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

upon the Bowyer's house IN particularly ana
he falling on the threshhold pierced with
numberless wounds in defence Of Mistress
Alice. If he could only enact some pre-
dizzy Of valor, do some wonderful deed and
let her know that she had inspired ii, he
thought he could,de contented
Sometimes the Bowyer aud his daughter
would go out to supper with worthy ciIl-
zen at the fashionable hour of six o'clock, !
and on such occasions Hugh wearing his
blue prentice cloak as galIantly as prem
tice might, would attend with lantern and
his Wusty club to escort them home. These
were the brightest moments Of his lite.-
To hold the light while Mistress Alice pick
ed her steps, to touch her hand as he help
ed her over broken ways, to have her lean
ling on his arm-it sometimes even came 10
tha,-this was happiness indeed
When the nights were fair, Hugh follow
ed in the rear, his eyes riveted on the grace
(ul figure Of the Bowyer's daughter as she
and the old man moved on before him. Sc
ithev threaded tho narrow winding streets oil
the city, now passing beneath the evelhang-
ing gables Of old wooden houses whence
creaking signs projected into streets, and
now emerging from some dark and irown-
ing gateway into the clear moonlight Al
such times, or when the shouts OF strag
Cling brawlers met her ear, the Bswyer''
daughter would look timidly back al Hugh
t besseching him to draw nearer; and ther
hew he grasped his club and longed to d.
battle with dozen ruillers, for the love 0
2 Mistress Alice
n The old Bswyer was in the habit c
t. lending money on interest to the gallant
C of the Court and thus it happened that ms
e ny richly-drcssed gentleman dismounte
of at his door. More waving plumes and ga
d LIANT steeds, indeed, were seen at the Bow
ID yer's house, and who embroidered silks an
le vevets spalked in his dark shop and darl
h. er private closest than at any merchants
" the city. In those times no less than
"a the present it would seem that the richie
ne looking cavaliers ef!en wanted money Il
,e most.
or these slittering clients there was ol
IT. who always came alone. He was alwa.
c- nobly mounted, and having no attenda
yh gave his horse in charge To Hugh while
lat and the Bowyer were clOseted within
in Once as he sprung int the saddle Mis're
er Alice was seated at an upper window, al
an before she could withdraw he had doit
to his ewelled cap and kissed his hand
se Hugh watched him csracollng down
Ter street. and burnt with indignation. b
- how much deeper was tho glow shat re
ve dened in his cheeks when raising his ey
,er to the easement he saw tha. Alice watch
as The stranger too
NO He came again and often each time arra
III cd more ga,ly than before, and still the
in lie easement showed him Mistress Alice.
er. At length one heavy day, she fled ir'
nd home. 1t had cost her hard struggle,
at all her old fathers gifts were strewn abb
ere her chamber as if she had parted lrom th'
ess one by one and knew that the time nj
an come when these tokens of his love wo'
wiring her heart--yet she was gone.
ore She left a letter commanding her pt
and father 10 the care Of Hugh, and wishing
as might be happier than he could ever hi
inn been with her, for he deserved the leve
,ot- better and purer heart than she had to
,in- stow. The old mans forgiveness (a
use said) she had no power to ssk, but she pr
en-. ed God to bless him-and so ended wit
she blot upon the paper where her tears had
3 10 lem
the At first the old mans wrath was kindl
the and he carried his wrong 10 the Ouee
throne itself; but there was no redress
,ish learnt at Court, for his daughter had b'
ar cenyeved abroad. This afterwards aPpe
lred ed to be the truth, as there came If
oht. France, after an interval of several years
ling letter in her hand 1t was written in 're
r;r1 hlinq characters, and almost illeglbe.