Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-12

When night again let fall her sable cur
tain, | was comfortably lodged at the
somew hat noted village Of L-
After leaving Ii
had not gone many miles, VIXEN | was
overiaken by a splendid looking lady,
mounted on beautiful horse, and travelling
at a rather rapid rate. As she passed me
! made her formal salutation, which she
promptly returned, but With the same
formaliiy. So soon as she passed me,
she rcigncd up her horse and seemed to
regulate her speed TO suit that which | was
travelling at; which as nearly as can cal
culate was at the rate Of about ten miles
day. | rode on close behind her for some
dis'ance,ad hiring her graceful appearance
She was indeed beautiful aud elegant
looking lady, and was several times on
the point of riding up and introducing
myself, bnt was as often deferred by the
fear Of acting imprudcutly. She however
still rode on at my slow gait, which | took
as some encouragement, ard finally deter
mined to speak to her,
Though he'll should gapc,
And bid me hold my pence
Accordingly,by dig of the spur, which
ought TO have awakened some rcmorse of
conscience, brought old Whitley, in
dead trot, up by her side. then address
ed some remark to her in regard to the
state of the roads, or some such vital sub
ject, which she chccrfully responded to.
In making this response IA heavenly smile
played over her beautiful countenancc,
mich at once removed all embarrassment,
and encouraged me TO proceed | soon
found her to he as amiablc, accomplished
and intelligent, as she was beautiful.
My great aim now was to make myself
Interesting; and here | kecnly felt nv
deficiency in conversational powers. l
however made an universal effort on this
occasion, and in riding eight miles (Which
was the distance that we Travelled togetherl
| told her of more towering peaks, natural
bridges, and wonderful curosities seen in
my travels, Ilian could, fear, be well
substanliated by history. | don't know
but that even spoke Of The Anthropo-
phagi and Canihals that one another cat"
and all this as having come under my own
personal observation. in the mountains Of
western Virginia. One thing is certain:
Ned Hazard never saw more on his trip
" around the horn' than | related TO this
beautiful stranger. But we soon arrived
at the end Of the eight miles, ard
- 9 slowly as we rode, it seemed to me
that | never before attained that distance in
half so short time.
BY this time, had told her my name
and She had tod me hers; and now that
we had arrived at the roads that were to
part US, more than likely forever, | rode
little in front of her, and if Lord Ches-
tcrield had been there and witnessed the
gentle good bye" it is to be presumed
that he would from that moment have
recommended the study Of etiquette After
taking leave turned and rode slowly and
sadly away, expecting to see the beautiful
face and hear the soft musical voice of my
chamer no-more. But | had proceeded
but short distance, when she called to
me to know if would not like for her to
give me some farther instruction as to the
roads. Atthis | might well have excIaim.
ed,
g That voice again
Oh 1t comes DER my soul like the sweet south
wind
That breathcs "a a bank of yiolcts'
And when think Of the suddenness with
which | brought old Whitley to a right
about, and Of the great similarity between
his activity and that of "a Highland terra
PIN, | am TO this hour astonished that his
heels did not fly from under him; but
against all the principles Of philosophy,
with which am acquainted, he did main
tain his feet, and the Knight Of La Mancha,
never advanced more CALAMITY upon an
imaginary foe, than tro;icd up to hear
these instructions. After she had finished
her directions | returned my thanks and
with greater effort Than | remember
ever 10 have made before, added, that !
was sorry that we had TO part SO soon.
When she was out of sight turned to
take last lingering lock at the eight miles
of country that had Just nassed over and
| have no doubt but tina, look bore a strong
resemblance 10 that which,
Toilus cast toward the Grecan tents
Where Cresid lay that night
felt that theeight miles travelhad am
ply compensated me for allprivations and
hardships to be undergone in the rest of my
pilgrima ge-and hereafter when memory
shall revert TO the scenes Of my present
wandering life, this little incident will pre-
sent itself as a green spot smiling in the
desert GIL BIAS.
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