Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-08

perceived emerging from the high road, and, at
hurried pace, proceeding up the garden walk of
small but neat cottage situated at short dstan,
from the chapel Of ST. Catharine, near the town
Guildford, the opening scene of cur tale. We wi
not leave the reader i'm doubt to who the srang,
was or the nature of his GRAND our subject is on
OIL too serious character TO admit Of trfiing wit
his curiosity 1t was the hero -four tale, Lieuten
ant Cowley. lie had been summoned from for
egn cline, where his safety had compelled him Il
sock refuge, and whittier he had gone on the day
that the fatal duel had taken pIace-summoned U
help to smooth the dying bed of the dearest obec
OF h's affections, OF or berone--beloved lamenteC
heroine, Henrietta Sandford. She, poor thing as
was apparent to all around her, was not long for this
world Unschooled in trials and Affections her
gentle, fragile spirit had sunk beneath the blow
which 1t received when the intelligence of the crime
OF Cowley, and its consequences first reached her
ears; and now the tide Of life was ebbng fast, and
her spirit her pure and holy spirit was about to re-
Turn To Him who gave it.
Immediately upon the arrival of Cowley being
Known, he was admitted into the apartment of Hen
rictta and there scene well calculated 10 cause
me tender chord of sympathy to vbrate, even in a
IeSS Interested individual, met his eye. There, on
couch supported by pillows, lay his innocent and
second victim; her laDguid eye pallid countenance
iihpeuea respiration, speaking in a manner too loud
10 be mistaken, that the change the solemn chanpe.
was near "A dear young friend sat by the bedside.
Win countenance expressive of the deepest ankle
| =
nee oil moisening with water the dry and marched
lips OF the invalid her brother sat at the foot OF the
bed, struggling with his emotions, and notwitb
standing every effort TO the contrary a tear would
now and then force channel down his check Bit
the apartment contained other individuals; there
were mother and father there, and mothers
and fathers feelings, too, in exercise.
Inc meeting between Henrietta and Cowlcy
was as might have been expected, trying neither
spoke, but their silence expressed more than words
Stp shoI III, ~,
which had taken place in the appearance of the o.
Their: Cowley himselfwas certainly much altered (:
his form had become much attenuatcd, and his
countenance much paler, during the few weeks he
mad been absent from the country and well thew
might be, for they had been weeks of the deepest
mental suffering. Oh how quickly does this shake
Tue honiest fabric, when once its nroads are COM
menced how soon will sorrow undermine the
strongest constitution, and send the nourner to the
grave
"Well, Henry at last exclaimed Henrietta. for
the ilrst time breaking the silence, while tear
tricked down her cheek, ''you have come 10 seq
me, but you have come for the last time-I am well
aware that cannot DO long in this world. Oh
Henry how could you act as you have done o.
how could you? But though | seem to blame YOU.
yet forgive--from the bottom OF my heart fn-
give you!-and / fed
But her voice faltered the excitement which his
presence occasloned and the eXertion necessary i'm
speaking, completely oyerpowered her and she faint
Henrietta, my daughter II Henrietta, Henriet.
ia exclaimed the agonized mother s'she is dead,
She Is dead May the curse ola parent rest on
your head' Lieutenant Cowley, and follow you to
the grave, for robbing me ofmy dear child my only
daughter! Oh! what shall do and she rush
ed franticy from the ROOM
Cowley needed her not, and il he had her words
would hardly have grated on his ears The rack
ihgs OF MS brain, the agonies of his mind had al
ready arrived at such crisis, that ten times the A.
mount of misery, ay, and ten times ten, would have
made but little difference in his state; his whole
frame quivered with emotion, his voice became cho-
ked, and he sat down by the bedside, covering his
face with his hands.
"Water-water! were the first sounds which
indicated the approach consciousness of the diving
girl; ''oh give me-some water" Her request
was instantly complied with, and placing it to her
hps, she drank portion Of it with an avdiy which
could only DO equalled by some traveller long de-
priyed OF II amidst the dry and parched deserts of
Arabia.
Although recovered, yet ii was very evident to
those friends who surrounded her bedside that she
was niomentarily getting weaker; her voice now
evidently failed her, her eyes were closed. shs
oreathed with great difficulty, and seemed 10 take
no notice OF what was passing. The ewes of all
present were fixed silently upon her and each seem
ed to feel that the last conflict was close at hand
Aftelthe lapse OF a few minutes, the clock which
hungfn the apartment chmed the hour of f,ur.
Henrietta opened her eyes, and turned them almost
mechanically to the spot whence the sounds pro
ceeded, and then fixed them upon Cowley. Asliph,
conyuSlve shudder seized her frame, and her spiris
was at rest forever.
No one spoke silence that might almost be felt
'or some minutes pervaded the apartment from
whence the soul had just taken It's flight but at last
the sied sob Of the aged and bereaved father told
what strife was going within, and he left tho
ROOM Ali then retired, but Cowley fingered when
the rest had gone aud sitting down by the bedside
over the form OF the lifeless Henrietta, wep like
child
On that day week. the remains Of this once lovo-
ly girl were committed to the dark, cold grave
five years have elapsed since then, and now, in
passing through the churchyard, at a short distance
from her final resting place, may be perceived a
plain marble tablet, erected to the memory of Lieu
tenant Cowley.