The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-05
WHOLE NO. 26s

one tea table in Hoduct that morning, and
coniectures were poured out with the tea, and
swallowed with the toast.
A few days elapsed, and the stranger was
almost forgotten, for there was to be sub
scripiion assembly at Hoduct, which entirely
engrossed the attention Of the villagers; so
important an event not having taken place for
nearly half century before. Great prepara-
tons were made, and at length the important
night arrived and nine o'clock, which was
considered fashionable hour, the hall was
nearly full, and the first country dance, flor
quadrilles were not then known to the vil-
layers of Hoduct) was led off by the eldest
son Of the squire of the village, who conduct
ed the chosen divinity Of his heart, the only
daughter OF one Of the Justices Of the peace
for the county of Shropshire, gracefully
through its mazes Enjoyment was at its
height, when suddenly the merriment was
checked, and more than usual hustle pervad-
ed the room. The stranger had entered il
and there was something so differen, in bis
looks and manner from any Of the other male
creatures present, that every body surveyed
him with renewed curiosity, which was at first
tinctured with awe. Who can he be T. was
the question that instantly started up like a
crocus in many maiden's throbbing bosom.
He knows nobody, and nobody knows him
surely he never will think Of asking any body
to dance
For a long time the stranger stood aloof
from the dancers, in corner Of the room, by
himself, and they were almost beginning TO
forget he was present. But he was not idle
ne was attentiyely observing every group and
every individual in the room. And judging by
the various expressions of his countenance,
one would have thought he could read cha
racters at glance. He did not seem to regard
the generality Of the company present with
favorable eye. At length, however, some
thing like change seemed to conc over the
spirit of his dreams. His eye fell on Emily
Somers, and appeared to rest where il fell,
with no small degree Of pleasure. No wonder.
Emily was not what is generally called beau
ti(ul but there was sweetness. a modesty, a
gentlenes5 about her, that charmed the more,
the longer il was observed. Her winning
smiles, her unclouded temper, and her affec-
tomato disposition, threw their hallowed in
fiuence around her wherever she went. She
was the only child Of widowed mother. Her
father was an officer in the army, and fell in
battle, and the pension Of an officers widow
was all they had to support them. It was to
Emily Somers that the stranger first address,
ed himself and asked her to dance with him.
Emily had not seen him before Of course; but
concluding he had come there with some Of
her friends, and being little acquainted with
the arbitrary rules of etiquette, she immedi-
ately with frank artIessness, smiled an ac-
ceptance Of his request, and they joined the
merry dancers on the light fantastic toe. AT
the close of the evenings amusements, the
stranger requested permission to accompany
Mrs. and Miss Somers to their residence,
which was granted; and upon his taking leave
of them for the night he asked if he might be
permitted to visit them the next day, which
was assented to by Miss Somers. On the
following morning he called to pay his respects
to them, and so won upon their favor by his
pleasing and gentlemanly behavior that he was
soon allowed to be their daily visiter at Joy
Cottage; but notwithstanding the apparent
intimacy, which was observed by no small de-
gree ofjealousy by some Of the female villagers
of Hoduct, he remained almost as great a
stranger at the Cottage as when they first be-
came acquainted with him, except that he had
informed them his name was Frederick Bur
leight that he was single young man of
respectable family.
The gossips Of the village were not sparing
in their remarks Of wonder and astonishment,
that Mrs Somers would allow person whom
she had never seen in her life before the night
of the ball, to become a daily visiter at her
house it was very imprudent, wasn't it; for
aught she knew he might be married man,
swindler. or what not Such was the scandal
of the village. Mrs. Somers, however, regard
ed not the idle talk of her neighbors, which
she looked upon as only the offspring Of envy
and jealousy; for to well cultivated mind she
added considerable experience of the world;
therefore it did not take her long to discover
that her new friend was, 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 nobler quail
ties which raise the individual to a high and
merited rank among his fellow men. As for
Emily she loved his society, she scarcely
knew why yet, when she endeavored to dis
cover the cause, she found it no difficult matter
to convince herself that there was something
about him so infinitely superior to all the men
she had ever seen before, that she was only
obeying the dictates Of reason in admiring and
esteeming him. Her admiration and esteem
continued to increase in proportion as she be-
came better acquainted with nm, and this SEN
timent seemed indeed to be mutual for he
now spent his time almost continually in her
society. The stranger was fond of music, and
Emily, besides being proficient on the piano
forte, possessed very fine natural voice (which
she had cultivated with great care, and conse-
quently played and sang with great taste and
judgment Nor did she sing or play unreward-
ed for Burleigh taught her the language 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 richer finish and holder