The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-03-06

peared 10 be the lie. PerhapS the Pang
that shot through her bosom at his avoid
ance of her society, did more towards ac-
quainting her with her own feelings, than
month of The ususl intercourse Of visitors at
the Falls would have done.
At length the party arrived at the end of
their journey, and after viewing the Falls,
dispersed themselves into groups. and saun-
tered about preparatory 10 returning. Ellen
was soon surrounded by numerous suite
of gentlemen, for she was unques!ionably
the belle of the party. But still Seymour
avoided her group, except occasionally. He
seemed to be chained to the side of the beau
,iful Dos,onian, TO whom he had been SO
assiduous on the preceding evening, and
who was evidently fattered--as who would
not beat his attentions. Ellen felt again
tha, pang at her bosom, but suppressing
her emotion by such an effort as woman
only can command, she launched out the
gayest conversation, nor was it long before
she had enchanted those suitors by her wit,
whom, at first, she had attracted by her
Beauty. Yet even then she could not regard
her titled admirer with any sentiment ex-
cept disgust. She knew that, but for him,
Seymour would not be at her side, But
she could not avoid reproaching him for
deserving her, when neither by word nor
action had she herself sighted him, whatever
others might have done.
What strange thing is the heart! 1t
suffers itself often to become inextricably
involved ia the meshes of that master pass
ion, LOVE, long before i. discovers to its
owner how utterly its liberty is gone. And
then, when the victim would endeavor to
regain its freedom, how suotily land slowly,
and surely itresists every attempt, and per-
haps ultimately triumphs. Nothing can be
more profound than the deception it often
prac,ises upon its victims, 1t suffers them
to love, yet persuades them they are still
free. A word, a look, gesture will be
treasured up in the memory. and this toe
will continue, day by day, and week by
week, and yet the victim is made to believe
that there is nothing in it but friendship
until some sudden remark some unexpected
train of events, brings on the denouement
and the victim discovers at once its decep
ton, and its love.
Meantime, the party had set forth in it:
y return; and Ellen was again surrounded by
+ a troop of admirers On horseback. Seymour
, still, however, kept aloof, until an inciden
occurred, which, in few rapid moments
altered the whole face of events.
The party had not proceeded far, wheI
they passed near some workmen engaged
in quarrying stone. and just as Ellen ant
E her group approached, an explosion tool
place in a dangerous proximity to the rider
| The consequence was, for the moment,
general CONSERVATION. Several of the hor
. ses began TO rear frightfully, and the one OIL
f which Ellen sat, after plunging for a few
seconds, took the bit in his mouth, an
e darted furiously ahead.
a The alarm now became universal, land tn
j.. screams of the ladies', and the shouts of tn
n male portion Of the company only served t
i increase the speed of the frightened steed
4 Meantime none knew what to do. Tn
terrified animal was careering toward tn
;, rivers side, at that point terminating in a
e abrupt precpice, and though every on
II cried out to save her, noEe made the al
h tempt, Ellen, however, still kept her sea
r firmly, though the imp!oring look that sh
cast backward upon the company betraye
c her consciousness of her peril. But at thi
|. instant Seymour, who had been some dis
o tance behind, perceiving her danger, instea
}. of calling to others as the rest were doing
d gave spurs 10 his horse, and dashed in pun
o suit Of Ellen.
p For few minutes the pace at which the
d went was tremendous. Nothing stage
e their progress. Now crashing among tn
l. forest trees, and now leaping over seeming
is ly impossible barriers they soon gained th
l. precipitous banks of the river. They wer