The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-12-24
COUNTY, SATURDAY, DECEMBER "A, is42
Number, as

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ice, and make known 10 her his wishss]
Stephen Jones, however, was more prompt
in his movements. He had got wind Of
the proposed tea party. although himself
and sister for obvious reasons, had nos been
invited, aud he resolved not to risk the
arrival Of Miss Brown and her visit 70 Mr..
Robinson's before he should see her. She
would dismiss her school at noon,., and
come The distance Of mile and . half
roundgthe pond home. His mind was At
once made up, He would 60 round and
meet her at tho school-house, and accom-
Pany her on her walk. There, in that
winding road around those delightful waters.
With the tall and shady trees over head,
and the wild grapeyinss swining round
their trunks, and climbing to tho branches.
while the wild Birds were singing through
the woods, and the wild ducks playing in
The coves along The shore, surely there. If
any where in the world, could man
bring his mind up to The poin, Of speaking
of love-. is 5g 4, ai-ps
Accordingly, little before noon Steph.
en- washed and brushed himself up, and
put OR his Sunday clothes, and started on
his expedition In order to svsid observa.
lion, be tsok a back route across the fed
attending 10 come into the road by the
pond. little out Of the village. As i'll
luck would have it. Chas. Robinson had
been cot in the direction. and was return.
ing with an srmful Of green boughs and
wild flowers, 70 ornament the parlos for
the evening. He saw Stephen, and noticed
his dress. and the direction he was going.
and he at once smoked the whole business
His. first impulse was to rush srspon him
and collar him, and demand that he should
return back. Blu, then he recollected that
in the last scrath he had with Stephen. two
or three years before, he had q. little the
worst ofit, and he instinc,ively stood sl,li
while Stephen passed on without seeing
him. 1t flashed upon his mind at once
that The question mus. now bs, reduced TO
game of speed, II Ae could by any
means gain / the school.house 6rst, and
engage Miss Lucy to walk home with him I
he should consider himself ssfe.s Bu, il
Stephen shsuld reach the school house first.
he should feel a good deal Of unsasiness for,g
the consequences-Stsphen was walking
very ieisurely ,and unconscious that Ne was
in any danger Of a competitor on The course
and il was important that his suspicious
should not be awakened. a Charles. there
fore, remained perfectly quie. till Stephen
had got little out ofhearing, and then
he threw down his bushes and flowers, and
ran 10 The wharf below the store with his
utmost spee,hr He had one Advantage
over Stephen. He was ready a. a aiomenfs
warning to start on an expedition OF ,kjs
kind. forSnpday, clothes were an every y-dsy
affair with him. Ii dss OIL Ia g,,g e.
/ There was lgh. canoe, belonging to
his father, lying atshe wharf and couple
ofstOut boys were there fishing. Charles
hailed them. and told them il they, would
row him across the pond as quick as lhey
possible could, he would. give them quar.l
ter of a dollas piece. This, in then view
was splendid offer for their services, and
they jumped on board with alacri,y ard
manned the oars. Charles took a paddle,
and stood in the stein TO steer the boat, and
help TO propsl her ahead. The distance
by water was liule less than by land and
although Stephen had considerably the start
OF him, he believed he should be able 10
reach .he school house frs:. especially if
Stephen should mol see him and quicken
his space. In one minute after he arrived
At the wharf, the boat was under ful! way
The boys laid down to the oars, with riphs
good will. and Charles pa, out all his
strength upon the paddle. They were
shooting over The water twice as fas, as q
man could walk, and Charles already fel,
sure Of the victory. But when they had
gone about hall mile, they came in The