The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-10-10


The longer they looked the more
did the elderly couple feel interested
in the unknown youth, to whom the
way side and the maple shade were
as secret chamber, with the rich
gloom of damask curtains brooding
over him.-Perceiving that a stray
sunbeam glimered down upon his
face, the lady contrived to twist a
branch aside, so as to intercept it.
And having done this little act of
kindness, she began to feel like a
mother to him.
"Providence seems to have laid
him here" whispered she to her
husband, "and to have brought us
hither to find him, after our disap-
pointment in our cousins son. Me-
thinks can see likeness to our
departed Henry. Shall we waken
him %
"To what purpose ?" said the
merchant, hesitating. eve know
nothing of the youths character"
''The open countcnance !'replied
his wife, in the same hushed voice,
yet earnestly. "This innocent
slcepn'
While these whispers were pass
ing, the sleeper's heart did not
throb, nor his breath become agita-
ted, nor his features betray the least
token of interest. Yet Fortune
was bending over him, just ready to
let fall burthen of gold. The old
merchant had lost his only son,
and had no heir to his wealth, cx-
ccpt distant relative, with whose
canduct he was dissatisfied. In
such cases, people sometimes do
stranger things than to act the ma
gician, and awaken a young man to
splendor, who falls asleep in power
ty.
"Shall we not wakcn him ?" re-
peated the lady, persuasivcly.
''Thc coach is ready, sir,'' said
the servant behind.
The old couple started, Redeemed,
and hurried away, mutually wonder
ing, that they ever should have
dreamed of doing any thing so very
ridiculous. The merchant threw
himself back in the carriage, and
occupied his mind with the plan of
a magnificent asylum for unfortun-
ate man of business. Meanwhile,
David Swan enjoyed his nap.
The carriage could not have gone
above mile or two, when a pretty
young girl came along, with a trip
ping pace. which showed precisely
how hcr little heart was dancing in
her bosom. Perhaps it was this
merry kind Of motion that caused
is there any harm in saying it?-
her garter to slip its knot. Con-
cious that the silken girth, if silk it
were, was relaxed its hold, she turn
ed aside in the shelter of the maple
trees, and there found young man
asleep by the spring! Blushing, red
as any rose, that she should have in
truded in a gentleman's bedcham-
Der, and for such purpose too, she
was about to make her escape on
tiptoe. But, there was peril near
the sleeper. A monster of a bee
had been wandering overhe i'd
buzz, buzz, buzz-now among the
leaves, now flashing through the
strips of sunshine, and now lost in
the dark shade, till finally he appear
cd to be setting on the eyelid Of
David Swan. The sting of bee
is sometimes deadly. As frec-hcart-
ed as she was innocent, the girl at
tackled the intruder with her hand
kerchicf, brushed him soundly, and
drove him from beneath the maple
shade. How sweet picture! This
good deed accomplished, with quick
er breath and a deeper blush, she
stole glance at the youthful stran-
ger, for whom she had been battling
with dragon in the air.
ale is handsome, "a thought she,
and blushod rcddcr vet.
How could it be that no dream of
bliss grew so strong with him, that,
shattered by its very strength, it
should part asunder, and allow him
to perceive the girl among the phan-
toms ? Why at least, did no smile of
welcome brighten upon his face !?
She was come, the maid, whose soul.
according to the old and beautiful
idea, had been severed from his
own, and whom, in all his vague and
passionate desires, he ycarncd to
meet. Her, only, could he love
with a perfect lovc-him, only,
could she receive into the depths
of her heart-and now her image
was family blushing in the fountain,
by his side f; should it pass away,
its happy lustcr would never CLEAN
upon his life again.
elbow sound he slccps." murmer-
ed the girl.
She departed, but did not trip
along the road so lightly as when