of the youth, left the apart
|ment, "They are then to be temporary So
journers in the Villages" thought Isabel; and
a sensation Of pleasure, of which perhaps
she was unconscious, arose from the idea Of
again meeting them. They met the next
morning at the spring-and again, and again
met! Who shall describe the mingling Of
kindred ie?-Who shall trace the intri-
cate and delicate sources of that mysterious
passion which at length sweeps like torrent
over the human soul9 Scarcely word had
passed between the youthful strangers
they knew nothing Of each other beyond
the limit of few short days, the years that
had preceded had become to them as te-
dious dream, the present was their all of en-
joyment, and resembled the renovated state
of the chrysalis, when it sails on new wings,
through the summer air.
As yet, however unconscious of the dam
gerous source of this new sense of enjoy
ment, they met without embarrassment
The blush that had the cheek Of Isabel in
the presence of the stranger was the abs
tract pleasure, and that the light which
flashed from his eye at her approach, was as
brilliant as the rays Of heaven. The failing
health ofthc blind old man, whom he daily /
attended to the spring, afforded their only
clue even to passing remark. The deep
interest which his appearance excited in the |
bosom of Isabel conquered the scruples Of
7estal reserve, and she frequently ventured
j timid inquiry respecting the good invalid.
There are a thousand nameless attentions
90 trifing for description, that come with
cheering influence over their feeling heart
ike the imperceptible breeze that stirs the
lelicate leaf Such were the attentions
which misfortune invariably ELECTED ffom1he
and Of Isabel, no matter how narrow
er spereof action. Her voiee-her stepI
7as already known to the discriminating
III Of the old man, and ifhis cane Wasdrop-
d,or d seat was brought to him, be knew {
le ready hand that presented il. He was, ]
owever, Evidently and rapidly failing and {
t last Isabel met the interesting strangern no !
niger. Three days passed, and her attsn- {
ance on her friend became penance. IA III
ak was proposed, and weary Of herself.
le gladly became one Of the party As y
lev passed within view Of the village ce-
letery, her gaze was arrested hy funeral 4
recession. Their duties were finished and 81
ION we're returning but there was one &
no vet fingered, and with folded arms q
aned over fheneW made grave Gould Z 4
~ yes. il was tie youthful strange and I
abel at once comprahendea the scene. The q
aFty proceeded, and ere the return, the SUR Y
,unding landscape was flooded with the G
lyer lignt Of d full moon. The feelings Of
abel was rendered yet more intence by the q
L. go - u