Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-09-17

been absent for moths, and even when
he met the playmates Of his infancy
had hardly dared TO take the cousin lib
critics of former days. Now, he would
wreathe a garland Of them, just as be-
used to do, and place it in her hair
those modest blossoms were SO like her
own meek, gentle heart. With these
thoughts when he approached the dell
and found that Lily had already left
he stopped down and hastily picked up
a handful Of the violets, pulling roots
and all in his eagerness to get them:
and then he started to seek her in an
other of her favorite retreats, pansinaI
yet a moment, as he fancied esteal -
her call bis name, to look in thewlllow
thicket, where she might have bid her.
self when she saw him coming. Lily
was not there, and with smile at his
own fancy, in associating every sight
and sound with her, he turned into the
oak grove which had been dear haunt
in their childhood. It was dearer now;
for on an autumn day in the last year,
he had sat with the young girl on the
fallen trunk Of tree, and whispered in
her ear for the first time, the wish that
she would be nearer than cousin to him;
and Lily had answered with blushing
cheek. what no one but Hugh ever
heard her lips confess. There was
the old oak with the sunshine dancing
through the leaves; there was the seat,
and a tiny footprint in the yielding
moss below showed that Lily had
been there; there too was squirrel,
perhaps the same saucy one that had
listened to the tale of love. Hugh
looked at the little frisky thing as it
scampered over the rustling leaves and
up the trunk, nor stopped till it had
reached the fartherest branch where it
had bent down with knowing look,
and seemed to tell him it was beyond
his reach. Then came remembrances
of the little Lily, who had so often dis
suaded him from harming the bright
eyed creatures, though with true school,
boy taste, he was wishing much to try
his hand at a shot. Perhaps these
were simple thoughts, but trifling as
they were they came knocking at the
heart Of the young man as he retraced
his steps 10 the house.
"Ask Lily to come into the arbor a
moment" he said to little sister OF
hers he met in the garden; and seating
himself he commenced braiding the vi.
Diets with myrtle vine, in which tastes
fuI employment he was surprised by
Mrs. Ross, who came with an anxious
face to ask ifhe had not seen Lily
She had already been absent half an
hour, and it was hardly five minntes'
walk to the brook. Hugh was alarmed,
but observing that she might have en-
tered the house unnoticed, accompanied
by her mother, he sought her chamber.
The trunks ready packed up for the
journey, and boxes containing the books
and harp, were placed by the door.
There was the little straw bonnet, with
its delicate ribbon and bridal wreath;
there was the veil and scarf of silvery
gauze; the white kid gloves, and bo.
quet of forget t-me-nots and rose buds,
and by their side the travelling basket O.
pen displaying its neatly arranged con.
tents; but though all about bore traces
of her hand, the fair tenant of the a.
partment was not there. Mrs. Ross
was considerably agitated, but unwl-
ling to alarm any one byapprehensions
which might be groundless, kept her>
self as calm as possible, and went about
inquiring for Lily. T 'e.'
No one had seen her since she pass.
ed alone through the garden gate.
Tremmingham, half frantic, mentioned
the brook, and hilher, accompanied by
the whole family, he speedily went.
They called aloud, up and down the
stream, but the mocking echo was the
only answer; searched in the thickets
of the silver willow that fringed the
margin; looked carefully far down the
water. -a- e2s er
Finally Hugh sprang under the rude
bridge where Lily. by skipping from
rock 10 rock had sometimes gone, to
reach small sandy Island where the
scarlet cardinal flowers grew. But all
in vain, till suddenly one of the party
saw farther down the brook something
white drifting around the rocks, and
among the green brake leaves that
dropped into the water. It might be
foam--or it might be LiIy.-Swilt as
thought Hugh dashed into the stream,
and a few moments after, appeared in
the midst Of the anxious group, bearing
in his arms a slight form with its mass
Of snowery drapery clinging about him,
the straw hat with its blue ribbons fall
ing over his shoulders, and the fair
sweet face oil his beautiful Lily resting
chilly, chilly as death against his cheek.
She had probably leaned over the bank,
and loosing her foot hold, fallen into