The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-12-28

" * -
him with something of awe and respect
they never questioned him about the
cause of his sorrow.
1t isnot my purpose to detail the va
rious incidents related of him. AS he
grew towards manhood, he evinced fine
talents, and to his friends, his future life
seemed fraught with promise. One
bright Friday afternoon, during the sum
mer in which he attained his twentieth
year, he met, at a pic mic party, with
Emily Frances, the belle of a neighbour
ing village. 1t is, in that section of
country, as it is here, (but to too limit
ed an extent custom to go forth in
companies in the summer time, to shaded
and romantic spots, TO while the day
away in sweet cessation from toll and
care, and with gay young men and bright
and laughing girls to engage in wild
rompings and fun, which, while giving
delight to the passing hour, prepare those
who engage in them to enter with re-
newed vigor and zcst on the duties and
pursuits Of life. had been on lie SPOT
where the pic mic was held. Out from
among huge towering rocks, clear
stream came rushing, white with foam
as snow drift, and roaring like mid
night gale as it sprang from ledge to
ledge down to boiling basin at the foot
of the hill. Quietly gliding thence, it
rolled away between green level banks,
along which stood, thinly scattered, great
northern poplars end sugar naples, their
topsfa enough from INTERVIEWING to allow
patches of sunshine to fall down, here
and there, on the grass below. At that
wild cascade, Martin Howard met Emf
ly Frances. Beneath those great prime
val trees on the green border Of that
sweet Strcamlet, they rambled away from
the merry crowd, alone together. Hand
some, idolized and rich, he had attrac-
tons for Enthusiastically beautiful, dash
ing in dress and manner, and the 'ad-
mired Of all admirers" she had attrac-
tons, irresistible, for him. Such the
joyous occasion, such the wild and beau
titul of Nature around, such the two
young hearts beating in symphonious
accord-it was not wonderful that low
ing glances led Oh to loving expressions,
and that vows Of lifelong love were ut
tered. They left the little crowd, known
only to each other by report-they came
back to it from the stroll of an hour, be-
trothed, All! the work of that hour.
No doubt, their expressions Of love were
honest-no doubt they thought their at
tachment was real. Was it I've shall
see.
Areyouy young, myreader1 are you, with
heart undecided in its affections, ming
ling with those, who like yourself, long
to meet with sympathetic soul! Take
care!
"Life hath quicksands, life hath snarcs;"
in moment of sweet delight, when
warm hand is clasped with yours, when
loving eyes in yours are beaming, when
heart and thought and circumstance all
lead to love--take care. that in such a
moment, you are not led to express an
attachment, or to form an engagement,
condemned by your returning Judgment
and at war with those interests which
your future happiness demands should be
considered. All! what misery | have
seen produced by hasty vows of love-
some, broken, led to broken hearts
some, to which the lie was given by
heart and mind when the moment Of
frenzy that gave them birth was past, but
kept by the cold resolve Of honor, have
led to the martyrdom of all affection, and
to whole lives of woe.
CHAP. ".
| must pass rapidly on to the end of
my story, leaving many incidents unre-
lated, for | find | have consumed more
time than INTENDED.
The day Martin reached his majority
was fixed for their marriage-it happen
ed to come on Friday, and the happy
triday of his engagement, and the hap
py prospective Friday Of his marriage,
led him 10 hope the curses OF his ill-tated
day, were 10 give way to blessings. On
that day his guardian was to deliver into
his hands, his fortune, which had reach,
ed to eighty thousand dollars, and which
with what Martin though within, but
to which he did not object-he had for
long time been converting into avail
able cash. The day came; at the house
of the uncle of Emily brilliant assem-
blagc had met--youth and beauty were
there, and the wings Of bright Joy fam
ed their faces into smiles of delight. The
day was passing and Martin had not
come. Hour after hour had glided by,
and still he had not come. Smiles had
given way to looks of deep concern, and
feelings of surprise and wonder found
monosyllabic expression in the little
groups, that filled the windows looking
out on the road by which he was to ap.
proach. Presently his well known hor-
SEES were seen, and the breathless sus-
Pense which had been reigning, was fol-