The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-09-18

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and alone
There is risk and danger know full
well,' replied the youth: 'but, my dulce
decus,' morc's the glory. T 1t is my duty
as an officer to fulfil this mission and
by obcying the commands Of my superb
ors, | gain their confidence
But replied the maiden, 'you may
fall into their hands, and what mercy can
you expect from them?'
N one, but the consciousness OF having
cndeavorcd TO serve my countrymen in
my humble capacity. My honor calls on
me to cross the Lake, and enter Carolina
before the next full moon. But look! YOU
have dropped your beautiful .'osc; YOU
should not thus discard the flower conse-
Grated 10 the sylvan goddess lie picked
it up, and handing it to her he witnessed
the confusion of her who was unconsci-
Gus of its fall. Her countenance was
pale, and she appeared III the attitude OF
Iainting. He hastily seized her hand, and
exclaimed: Heavens; Mvra, are you I'M
| weil?n
'No-no, William! 1t was but-a
dreadful forcboding crossed my mind
such as | experienced whcna girl. ! saw
Il solitary star dimmcd with blood The
dark LIQUIDS swecpcd over it like the
oceans waves, and ii was hidden from my
view. \ gain the clouds burst asundcr
and the bright moonlight Illuminated
earth. ] saw the figure of 4 female fly to
the place where had seen the star fixed
into the 'aultcd heavens; on arriving at
the spot and not finding it there, in an
agony Of despair she fell upon the bosom
Of the again collecting clouds. thought
S me invisible power touched me lightly
upon the shoulder look, look thercn'
In Amusement started from my seat, and
all had vanished.
'And what has that to do with usl' re-
piled William, with IA suppressed smile;
truth, Myra. disSovcs the imagined crca-
tons Ola dcluded fancy. Danish the idle
thought, and let noughl but reality disturb
thy calm serenity Of mind-thy innocent
and happy LIFE
With her hand resting on her bosom,
and gazing on the serene sky. she answer
ed with qulvcring lip: 'Ah, William !!
there is something in nay mind,a depacs-
sion OF my sPlrlts--something that tells
me, our pledge of unaItcraJlc love will
never be fulfilled
Say not so; the stormy clouds vet
hang over our political horizon, but trust
the time will come when their murkv va
pors will dlsSipate before the general in
ilucncc OF the approaching sun"
They again resumed their evening
walk, and taking path that skirtcd the
woods, were soon lost from sight.
CHATTER II.
William Rutland, at an early age, was
sent to the colonial Capitol of Virginia to
complete his education. Possessing a
mind contcmplalive, and guided by reason
he stunned those rocks and reefs in socie-
ly upon which the young and thoughless
navigator is apt to run his ship that car
rcs him and all his fortunes. The old
Capitol, now so desolate and dilapdatcd,
once thronged with the arislocracy of
wealth, and was the emporium of oul iai
cnt and State. Rutland lorsook the gay
and fashionable aocietv of the metropolis,
aud pursued his studies with an ar lent
devotion. During his collegiate course he
never waved from his fixed resolve: and
amid the golden temptations and glitter
ing invitations to champagne parties. he
remained unscahcd by the rcctitude OF his
mind. lie paid great attention to the
mathematical sciences, and commenced
his studies with Il determination to master
them. During his leisure hours, he
stored his mind with useful information
OF the most abstruse and polite branches
OF literature. An era was fast approach
ing our history fraught with darkness and
| disaster.
British oppression lowered over our
political horizon like an incubus of death,
and the clouds of the revolution were
gathering together and thickcning in dan
ger like the brooding thunder storm that
was destined ere long 10 burst forth with
the destruction Of an eruption of Vesuvi-
us. Whenever time permitted, Rutland
was constant attendant in the House of
Burgesses; he had witnessed the debates
of the patriots, and his youthful heart
beat high for their noble resistance.
The silence of midnight was awakened
as the clock tolled its melancholy hours,
and its strokes reverberated around the
vaulted passages and domiciles of the an
tlque building: The fire cracked cheer
fully on the hearth, and the large oldlash-
Toned reading lamp lighted up the coun-
tcnance OF the anxious student. Before
him lay various volumes of classic and
metaphysical lore, and box of mathemali-
cal instruments were uncased upon the
table. Around the room were fixed shelves
filled with copies Of the choicest English
poets and of the most noted dramatsts.-
lie was leaning over the table, and by the