American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-27
ELL EN- Ell NJ Err;
OR THE SPRING OF THE VALLEY.
BY Mary A. Dmtap.
C('nnpIuJpJ
CHAPTER Ill.

A delicious October morning. The sky was
without cloud, the air fresh and balmy and
the song of the corn huskers rang from hill tc
hill. As Osrnond rode through his favorte
lanes, in his way across the country TO the par
sonage, he thought he had never seen nature SC
beautiful. And when, alighting at the garden
gate, no beheld Ellen in the porch as if aw ait
ing him, with heightened color in her cheek,
and a look of welcome in her eyes, his heart
beat unanimously. They walked together ILL
to the neighboring parlor. The rector had gone
out; and they seated themselves in silence
Somehow Osmond had never felt so happy
The remembrance of her look as he rode up
fingered in his memory; and for awhile he re-
manned without speaking, indulging in this de-
lcous recollection. At length he spoke.
"Do you know, Ellen" he said, t'that / Of
ten think | have met you somewhere before;
though when, or in what place, vsinIy try to
call to mind. am sure have either seen OF
dreamed of a face like yours"
Ellen blushed to her brow, and then gave
him an arch look.
''And have you never met me before?" she
said,
81 cannot recollect where"
"Perhaps | can enlighten you," she replied.
''Do you remember, four yslrsago, the first time
you arrived at Webster's?"
"Yesi"
Sand do you remember stopping at the spring
in the valley?"
"Why, you are not the beautiful cettager
saw there!" exclaimed Osmond a sudden light
breaking in on him "Yes sec it now. There
are the same eyes-the same hair What a fool
was!'
Ellen now bushed more than ever. Sudden
ly the look Of radiant joy died from Osmond's
face, as he remembered what Annabel had told
him. And could this lovely creature, whose
society had grown almost necessary to his ex-
,stence, have been the dsobedent child, the
victim of her violent passions, Of whom Anna
bel had spoken. His brow grew clouded. But
noticing Ellen's eye fixed on him, and dreading
lest she should attribute it to wrong cause, he
rallied himself, and soon pretending that he
had come on special business with the rector,
took his leave.
Poor Osmond!-how he suffered in that ride
homeward. The pain with which he learned
Elens identity convinced him that he loved
her. He could not for u moment, think ofmar-
rying person with such violent passions;-and
he almost hated the orphan for having deceiv-
ed him with her apparent sweet temper, which
he now saw was only put on for the occasion.
These were his first feelings. But after he had
ridden mile, he began TO ask himself if Anna
bel might not possibly be mistaken. He recall
ed to mind all that the good rector had told
him in her favor; and the result was that he
reached home with comparatively light heart,
determining to bring up the subject before An
mabel.
But this designing girl, though utterly g-
norant of the cause that prompted Osmonds
enquiry, remembered the incident to which he
alluded, and adhered to her former story, add
ing:-
al believe told you her parents were re-
spectacle people. But was deceived. They
left the village directly afterwards, and no one
knows where they went But why do you ask?"
Osmond hesitatod whether to confess the
truth but an unaccountable impulse suddenly
decided him to do so. Annabe's color changed
ut his relation. She felt she had gone too far;
and her very embarrassment strengthened the
doubts of her truth which had begun to arise
in Osmond's mind. He ventured to say.
''But are you quite sure you are not misn-
fsrmed?"
Annabel for an instant forgot herself, for she
now saw, for the first time, she had rival, and
in the surprise, her usual Discrimination in Os-
monds presence gave way before the natural
violence of her temper
"You may believe me or not" said she, with
her eyes sparkling with rage. ''You seem to
think more of that begger's word than of
mne;" and overcome by passion, she burst into
tears and rushed from the room.
Osmond rose in astonishment His worst
suspicious Of Annabels temper were confirmed