Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-06-18

however, Win IOuu muTWuIS lton uAOSo
were more nearly interested in the harpi.
ness of the lovers.
The old man approached, and grasping
his hand exultingly, call him his son, and
said he felt prouder of him than If he were
prince. Physical activity and strength
were the old leaper's true patents Of no.
bility.
Resuming his coat the victor sought
with his eyes the fair prize he had, altho'
nameless and unknown, SO fairly won.
She leaned upon her fathers arm pale and
distressed.
Her lover stood aloof, gloomy and NOR
tilted, admiring the superiority of the slran-
ger in the exercise in which he prided HIM
| self as unrivalled, while he hated him for
his success.
.'Anne.te, my pretty prize" said tie
victor, taking her passive hand" have
won you fairly" Annette's cheek became
paler than marble she trembled like an
aspen leaf, and chung closer to her father,
while the dropping eye sought the form Of
her lover. His brow grew DARK at the
strangers language.
II have won you, my pretty flower, 10
make you bride !-tremble not so VIC.
lently-I mean not myself however proud
| mi oh. be-" be added with gallantry, "to
wear SO fair gem next my heart. Per-
haps," and he cast his eyes round inqui-
ringly, while the current of life leaped
ioyfuly 10 her brow, and murmur of
surprise ran through the crowd" per-
haps there is SINE favored youth among
the competitors, who has higher claim
to this Jewell Young sir" he continued,
turning 10 the surprised Henry, methinks
you were victor in the list before mel
s,rovc not for the maiden, though one
could not we'll strive fora fairer-but from
love for the manly sport in which saw
you engaged. You are the victor, and as
such, with the permission Of this worthy
assembly, rec>ive from my hand the prize
YOU have so we'll and SO honorably won."
The youth sprang forward and grasped
his hand with gratitude, and the next no
ment Annette was weeping with pure Joy
upon his shoulder. The welkin rung with
the acclamations of the delighted villagers,
and amid the temporary excitement pro-
duced by this act, the stranger withdrew
from the crowd, mounted his horse, and
spurred at brisk trot through tho village.
That night Henry and Annette were
married, and the health of the mysterious
and noble.hearted stranger, was drank in
overlooking bumpers of rustic beverage.
In process Of time, there were born un-
TO the married pair sons and daughters,
and Harry Carroll had become Col Henry
Carroll of the revolutionary army.
One evening, having just returned after
hard campaign, he was sitting with his
family on the gallery of his handsome
country.house, when an advance courier
rode up anc announced the approach Of
General Washington and suite, informing
that he should crave his hospitality for the
night. The necessary directions were CIV
en- in reference to the household prepara>
tons, and Colonel Carroll, ordering his
horse, rode forward to meet and escort to
his house the distinguished guest, whom
he had never yet seen, although serving
in the same widely extended army.
| That evening, at the table, Annette.
now become the dignifed, ma,ronly, and
still handsome Mrs. Carroll, could not
keep her eyes from the face of her illus
trious visitor. Every moment or two she
would steal a glance at his commanding
features, and halfdoubtingly, half-assured-
ly, shake her head and look again, to be
still more puzzled. Her absence of mind
and embarrassment at length became evil
dent to her husband, who inquired affec-
tionately if she were i'll?
IL suspect Colonel" said the General,
who had been sometime, with a quiet,
meaning smile, observing the lady's Curl
GUS and puzzled survey of his features
"that Mrs. Carroll thinks she recognizes
in me an old acquaintance. And he smil.
ed with mysterious air, as he gazed up>
on both alternately.
| The Colonel stared, and faint memo
ry of the past seemed TO be revived as he
gazed. while the lady rose impulslvely
from her chair, and bending eagerly for
ward over the tea-urn, with clasped hands
and an eye ofintense, eager inquiry, fixed
full upon him, stood for moment with
her lips parted as if she would speak.
"Pardon me, my dear madam-pardon
me colonel must put an end to this
scene. have become, by dint of camp
fare and hard usage, too unwieldy to leap
again twenty-five feet one inch, even for
so fair bride as wot Of"
The recognition, with tine surprise, de-
light and happiness that followed, are left
to the Imagination of the reader.
GENERAL WASHINGTON was indeed the
handsome young ''leaper," whose myste.
| rious appearance and disappearance in the
e Il