Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-02-12

| And we'll he deem'd the presence Of his daughter
The sunlight Of his cottage by the water.
III.
She had not been neglected in her youth
And grew in knowledge as she grew in beatty
Tn unconscious look Of innocence and truth
Vas on her Brow and lofty sense Of duty:
She seemed as 'twere brief sojourner here,
The unborn dweler of some higher sphere.
/ Her Parent was no rustic, although poor.
And once had been devotee to learning,
And when the abors Of the day were Ger
/ Twas delight to crafty her yearnin
For oooks-a fancy quite uncommon,
Which she evinc'd long e'er she was woman.
And pretty Florence, for such was her name
The same which had been borne by her dead mother,
Had early besn bereft of this sweet claim
Which earth could no. supply her in another:
And If her heart seem'd sometimes sad and lonely
Twas wrapp'd in her dear Eather-and him only.
They ir' ed together in their quiet home
Remote from sickly fashions weary round
And gentle Florence card not hence to roam
But ample joys in simple duties found:
She lov'd the river roc X, and bills hard by
| For what she knew not of she did not sigh.
| The heartless world with its cold seeming smile
Had not reveaPd to her It's mockeries:
! ut nature in her freshness could beguile
With fertile fields blue MOUNTAINS cliffs and skies,
The spirit Of her lov'd and loving child,
vet in heart so pure and undedpd.-
IA go she grew in loneliness snd graoe,
Her sylph-like form perfected at sixteen
Ard such the radiance OF her beauteous face,
She might have grac'd the palace Of queen,
! And in the play OF her most changsfut features
Been deemd sen there the fairest Of earths crea-
[turss. ]
One summers eve, Beneath the Exchanging rock,
Where she had found favorite retreat,
Street. Florence sat and gazed with listless look
! Into the clear blue water a her feet:
she " auder'd there perchan CO to muse or dream
And thus she sat absorbed in silent thought,
Her rose check resting on her lily hand,
While fancy valid her sleeping heart and brought
The maiden bushes which the breezes fannd,
But could not drive away for their bright hues
Were shifting the sun-lit morning dcrs.
Tsilethlis ergag'a her Quick ear caught the sound.
Of footsteps nea-, and like the startled doe,
She Fprang up from her seat and gax'd around
! With most tnid wistfu. Iook, when 10!
Before she could recover young man
stepp'd from behind Oak and thus began.
'-LadY forgivei meant net to Intrude
Upon the satred precincts Ct your bower:
little dreamed thst in 4 spot so rude
I'd meet nd delicate flower;
Be re assur'd At once, for heaven knows,
seek not to modest your soft repose."
| "a gloomy wandorsr from my house and home,
| am not what have been might be -:
-
But find no respite from my misery,
Yet If such respite be, it must be nigh,
For heaFens own light is sparkling iq rex. w.
li.s-e was fascination in his gaze,
a basilisk pow'r in his bright gray eye -
There ives such winning softness in his ways,
And in his voice such melody,
That Florence who at first had thought to fly,
Was rooted there as by SOHO soreery.--
: fie was not handsome, yet his face was one
Never to be forgot-its quiet smile
Night teach the foe WHO saw it acho to shun,
n And with mysterious influence beguie
From all distrust the bosom Of a stranger,
And hull the soul from every sense of danger.
: And Florence lookd upon his noble brow
So clouded DER with sorrows shadowy gloom.
. And little dream'd that passions lurk'd below
: Whose balefu fires might e'erlong prove her doom
Nor could she all her generous impulse hide
But in gentle accent thus replied:
off aught of apprehension, courteous sir,
j Disturb'd me at your coming, it is gone;
like your bearing, open, frank, sincere,
Ard feel the utmost safety tho alone;
But it's forbid me longer, to remain,
Perhaps some future day vel meet again."
XVIII.
She vanished in an instant from his view.
A4deeper shade psssd DER his pallid face
And passions long subdued burst forth, anew,
While the dun veil of night was spread apace:
But darker than the night flash d through his brai
thought which shook but left him calm again.
With brow contracted and with folded arms
The stranger turn'd away with quicken'd pace ::
And smiled conscious of some secret charms,
u With pow'r to deepen in maiden faee
! The crimson tide which woos the smooth address
# And guides the blow tina. murders happiness.
= he morning came, it was lovely day! 80
tie strod towards the cottage by the liver, s
!. Where dwelt in peace the unsuspecting prey
Whose spotess fame be would destruy foreye err !:
And when he reach d the rooftree's cooling shade
He heard the merry laughter Of tie maid.