Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-08

ceived again the alteration Of crowd oil
enraptured lovers.
AT the age Of eighteen visited rela.
tive, an officer Of the United States army.
This was my first opportunity of becom-
ing intimate with professional soldiers,
though with those quack soldiers who pa
rade once year through our streets and
over the greens, had been sufficiently ia.
miliar to despise their vanity and doubt
their courage. had attended what they
called military balls;" and the ostrich
feathers, star spangled coats of all colors,
and all the other superfuites, constantly
reminded me. when thought of the eve.
ry-day dresses and employments Of the
wearers, of those animals in menagerie,
which the keepers ornament with velvet
frocks and gold-laced trowsers, to excite
the risibles of the spectators. But here
was thrown into the society OF men-men
whom knew to be noble, from their bear
ing, their countenances, and their CONVEX
sation. Our sex is accused of Partially
for soldiers; and men who know us not,
ascribe this Partially TO the fascination of
a gaudy dress. "Turkeys and women
are fond of red rags" said that surly
great man, DR.. Johnson, and thousands Of
surly little men have since his day per.
petuated the contemplate sarcasm. But
those who know and love us better will
more justly ascribe our fondness for mill.
tary men 10 the peculiar qualities which
they possess for the fascination Of the sex.
They are generally noble and command.
ing in appearance and address well edu.
Gated, and acquainted with the world and
with women they understand well that
airy kind of conversation which best suits
our tastes and imaginations. 1t is more.
over one great article of their creed to
idolize woman and for this too we very
naturally give them our admiration.
| was supremacy happy Immediately on
my arrival at my relatives station for !
was worshipped by men whose lofty and
gallant bearing toward me and toward
each other contrased happily with that to
which had before been accustomed
Among those who were attentive to me
here, was an officer Of southern birth,
proud and stately man, with can eye
like Mars" and figure the very beau
ideal Of strength, agility and elegance.
His conversation was even more fascinat-
ing than his person and | was at first
mortified that he made me feel so sensibly
my inferiority in intellect, in education,
and in every thing. "Can he see any
thing in me worthy Of admiration 2" !
asked myself. felt him to be "too dear
for my possessing" yet thought him in.
terested in my conversation and the idea
arose now and then: "will it not be pos.
si6le to win his love 7" determined to
devote my energies to the trial. An at
tempt to initiate him, felt would not only
be fruitlcss, but ridiculous. determined
always to meet him with humble JOY 10
lead the conversation to some subject
which would draw forth his stores of inior.
nation, and then to listen in expressive
silence. appeared to know nothing,
but to be DESTROYS of learning every thing
from his lips. He found me 10 be an apt
pupil and soon discovered that he was
as anxious to teach as was to learn.--
Our walks began to increase in length
and frequency, and found that lored,
with an ardor and devotion that no warn.
ing would have been able to diminish or
impair. How could help loving him ?
lie was the first man of genius had ever
known; the first Of my acquaintance
whose superiority TO myself had ever
been obliged to feel one whose exalted
beauty was so striking, that never did man
or woman obtain single glance, without
seeking a second and longer gaze. AS |
listened to his eloquent language, while
he commented on the affection of his ia.
vorite Shakespeare for the unknown and
unworthy object VINO SO grossly deceived
him, tears of UNDERSTANDABLE passion stole
down my cheek, and he knen my soul
was his. In silence he kissed my hand,
and ] inferred from that silence that his
hear, was lull and my eager fancy pic
cured the unspeakable happiness of days to
come. Yet again we parted, without any
definite or personal conversation upon the
universal and to me all-absorbing theme.
NV uneasy and excited vision soon saw,
that at the picnic and the dance he seem.
ed to be as much delighted with others as
with myself, while desired his whole at.
tention. He laughed, and jested, and
danced with every body; and hence
took it upon myself to be very jealous
did no, reflect that he had never breath.
ed syllable about love to me.
An opportunity soon presented itself, &c
discover the truth. He invited me &c
take drive with him in his chaise. a
ride in chaise, in solitary and roman.
tic road, is not The most inconvenient cir.
cumstance in the world, when the discov-
cry of tender sentiment is hoped for
and finally made him see as dellca,ely,
though as resolutely as possible, that a
mutual understanding was desirable. He
saw my object; stopped his horse, took
my hand, pressed it fervently, looked
meltngy into my eyes for moment, and
in accents of deep and unavailing sorrow,
said, as he turned away his head, F" Mary,
Mary, my heart left in The Highlands o.
Virginia"
When saw from his manner that he
die indeed regard me with tenderness,
scarcely retained my self-command. Blu,
again INST his glance, and gazed, ifhap-
PLY might discover ray of hope. He
understood my inquiring look, and an
swered it Immediately by one of stern
| 1I. al M return" said he md