The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-24
Vol. Nv. CITY OF WASHINGTON,

naming mansions Of the older gentry.
A little garden stretched before the house;
and on one side runs a lane, skirted with
| gigantic elms, which even fifty years ago
were of noTlnconsdernble size.
The parlor Of this stately mansion was
equally remarkable. The ceiling was
high the walls were pannelled and vain
scoated; and The chimney piece was a.
Idorned with gardy porcelain tiles. The
furniture was equally rich, ard the whole
apartment had ali air OF unusual elegance
AS evening was drawing Oh, and there
were no lights in the room, every. thing
around lay in masses of deep shadow, but
| still there might be seen at the side Of one
of the easements, sitting OH a rich chintz
lsof., two persons apparently as yet iii the
spring of life. Tie one was a beautiful
lgirl just blooming into womanhood She
/ sat pensively beside her companion,
frank, noble looking youth, of somewhat
lmaturer years and though neither had
spokena word for more than five minutes,
yet from the passiyeness with which her
small white hand lay in his, and from
other silent but unqnestionabe tokens, it
was evident that they were lovers. They
needed no words to express their feelings
theirs was the full, holy confidence Of
first affection and they felt, what all have
felt, that there isnothing so delicious as
silence with the one we love.
sAnd you must 90 to morroWp said
the female, IN her rich, musical voice, at
leng tll---breaking the silence, and look
ing up as she spoke into the face Of her
lover.
'Yes-E!en- would You prevent
me, or have mistaken you-say, shall
stay ignobly at home, or 90 forth to fight
for my country! / leave it with you
| you shall decide
For minute, and even more, the young
girl made no reply, but as if in deep
thought with her eyes cast upon the
groud, while her bosom heaved, and the
color went and came on her cheeks as if
she was agitated by some powerful emo.
ton. At length she raised her eyes to
her lovers face, aud though the tears
trembled on their heavy lashes as she
spoke, and her voice quivered with i'll
concealed alarm, she did not attempt to
dissuade him from his duty.
go, James, and may heaven bless you,'
was all that she could say, when over
come by her emotions; she burst into
tears, and her head rested heavily OH her
lovers shoulder.
| tAnd now, dearest, said the lover at
length the hour is come for us.to part, at
least till better times for this poor country,
come, cheer up, my own Ellen, and re-
member that victory must crown our cx-
ertions.
| The beautiful girl answered only by
look, but it was one more eloquent than
words. The lover drew her again to his
bosom, pressed his lips once more to hers;
and with a last lingering grasp Of her fair
hand suddenly sprang away, and was
lost the next instant behindthe shrubbery
that skirted the garden. He was gone
! Ellen was alone.
! 1t was the period between the battles Of
Lexington and Bunker Hill, and the
whole country was lleaving with ill-con-
cealed commotion. The sound Of battle
had gone forth throughout the land, and
from every hamlet town, and mountain
home, the hardy sons of Massachusetts
were gathering tothe conflict, while those
in the farthest borders of the colony
were pouring into the strife: Ii would
not be expected that men, living, ;,s it were
at the door of the tllmult, should shrink
from danger. James Fountenoy was not
one to be the last in such a cause. Born
Of good family with fine fortune, an
agreeable address, talents of no slight or
der, and bold, daring, and chivalrous
Temperament, he entered early into the
conflict between the colony and the moth
er country, and having always espoused
the popular side, was now regarded with
Difference which few of his age could
obtain. lie was leader Of a corps Of men
intending to join the insurgents, and had
como OH the last evening prior TO setting
ont, to bid farewell to Ellen Loring his
first and only love.
/ Long did the fair girl listen TO catch the
last sound Of his retiring footsteps, and
when at length she could distinguish
nothing in the silence, with heavy sigh
she turned and passad into the house.
Her judgment had bid him go, though
her heart would have had him STAY.
For several days after the departure Is
her lover, the accounts from Boston were
vague and unsatisfactory. An ominous
silence seemed to brood over the whole
community like a deep hush proceeding
a thunder storm. ALI regular communi-
cation had been cut off between the vii
lage and the capital, aud the inhabitants
waited in breathless expectation 10 hear Of
some signal outbreak.
The feelings Of Ellen, during this sus-
lpense, cannot be described She thought
lof her lover thousand times daily; she