Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-10-26

they seated themselves TO rest.
Harvey, meanwhile, had resumed his
seat in the doorway. and sat with his
arms folded over his breast, and his keen
gaze fixed upon the countenance OF Lena.
The young people were eagerly con-
yersing upon the beauty of the scene
spread out before them, and Robert ear
nestly exerted himself to dispel by his
own kindness, all the unpleasant effects
which Harvey's manner might have pro-
duced upon his companion.
Leaning upon his arm Lena watched
the sun as he went down behind a bank
of clouds in the distant west. All the
gorgeousness of royalty seemed spread
out before her in that 'upper deep" on
which she gazed, and all the passionate
enthusiasm of her nature, (that enthusi
asm SO rarely awakened in her breast
was called forth as she looked thereon.
Suddenly the wind whistIed with low,
mournful sound round the mountain; and
Harvey rose quickly up and went forth
from his cabin. For moment he view
ed the sky with the experienced eye of
one long accustomed to note its every
change then approaching Robert. he
laid his hand upon his shoulder and said,
Young man, a heavy storm is brew
I inc. II it oyerLakes you on the broken
mountain path, you well-know what dan
gers will betide YOU. If you start lmme-
diatelv for home you may possibly escape
/ it. If YOU tarry and trouble befalls you,
remember that you were warned in
time -
So SAYING, Harvey walked away.
| Lets not eo," said Lena. ''See, there
are very few clouds, and they surely
threaten no storm. That old man seems
to have an antipathy for me, and really
begin almost to fear him. He talks OF
danger only to get rid of our company,
though I'm sure l never harmed him, and
in fact, never saw him until that morning
at the Manor"
As Robert FASTENED to unite the hor-
ses, Harvey approached him, and said,
in Il deep, husky voice. only audible to
the young mans ear-
Beware, Robert Grant, how you bring
that Girl into my presence. Remember
that the sins Of the fathers are visited
upon the children Sometimes, when
the past is brought up too vividly, l be-
come n desperate man.
/ With these words he passed quickly in
10 his hut. and the shooting of 4 ponder
GUS bolt told the young equestrians that
no protection would be offered them.
The descen; of the mountain was even
more difficult than the ascent. and the
road, shaded at all times by the thick
trees which grew upon one side and the
rocks which lay piled upon the other,
was now rendered absolutely gloomy by
the added shadow OF the gathering clouds
whose increasing blackness threatened
every moment to discharge their dreaded
contents. The moonlight they had anti
cipated was utterly obscured, and night
fall came upon them there on that noun
tain path, with all the threatening fury
of a fierce tempest. rapidly approaching.
Robert would have given not little of
his best blood, could he at that moment
have placed his companion in place of
safety but so TO do was out of his pow
er and he could only protect her course
rs best he could.
The night had now fairly set in. and
the Iarkess was now becoming impene
trable. The rain had commenced falling
in torrents, and the road rendered wet
and slippery by the pouring water, scarce
gave foothold to the terrified horses
The fierce lightning and heavy thunder,
followed by the shrieking blast. sent
thrill of terror even to the firm heart OF
Robert; but Lena sat on her horse in all
her qucenly majesty. her brow unbcnt,
and no sign of fear in all her bearing,
save the ashen hue of her cheek, as the
lightning displayed it to her companion.
As it became now almost impossible to
guide the horses by the reins, and the
path was becoming every moment more
difficult, Robert dismounted and took LIE
mas bride in his own hand.
's This is the most dangerous portion OF
the road" said he. ''On one side
of us is bare precipice, and one mis-. s.step
might prove fatal. My horse can easily
find his way to the Manor alone, and [
will send him on and guide yours myself,
with your permission"
g trust everything to YOU" replied
Lena, i'll voice of calm. brave courage.
which went to her companions heart !;
and Robert, dropping his rein over the
pommel of the saddle, raised his whip
and let it fall with singing stroke
across the neck OF his horse. With
loud neigh, the animal plunged forward,
and in Il moment was lost sight OF in the
blackness of the storm
A fash of lightning just then revealed
to Robert the figure OF his companion =
The sable pulme clung wet and dripping
to her marble check, and her riding dress
was drenched with the soaking rain. Ro-
bert felt glow of compassion as he
thought of her suferings, and 4 thrill of
something even warmer than admiration
swept through his heart as he listened to her
earnest inquiries in regard to his own condi-
ton, prompted, apparently, by an utter
forgetfulness of self. which could not
have failed to win admiration from the
most stoical Had he known that her