Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-06-18
From the United States Saturday Post.
HERBERT TRACYj
Or the Legend Of the Black Rangers.
by GEORGE LIPPARD.
CHAPTER w.

her chamber, at the setting sun, win her oeam'
ing face flushed into brigher radiance WIN the
last glimpse Of daylght-her soft blue eyes dim
med with bursting tears-her poutlng ups oil most
delicious yolup,uousness Of shape, parted by the
rising s;gb-snd her golden hued hair, floating
IN glossy richness down each budding cheek, and
.Io1o her arching neck, and finally resting in
beapiiG,l disorder upon her virgin bosom.
The beauty of Marian Waltham was Of that
fascinating character which so finely and delicate
lv blends the spiritual with the material, and
charms the beholder with glance, look OF
tone; which enchans the fancy with every mo.
ton and attracts the Imagination in every altitude,
throwing the golden light Of romance around the
fair form, giving brighter glance to the eye, a
loveler hue TO the velvet cheek, and a winning
aweetness to the tone, which seems to convey the
idea of the hidden soul that words Of human
speech may fail 10 utter.
Lovely as Marian was al all times, she certain.
ly neverseemed more beautiful than on this event.
ful evening, when gazing at the last beams Of sun
set, from the spacious window Of her chamber
situated in the western wing Of major Tracy's
mansion, among the heights Of the Wissahlkon.
Her face, raised gently upward, received en-
each glowing cheek, the soft flush Of sunset her
eyes, her large blue, usIrous orbs, half closed in
dreaming thought, were impeared in startling
tear; her mouth, with its small lips curving with
a fascinating fulness, was slightly opened with
the stlessness Of reverie her full rounded chin,
sank with all the richness of flowing outline, into
the arching neck with its clear transparent hue,
and around the Grecian head, along each bud
ding cheek, and over her neck and shoulder
streamed the luxuriant locks Of her curling hair,
whose bright and silky gold, gistening in the sun
beams, completed the fascination that hovered
round her beauty like veil of light.
Her bust was ample, we'll proporlioned and
swelling in its outline, yet dellcately formed and
full of virgin beauty; her waist small and taper
ing, yet without any appearance OF unnatural
confinement or artificial restraint; and from her
waist downward the proportions of her figure fell
in a volupuous sweep, which gave IndetnabIe
fascination TO every motion of those small and
sofily chisselled feet, whose fairy racery OF form
peeped from beneath the snow-whiIe folds Of the
bridal robe.
And those arms, full, fair, and rounded with
the floating line of grace, barred from the shoul-
der, with their beauty cleaning through the be-
witching sleeves of air-lke lace, and the delicate
hands with miniature fingers half clasped IN front
supporting the golden bracelet, which the maiden
was about TO entwine around the wrist which
needed no such garnish ornament all these
charms-the face, the floating hair, the half
thoughtful, half dreaming attitude, the air oil WIN
ming innocence, the innocence that implies gno-
rance of the worlds customs, which beamed from
the maiden's features-all combined, made her
aecm TO the fascinated eye, pure as she was, a
being to be loved with all the depth Of the pas
sion that springs from high intellect, and be.
ing whose entire SOUL with all its gentle and mod
ss affections, which dissolve in deep and lasting
love, orthe object of her choice.
Marian turned from the bright sunset and ga.
xed around her chamber. Ever since the init
mate friendship of major Tracy and squire Wal
than had given rise TO frequent visits 10 the man
sion Of the former, this chamber had been set a.
part for Marian, and furnished TO her taste. The
furniture was attractive without being gorgeous.
The chamber looked precisely the same as on
the day when the fair Marian first retired within
its precincts to muse on the gallant youth, who
had saved her life, endangered by wild and un-
famed horse, who rushed with herself and faith
er over precpice, and plunged with them into
the waters Of the Wissahikon. She even now
imagined the noble form Of Herbert, confronting
the maddened horse, and when his efforts 10 stay
she speed of the animal were in vain, again the
picture was colored by her fancy, how gallanlly
he sprang into the depths Of the rivulet and drew
her faintng form and that Of her dying father to
she shore. All this, and the subsequent scenes
of the confession Of his love, her acknowledge
ment of mutual passion, and the betrolhal arose
TO her vivid fancy, and the maiden dashed her la-
ther's marriage present, the gaudy bracelet, TO
the floor, and covering her face with her fair
white hands, she sought relief from the pressure
Of thought in flood Of tears.
Her attention was attracted by the sound Of q
footstep, and low voice whispered her name.
She looked up and beheld her father. His frame
was thin and attenuated with disease, his shouI-
ders bent forward with premature extreme old
age, and his slight mass Of grey hair, which fell
from under his invalid's cap, strayed along each
sunken cheek, affording a fearful relief TO the
pale hue of that face, with the features, distort-
ed by pain, the placid eye, the shrunken lip and
contracted brow.
daughter, you are in tears," said Mr.. Wal
sham, laying thin and withered hand upon Ma
ran's shoulder. at were better not TO weep thus
bitterly What must be must. have planned
this marriage, Marian, with an eye single to thy
happiness" he paused, for violent fit Of cough
ing choked his utterance. "When am no more,
MARIAN, you Will neeu ptOs0SNOA' AlSuIeHdnI
Wildwood Tracy"
Marian turned her head away, and concealed
her face in her hands, at the name.
"Nay, Marian, wherefore start you thusl Is
not the lieutenant nobly born, and gallanlIy bred!
Has he not wealth; is not his name enrolled a.
mong the honored and respected of the wordl'
"Father! My troth is plighted to another!''
exclaimed Marian in that decided voice, which
be,okens the frmness of despair-"my troth is
plighted to anoher!" -
IAN outcastand abeggar!" exclaimed strange
voice, and the tall form of major Tracy stood
between the father and daughter-"An outcas
and beggar!" ho continued, as a smile of min.
gled contempt and scorn curved his lips. "Thy