Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-10-05
CLAEESsBURG, Wednesday, EOGT0BER Ssh, ls5ss

/ ed brow, Alice let the curtains again fall
around the bed. and crept softly back to
her seat by the fire. Lifting a small
writing desk from the table, she placed it
upon her knees. and selected her paper
r ..One hundred pages common manu-
script" said She, quoting from the news
paper paragraph, and smile crept over
her sweet lips. as she added do, IN
deed, know very little about it, scarce
Ily know how to arrange the paper IN a
/ proper manner.
For a few moments, the fair girl bent
her head in deep thought, then suddenly
shaking back her curls. with gesture OF
limpatience, she exclaimed- -
..The plot must unfold itself as pro-
/ gress never yet had patience to begin
ANYTHING when 1 knew beforehand just
exactly how it would end r. 3la5ne7
i And seizing her pen, she bent over her
task and paused not again.
The hours flew by, and Alice still wrote
on. Her cheek flushed and paled alter
! nately, and the hand that held The pen
trembled nervously from the ardor OF
Its lonely labor The FIRE in her eye grew
brighter as the flush of excitement deep.
ened in her cheek, and sleep was for
gotten in the Enthusiasm of the new pro-
lect.
The candle suddenly fiickered an
flashed up for moment, and went out
Alice looked up with "a start and saw the
daylight struggling in through the win
dows. She rose, and approaching the
easement which the willow shaded,
pressed her fevered brow close to the cool
glass, as she looked forth.
The rain had ceased, but the clouds
were vet heavy, and the branches of the
willow hung wet and dropping against
the house. 1t was landscape of dusky
gloom: and as Alice turned quietly away,
in order not to awaken her MOTHER the
old tree. moved by some sudden gust
again leaned against the house, and gave
out prolonged moan
Alice stared timidly; there was such ad
sense of loneliness in her heart that the
superstition about the bad omen struck
forcibly upon her spirits. and dread OF
being alone prompted her to go in quest
of old Lucy. the only servant the house
afforded.
Wrapping her light form in heavy
shawl, she softly opened the door OF her
mothers room, and with trembling step
glined down flight of oaken stairs. and
gained the bedside of the faithful old do
mestic.
As Alice closed the door behind her.
old Lucy awakened with a start. and.
rubbing her eyes, looked wildly around.
Finally, fixing her gaze upon her young
mistress, she exclaimed
"La Miss Alice. dat you? Bress
my-heart, if didn't think it was just some
phost or other, come to 'sturb my SOUL
What's the matter now. Miss? Is old
missus wus, or anything, that you's out O.
bed.
Hush, Lucy don't make any noise.
Mother is as well as usual, and asleep !;
but the old willow kept such sawying
and moaning, didn't like to stay alone.
and thought I'd come to you little
while.'
"Sure." returned Lucy sympathizing-
Iv ..Well. dat olearee is allus doin' like
O. dat when troubles comm. lse mark
ed dat thousand times, and ole missns
knows it too. You see," continued Lu-
cy. scratching her head, and trying to
suppress a yawn, as she began to dress
herself, s'dat trees stood hers ever since
de house fvs built, and Lord knows how
much longer, and tink it knows about
as much as pusson bout some tings.-
'Tsny rate. it's allus sign of trouble
when it means like in storm. p.
! Spite of Alice's own dread and terplda-
ton, she could not suppress smile at the
deep-rooted superstition Of old Lucy
siNeedu't sit dar and laugh, Miss Al
ice," exclaimed the old woman. "What
l tell you is Just as true as preachin'. lse
lived in dis house to see it change hands
half a dozen of times, and Ise noticed al
lers dis truff bout the tree. and when you
hear it moan and groan like somebody
sick wild de cholera, dare's trouble in de
wind. L tell you; but la. Miss. how pale
YOU is Guess you didn't sleep much
las night; s'pose you just come into the
other room, and take snooze on de So
ia, whilst get de breakfast"
And old Lucy having finished dressing,
held the door open for her young mistress
| to pass through, and then followed her in
| to a large square room. the furniture of
which. massive and dark. and of antique
pattern, showed plainly that it had seen
quite as many years as the old house It.
self.
Lucy brought pillow. and the young
authoress. weary with writing. and worn
out for want of sleep. stretched herself
upon the sofa. and soon fell into what the
old negress pronounced sound slum-
ber."
Alice was awakened from short but
most refreshing sleep by a low tapping at
the door, and rising. she hastily stroked
her hair into order with her white hands,
and proceeded to admit the intruder.
..Good morning. cousin Robert she
exclaimed. as bright blush mantled to
her very brow. ''You see." she contin-
ned with soma confusion. az have been