Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-02-25
caARLEsTOWN, JEFFERSON COUNTY,


\ with Der feelings; foFjUst al the time sbe
believed that be returned the love lie
| felt for him. bis devoted attentions vide
Itsanged to distant. resrectful poIiis-
l1ess; and now when they met. which
was but seldom. there was . Neonslraint In
his manner almos; amounting TO rude
ness. But still she loved him; still,
though none knewit. she dreamed OF NE
happy by gone hoors 10 which she bsd
tfcodly imagined her love reformed; she
could not forget.
+
Dimly burned the lamp in the Stu
denis room-dafk were the fantastic sta.
dpws its Pickering fame threw upon tbk
bare walls but more gloomy were tina,
Students thoughts-more dark and un
certain were bis prospects. He vas one
who bad been reared in the lap 81 Iuxu-
" one who had been taught 10 look lit.
ward 10 q life OF ease and happiness II
| His childhood spent among kind friends,
had been all sunshine. But this passed.
away. Manhood came-snd be COM
menced The study Of law. He was ami
bilious; he painted for fame; aud wild
were his dreams Of success. But another
and more powerful passion took posses
sion Of hint was love He loved witL
all the fervor Of which generous. nature
I ID capable. TIE object Of his ambition
now vas not simply The praise Of his fell.
low men; be did moi now devote bis dsys
and nights. and bis talents. 10 gain dis
tinc,ion alone. but lba, be might offer .
proud name with his wealth. 10 her he
lloyed. But his hopes were blishted- his
dream Of happiness was broken. His IA.
ther, upon whose wealth and influence BE
mainly depended for advancement in lfs,
died a bankrupt. and be was left to bis
pTn 4xeriions. almost without support
The one he loved was now, 10 the eyes
Of the world. far above him; her family
was wealthy; he was poor Too proud
10 seek her hand when her friends might
look upon him as beneath ihe N, and Al
ba wing nercensry yiewsiu doing So; TOP
mol le and high-minded 10 atiempt TO gain
her affections against their will be con
aled bis love aud avoided her presence
( Such was Walter Claudop -such The
character Of him whom Alice Alton
loved. Need we say that she was tie ob.
ject Of his love-
For hours he had been sitting, lost ID
gloomy thought. The dim light Of The
lamp, as it fell upon bis face, showed
thai il was pale And hsggard. He was
sick al heart; and the quivering lip, the
short dravn breath. and the huge drops
Of perspira'ion standing on his manly
brow. denoted but Too plainly the ipIeG-
sityI oil bis sufsrings. Though he haG
succeeded in hiding bis love from 9th
ers. he had not stiAed il 10 bis wn bosom
there il reigned in all its FRS; power
He had not even attempted to quench il;
for be had ever entertained a faint hope
that be would some day obtain the object
Of his desires-and this. faint as it was,
cbeered him onward. But on this eve-1
ming, as il it were bis fate not even 20
hope, be had armed for the first time,
that Alice was TO marry George Mel
Vile. Obi the wie,chedness. the deep
dread misery OF that hour W hen the heart
is FIRST left desoIaie; when it finds that il
must tear itself away from the idols il has
worshipped, the bright hopes it has cher.
isbe d I! : What ages Of mental action aud
Of mental agony are then compressed in
10 one short moment-wbat mighty floods
Of grief pour over The soul, sweeping 10
their passage every stay upon which We
once leaned, every vestige Of happiness,
and changing the once cheerful buoy 40 !.
cy Of spirit, 10 The cold, dull apathy Of
despair-sye, even destroying our very
tcapacity 70. enjoyment. How The faint
soul. looking around for sympathy and
consolation, and fading none, grows sick
Of life-how il longs 10 be free from the
dreary monotony Of earthly existence, 10
soar shove lis sorrows.
Tbs misery Walter Clandon felt as be
sat 10 that lonely room. Where, now,
were all his visions Of future fame p
Where. now. the fair pictures his imagi
kna,ion b. d formed Of happiness with her
he lovedi Gone, as all our dreams Of
happiness 10 this world must gol Life TO
| him was now void; be had naught to
live for, naught TO hope for-even ambi-
tion's spell was broken. why liyef"
was ihe dark thought that crossed bis
mind. "Why drag out miserable exist
ences There is not single being 10 The
whole universe to weep for me--and is
4 not the only one that do. that can love,
! lost 10 me forever, Will Il not soon be
/ sinful for me even 10 think Of hers-
/ Does she not love another! She eoes
4 she does r. he exclaimed aloud. b.. bu-
i rying his face 10 his hands, his whole
| trans shook with bis agony. The thought
was tnaddening. He started up and frar.
/ tieslly pressed bis throbbing temples -
i His ewes glarea reason had almost lost
her hold. He seized pistol that lay up
on the. table before him-one moment,
and Il was at bis TEN plea touch Of the
4 Trigger. and his earthly cares would have
been ended! Why did be hesi,a,e'
Il The wedding night came around 81
i Light hearts. brishiland cheerful faces,
were there. The Joyous laugh, the witty
\ SAYING. and quick rrpsriee. few around
as bliihely As IL sorrow were stranger Il
Il every heart 10 that gay company. Light
Il .houghilsss creatures Of sixteen, staid ma,
| irons. youths aod sellIee-looking lmsrriet
4 men were assembled ihere-and al were
j happy. Yes. ell. save she for whose plea
sure they had mel-lhe consummsiiol
j Of whose happiness they bad come 10 Wit
II ness. Wha. mockery That heart
II which they thought 50 full Of joy. wss :
! that very nfbment sching. aye slmos
: bursting with misery. But she dared no