Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-09-09
would think of mel, and he pored

2" n tetter at lenStl oaiu h0s ioui
my attorney; dated two years ago;
requesting, in consequence ofill-health
and apprehended dissolution, to be re-
leased from his stewardship of my at
fairs. WE'LL" continued he, let it all
pass; perhaps he is dead, and my prop
erty in strangers hands, but why
should / care? / have long since been
dead to the world, and could not pos
sibly have been benefited by it,"
Sand you will not return, and ar
range your business?" enquired Ran
ford.
"Mew said Mildred, " why should
L? Ranford, you do not know me! |
live not for this worlds wealth, nor its
happiness: / am but sojourner, and
have my estate here" and he grasped
his rifle "While this is true to me, and
this good arm can serve me, | care not
for this worlds wealth, nor its regard!
Oh, Ranford," he continued after mo-
ment's pause, /" have been cursed for
the sake of paltry, sordid gold; and |
cannot but despise it; though to others
it may be blessing!"
"But the place of your birth, Will
dred, have you no wish to visit that?
no friends who would greet your re-
turn? nothing to render dear TO you
the scenes of by-gone years."
Nothing, Ranford, nothing!" said
Mildred, musingly, "except it be a
small spot of earth, where silently re-
pose the remains of those who once
rendered existence worth living for"
GAN, Wildred," asked the hunter
who had before learned something of
his companions story.
Mildred colored deeply, and repli-
ed, (" Perhaps | am wrong-but enough
of thisp' and the conversation at once
changed 10 one Of the hundred topics
which their meeting naturally gave rise
to. Sleep at length overlook the wea-
ry travellers, who, enveloped in their
robes before blazing fire, passed the
apparently comfortless night uncon-
scious of the inclemency of the season
and the danger of the dreary waste
that lay around.
But though Mildred slumbcred, his
thoughts were far away. A chord had
been touched which still vibrated in
his bosom; and youth, and love, and
happiness called him back to the scenes
Of former years. Then again came
sorrow, and cold neglect, and blighted
hopes, and death--and anon a pale hg-
ure would fit before his vision, whose
form too we'll he knew, and who bro't
to his senses mingled love and anguish
and keen regret. Bat at length the
morning came TO his relief; and after
pariaking of hearty repast, the trav
ellers separated and proceeded on their
respective routes.
In vain did Mildred strive that day
10 dispel the dreams Of the foregoing
night. They still haunted him, and
he at length regretted the meeting
which had excited them. Home with
its early associations would rush upon
his memory, every pleasant walk, aud
shady nook; every vine-covered alcove
every lawn, and flower, and tree
were there, and spoke Of the compan-
ions of his youth, whose society had
endeared them to him. Then his tho'ts
would wander to the more recentscene,
of his life, and with deep anguish he
would strive to drive them from his
brainl But all in vain-there they see
med indelibly written; and though
time and change had thrown around
mellowing influence, reflection still re-
veaed them there never to be oblitera-
ted. Sometimes he would half again
resolve to visit his lohg absent home;
to bestow his wealth upon some char
liable institution, drop tear on the SOD
that covered his relatives, and return
forever to the wilds Of the trackless
West. Then again the pain of breath
ing the same air with one whose very
thought was misery, would break his
partial resolve, and hurry him TO some
other reflection. But we will now
leave our traveller and revert TO the OBJ
iect of his keen meditations.
Charge of scene, which had blunted
The poignancy Of the grief of Clement
brought no soothing balm to the mser-
able Emily. Excessive filial affection
had rendered her its victim. She had
bartered every reasonable prospect OF
happiness in this life, for the poor con-
solation of having comnlied with the