Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-08-10

sympathy With person of such deep feel
| iup and n,elIec, as Martin and beautiful as
she was, it seemed strange that he should
have given his love to her. There was
M doubt she was attached 10 him per-
hans she loved him as we'll as she was ca
psble of loving ony one; but in this in
stance, as in all others, her affections were
secondary to her love of sarcasm end mis-
chief.
Martin and Isabella had been pointed ou.
as lovers by village gosslps, for several
months he was now nineteen, and she ives
Of the same sge, when the tragedy occurred
which The ,olling of the bell has recalled to
my memory.
II was on an autumn evening, nearly five
wears since, that Isabella took advantage Of
the absence Of her father TO have a social
gathering Of young people at their house,
Marin, Of course, was present, with the
fsi,es, youths and msdens, and under no re-
srsint from the gravity Of the clergyman,
who was no, expected home till late, The
company enjoyed themselves freely with
jes.s, songs, and social games.
The hour for which such parties usually
br oke up had slresdy passed, end there wss
no relaxation in the gaie,v Of the young
people, when some one foolishIv mention.
ell ,he subject of ghosts. something of that
description having been reported as hsv-
ing been seen in lhe vicinity of The church
yard.
sit is a silly report" said Martin, s'No
body can believe that ghost has really
been seen there; ard doubt if person
here believes g, all in the existence Of
ghosts"
"You do vcursef-you know you do,
Martin, slihongh you ashamed to own
i,,'' cried Isabella. Bul Martin only laugh
I'd. Some now" continued the thought
less girl, IL can prove .hs, you have some
idea hs, such things NAV exist. Go to 'he
cbmchysrd alone in The dark and then
declare if you can ,ha. you have fel! no
fear.''
Sand wha, would tha, prove -
"Why, YOU will be frightened though
you shouldsee nothing. Your fears woulc
pu. your belief TO The test. How could
you be afraid if you did no, feel .ba. there
was something 10 be afraid of?'
IL do no, think your logic the best in the
worId,' replied Martin laughing "Men
are often troubled with fear, when their rea-
son tells them there is no cause TO fear. Bu,
| deny in The frs. place, that journey to the
churchysrd, even d, midnight, " ouId fright
en- me in The least"
"flow bravely you can talk - said Iss-
bella, indulging in her customary tone Of
sarcasm. "Bu, nobody here believes you.
don'l al any ra,s Why you hsdn's cour-
age enough, the o,ber day. TO help Kill Q
rabir, your mother told me so 20
| 81 never like 10 cause or witness pain. II
i, can be svoideJ,'' answered Martin blush
Ing
''Ha ha ! ha what an exceIlen, excuse
You are brave enough to be sure. bu. ten
der-hesrled! Come, now; you dare not 60
TO the churchysrd this night alone. You
are no, half SO courageous as you would
have us believe. Whittier you think there
are any ghosts are not you afraid Of them:"
Martin was extremely sensitive; bu. The
| sarcasm Of nobody excep, Isabella could
have slung him SO to the quick. Scornng
the impu,a,ion of cowsrdice, he was ready
10 do almost any desperate act 10 prove bis
courage. "Bu., said he although have no
more fear of chufchya ards and ghost, than
have Of orchards and spplerees, am not
going TO walk half mile merel y to be laugh
cd a,.''
ala he! bu, you shall no. escape SO -
laughed Isabella. "I1ere. before these our
friends, promise ,ha, this ring shall be
yours" she continued, displaying one given
her by an old lover, which Martin had often
desired her to part with, "provided you GO
to the churchyard alone, IN the dark, and
declare on your honor when you return,
,ha. you were no, in The least afraid.'
"Agree6" SAID Martin, uuonng his coal
for the nigh, was chill.
"And as evidence tha, you GO the entire
distance, you can bring back with you The
iron bar, which you will fnd close by The
gate" said Isabella.
Thus driven by aunts TO the commission
Of folly, Martin ,ooAQe Of the compa-
ny, full of courage and spirit, and sc. out on
his errand.
!. was near a quarter Of a mile to the
churchya ard, which was approached by a
lonely, dreary path, seldom travelled except
by mourners.
]. is impossible 10 relate precisely wha,
happened to Martin on ,hs, gloomy road
] Judge from The circumstances which after
wards came TO light, and conjecture his ad
venture must have been as ] am about 10
relate it.
Slight as was his frame, and tender in his
feelings, he was no. destitute of courage
| DO no, think he was frightened by the
singing of The wind, and The rus,ling of ,be
su.unnsl leaves, as many stronger men
might have been. He marched steadily 10
the church yard, stopped moment, per.
bsps to gaze sadly bu1 not fesrfully, q. the
white tombstones cleaning family in The