The North-Carolina standard., 1842-10-19

pected" zss
Something singularly interesting about this
mysterious young woman compelled Mr. Ander-
son to slacken his pace, and offer his arm, which
was accepted with the freedom of an old acquaint-
ance. The hill being tedious to ascend, many
were the opportunities of turning round and ami
madverting on the delectable surrounding scene
ry Surely nothing can equal the charms OF West
Point in the much-vaunted island views OF En-
gland What the lakes of Westmoreland and
Cumberland present in miniature, are seen on a
grand scale through the whole lengthtof the Elud-
SON. So fascinated did the young person appear,
that if as Mr. Anderson suspected, she had an IN
cognito to observe, she was thrown of her guard
He saw in the plain girl with close straw bon
net, which milliner's apprentice would disdain
to wear in Broadway or Chatham street, superb
or mind cultivated to an extraordinary degree.-
He listened to her remarks with asonishment, and
frequently glanced inquisitively from her to the
elder couple as though he would say: "Tis de-
ception; she cannot be their nieceF
AT one moment she exclaimed: "Here [ shall
stay at least week; 1 must sketch some of these
beautiesl" -
$50 she is an artist r' said Anderson to himself;
s:f must find out who she is"
Well, to Cozzens' that prince of gentlemanlke
inn-keepers, they got at last, and again Anderson
consulted the book of entry, but with the same
success as at the landing; nothing met his eye but
"Mr. Williamson, wife and niece" At dinner
time vacant chair by the nieces side offered him
a further opportunity of observing character and
he fecitated himself that chance had brought him
acquainted with female far above the coquetish
arts so usually adopted by pretty women. But if
! Anderson was pleased with the old couples niece
she on the other hand could not fail to be so with
| him His address was free from that licent1ous
| boldness which the musachioed dandies of the
present day assume in their ordinary intercourse
with females; nor there any thing that savored
of levity in his discourse with them while yet no
pclantry of manner stamped him vain-glorious.
Love was entirely out of the question between
the parties at the iuncture we commemorate; but
certainly, ofthe host of individuals then under
Cozzens' roof these two preferred the society of
each other to all others. They possessed similar
tastes, had nothing in common with the pleasure
hunting crowds visiting Catskill, Saratoga, and
Niagara Falls; and in whatever spot they found
themselves temporarily placed they could extract
from the objects presented to their view, themes of
qualification, amusement and edifcation. Thus
the first afternoon delightfully."- passed ram
bling together throughout the precincts ofthe Mil
| itary Academy; Witnessing the exercises of the
Cadets, listening to the band, and discussing until
night such topics as intellectual companions would
naturally select, Before parting, Anderson re-
marked:
eIt is rather awkward that should be permit
name to address you"
"Names signify nothing" replied the other; ;
| sthey however have their uses. Call me Selma,
! if you please: it is indeed my name"
| "Might that not be verging on the familiar ?"
asked Anderson; ~ observed your worthy uncle
booked as Mr.. Williamson May presume the
same to be your name ?'
"Not at ALL" was the reply; amy name is, as
informed you, Selma. Now yours, if you
! please"
II am commonly called Captain Anderson ="
he replied, respectfully bowling And they part
ed for the night
| How, during two tedious days, Anderson miss
ed his agreeable companion, need not be inquired
into; buttha not meeting her sore disap-
pointment may sanction the idea that there is such
a thing as being :ove-struck" The long dining
table, though crowded, seemed to him empty. It
might be thought that the Captain was on the sick
list, for he ate little and drank less At first he
feared the party had quilted West Point, but his
apprehension quieted on learning from SER
want that the uncle had gone in the morning boat
to New York, and that until his return, his wife
and niece would be waited on in their private apart
ment.
On the return of the uncle their acquaintance
was renewed. l shall pass over the minutie of
what succeeded during the space of month; the
young lady's time being chiefly occupied in trans
ferring those exquisite views for which West Point
is so renowned. And certainly Anderson was
not less agreeably employed for by some secret
sympathy the spots selected by the fair i,cogmito
were precisely those he preferred; and she was
not so tenacious of privacy as to make mystery
of the manner in which she intended to occupy
herselfthe succeeding day. They met constantly
and spent much time in each others company ;
did the presence of the old folks at all inter-
, rupt their harmony; for whatever was beginning q
to be the private feelings ofthe one or the other so
perfectly regulated was the we'll ordered mind of
each that not a word or action could escape, that
might not have been "emblazoned to the assembled
world"
Here we may as we'll as in any other place lift
the veil in respect to Anderson He was an op-
ulent southern planter, not of very juvenile age,
but still bachelor. According to custom he was
wearing the summer season in northern journey
ngs, without any specific object and his duration
of abode in any one place depended altogether on
circumstances That the plainly habited Selma,
though no beauty and ofan age to choose her
own guardian, that is to say little under thirty
was the magnet attaching him to Cozzens Hotel
must plainly be seen without doubt she felt it,
and probably with qualification; for she had the
tact to discover his true character, and the good
sense justly to appreciate it.