The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-23


head of their own class in the country
round, were probably not less proud than
the lormer-toward whom, from the i'm
measurable social distance that separated
them, they looked up with kind of en-
vious though hopeless jealousy, which
was almost family hostility, angry and
even bitter, though smothered and without
ostensible excuse. There had been several
displays of ill-will between them, on some
of the various occasions created by the re-
lalons of such close neighborhood; and
the scornful superiority with which the
pride and power of the BIS had borne
down the humber and weaker party in
such collisions, together with the contempt
with which the gedindependence seiup
by them was treated, had ranked down
deep on the side of the latter. This had
been especially the case with the father OF
the young Edward Fletcher above alluded
TO, now the present owner; and almost
from his infancy the latent terms OF this
malignant posion Of hereditary bad feeling
had been planted among his earliest asso-
Citations and impressions.
Howeve, No trace Of their existence was
apparent 10 any eye, nor indeed 10 the con
seriousness Of the young man himself, at
the period here referred to. On the con-
trary, Notwithstanding the wide disparity
Of birth and social position, circumstances
had brought him into close intimacy at
the Hall, winch seemed TO have obliierated
even all recollection of the old ieud, II so
it may be called, of former years. About
eight wears before, he had happened, at
grea, peril to his own, to save the ll!e OF
the young herr of b, while swimming
by an extraordinary effort Of courage,
strength, and self-possesson. having plum
ged into the water with all the lncum0-
rance of his clothes. lie was then less
than fourteen years old, being about a
year the senior of the boy he so CALAMITY
rescued. The feat was witnessed by Sir
Wimot himself, as also by the ilule Alice,
who already, child rs size was, was the
frequent companion Of the latter in hi:
rides, herself mounted on little pony
specially trained for so gentle service.
The bold young farmers son, his own
brave and handsome face glowing wit!
the excitement of the moment, and his
stout frame easily supporting his Sigh
and now insensible burlhen, had borne
the boy he saved in his arms, the palilt
face of the latter drooping upon his own
rudy cheek, till he delivered him lnio
those of the distracted father himself
from whom, as also irom the beautiful
girl who share all the intensity, first o
despair, and then of rapture, that marked
the moment, he received such demonstra'
tons of gratitude as well would have
tempted and repaid---so felt the delighted
boy--a hundred fold greater efforts anl
dangers.
The consequence of this was, that Ed
ward Fletcher became the constant com
panion and playmate of George and hl'
sister; he was admitted to share their edu
cation, under the guidance of an cXceI!en
tutor and master, at the Hall; while from
his boldness and deX,eri,y in all the sports
, 10 which the life Of the old baronet wa
| chiefly devoted, he became the peculiar pc
: and attendant of the latter, 4 specIcl abide
} camp, as it were--a service which tn
: youth discharged with the less unwilling
! ness, because, in addition to the charms G
I the various sports themselves, itthrew hlt
more constantly than any other emporium
r ties could have done, into the society {
4 Alice, who was growing up through IN
: period a perfect flower of loyellness, aud
: perfect star of brightness. His own p
: rents having been dead many years, !
: had no restrictions at home upon Il
5 course OF habits into which he insensihl
i ran, of almost living at the Hall Ever
=, thing went on smoothly and happily.
v the easy and aileclionate familiarity Of I'll
n relations in which he lived with the fani
o of which he seemed all but a member, h
e own natural pride and imperiousness
r, temper found nothing to chaCe or cross
If grain. When George went to college
r did not accompany him. Sir Win
at never dreamed of such an idea; al
though for George, u gentleman" al
J. the heir of B and its baronetcy,
e, was proper, as matter of course; hut
at would have as soon imagine The proprle
a Of sending a colt OF one Of wards ov
n plough-horses to Cambria as the
~ young owner and destinet Or. Is