Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-12-05

Mr.. Sinclair was a gentleman of fortune,
residing about forty miles from me, and
his father an invalid, fifty years or more
of age, was on his way in company with
his son to his sons house, there to die and
be buried. They were strangers to me,
but 1 made them welcome to my house, as
if it were their own, and insisted on their
using it.
Miss Sinclair was the first woman who
had crossed my doorstone since had been.
possessor Of the hall; and well might she
have been loved by better men than l.
She was very small and beautiful-of the
size Of Venus, which all men worship as
the perfection Of beauty, but having a soft
blue eye, shaded by jet black brows, her
face presented the contrast Of purity of
whitoness in the complexion set off by ra-
ven hair, and yet that hair hanging in
clustering curls, unbounded by comb or
fillet, and the whole face lit up with ex-
preston Of gentle trust and complete con-
tidence either in all around her, or else in
her own indomitable determination; for
Mary Sinclair had mind of her OVID, and
farseeing one, toe.
Her father died in my house, and l
iettended the solemn procession that bore
his remains over hill and valley, to the
old church in which his ancestors were laid.
Once after that | called on the family,
and then avoided them. cannot tell you
what was the cause of the aversion | felt
to entering that house or approaching the
influence of that matchless girl. | be-
lieved that feared the magic of her beauty,
and was impressed with my unworthiness
to love her. Knew her associates were of
the noble, the educated, the refined, aud
that | was none of these. What then
could 1 expect but misery, if l yielded to
the charms ol that exquisite beauty or
grace which knew were in her soul.
A year passed; and | was the very boy
in my continued th ,ughts Of her per
suaded myself thousand lines that L did
not love her, and a h,us md times deter
mined to prove it by entering her presence.
At length / threw myself into the vortex Of
London society and was lost in tho whirl-
pool. :
One evening, at crowded assembly,
was standing nc.r window in a recess
talking with lady, when 1 felt a strange
i l.
| were visible to my companion, who instant
1ly said
"You are unwell, Mr.. Stuart, are you
not? Your face became suddenly flushed
and your hand trembled so as to shake
the curtain"
1t was inexplicable to myself; but I wa
startled at the announcem' mt of Mr.. ant
Miss Sinclair. turned and saw she wal
entering Oh her br theirs arm more beau
tiful than ever. How 1 escaped 1 did no
know, but did so.
. Thrice afterwards [ was warned Of he,
presence in this mysterious INK between
US two of unknown, but powerful character
l have since learned to believe the commu
: Mon Of spirit, sometimes without materiA
I intervention.
Heard of her frequently now as engage
l to Mr.. Weller, man who l knew well
4 and was ready to do honor as worthy O
!, her love. At length saw, as supposed
| satisfactory evidence of the rumor, and lei
u London and saw them no more Th
o same rumor followed me in my letters, AZ
v yet was mad enough to dream of Mar
p Sinclair, until months after awoke to tn
e sense of what fool had been. Coz
!, yinced Of this 1 went aboard my yacl
IS about midsummer, and for four weel
!. never set foot on shore.
d One sultry day, when pitch was fryin
n on deck in the hot sun, we rolled heavil
g on the Bay of Biscay, and passed the a
IS ternoon under sail on the lsrboard qua
>; ter deck. Towards evening l fancied
II storm was brewing, and having made a
G ready for it smoked on the tafrail ii
:. midnight, and then turned in. Will yc
l believe me, felt that strong thrill tbroug
a my veins, as l lay in my hammock al
a: awoke with it, fifteen seconds before Il
'f watch on deck called suddenly to the m'
i at the wheel, Port-port your helm !
sail on the lee bow; steady sol"
~ was on deck in an instant, and So
y that stiff breeze was blowing and sm'
=. =. schooner showing no lights, had cross
~ our !orefoot within pistol shot, and W
u now bearing up to the north-wes L
~ sky was cloudy and dark, but the bree
r was very steady, and went below agai
and alter endeavoring vainly to accou
for the EN- otion | had felt in any reason
n, BILE way, at length fell asleep, and t
I'd rocking of my vessel, as she flew beic
= the wind, gave just motion enough to 1
On hammock to lull me into sound slumbt
We But dreamed all night of Mary Sinclai
L dreamed of her, but it was in unpleasa
ne dreams. Saw her standing on the de
al of the "Foam," and as / would advar
en- toward her, the form of Weller would
ny terpose. would fancy at times that 1
>, arms were Ground her, and her form "
ia resting against my side, and her head
N on my shoulder; and then, by the stran
ir- mutation of my dreams, it was not |,
by Weller that was holding her, and l
m IN, chained to post, looking at them, and
tie would kiss him, and again the kiss wo!
be burning on my lips. The morni
nj found me wide awake reasoning mys
ray out of my iancies BY noon | had enOr
ces to do. The ocean was reused. A temp
vas was on the sea, and the " Foam" went
CHI lore it,