The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-07-04


ler heart was breaking.
The poor old Bowyer fingered on, novor
Hugh to quit his sight, for he
knew now that he had loved his daughter
and that was the only link that bound him
ts earth. 1t broke at length, and he died,
his old prentice his trade and
all his wealth, aud solemnly charging him,
with his last breath 10 revenge his child if
ever he VIII had worked her misery cross
ed his path in life again
From the time of Alice flight, the till
ing ground, the fields, tn. fencing school,
the summer evening spcrt, knew Hugh no
more. He rose to great ehinenco and re-
pute among the citizens, BIT he was never
seen 10 smile, and never mingled in their
reveries or rejeicings. Brave, humane,and
generous, he was loved by all. He was
pined too by those who knew his story;and
these were so many, that wien he walked
along tho streets alone at dusk, even the
rude common people doffed their caps, and
mingled rough air Of sympathy with their
respect.
One night in May--it was her birthnight
and twenty years since ohq had left her
homs--Hugh Graham sat in the room she
had hallowed in his boyish days. He was
now q gray haired man, though still in the
prime Of life. Old thoughts had borne
him company for many hours, and the
chamber had gradually got quite dark
when he was reused by lew knocking a
r the outer door.
He hastened down, and opening ii, say
by the light Of lamp which no had seize
IN the way, female figure creuching i
the portal. 1t thurried swiftly past him, AN
glided'up the stairs. He looked out fc
pursuers. There were none in sight
He was inclined to think it a vision
his own brain when suddenly vague SUI
picion Of the truth flashed upon his minC
He barred the door and fastened Wild
" back. Yes, there she was-there In III
" chamber he had quilted, ,--there in her o.
'' innocent, happy home, 50 changed tn
10 none but he could trace enc CLEAN OF VIII
she had been-there upon hsr knees-wl'
10 her hands clasped in agony and shame b
fore her burGing face.
- "My Ged, my God ~ she cried, emo
strike me dead! Though have broug
-, death and shame and sorrow on this ro
-, oh, let me die at home in nercy!"
:, There was ne tear upSn her face then,b
she uemSled and glanced round the char
ber. Every thing was in the Old place
~ Her bed looked as ii she had risen from
! but that morning. The sight of these
80 milia1 objects marking the dear remeI
~ ~ branco in which she had been held, and
blight she had brought upon herself "
more than the woman's better nature Il
:: had carried her there, could bear, She we
and fell upon the ground.
IN A rumor was spread about, in few da
-or time; that the Bowyer's cruel daugh
~, had come home, and that Master Hu
an Graham had given her lodging in his hou
&c, 1t was ruuored too thathe had resigned
Id fortune, in order that she might bestow II
acts of charity, and that no had vowed
,or guard her in her solitude,b but that they w
ba neser to see each other more. These
va mors greatly incensed all virtuous Wi
r and daughters in the ward, especially wh
"a. they appeared to receive some corroSo
be ton from the circumstance Of Master Il
". ham taking up his abode il another te
=, ment hard by. The estimation in VIII
a. he was held, however, forbade any gu
tioning on the subject, and as the Bcwye
81 house was close shut up, and nobody ca
ne forth when public shows and festivities W
bo in progress, or TO 1aunt in the public wa
..r or to buy new fashions at the nerce
=. booths, all the wsll-cOnducted females
m, greed among themselves that there could
. no woman there.
M These reports had scarcely died aw
it- when the wonder of every good citz