Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-10-12
sWhOle No. 955.

Neh'ufous sIe ihStlnctvely ulsliked Tor
the coarseness which generally character
ised them the few Of different stamp
who sought her, she did not take the troub-
lie to notice, thinking them hardly worthy
of the name of men. - Ofthis latter mum
Der, the mos prominent was James Charlr
ton, a young lawyer, who had Just opened
his Office in that village. 1t is no wonder
that, with her views Of book-men, she
rarely tho't of him who would come near
est to that class Of any she had ever known.
In that single word was comprised all of
Charlton's character. so far as it had vet
been developed. Educated at an eastern
university, and naturally Of retired cast
of mind, he hau always avoided the world
and lived on y with his books. In being
obliged to fall back on them for support,
he me, the fate which usually attends men
of this stamp, whom the world does not
understand. But part only had appear
ed. A little intercourse with the world
would soon teach him how .c know and
be known; after that, his talents were
sure guaranty Of success. In his eyes
the beautiful forest girl was the one whom
philosophers had always admired and
vainly sought to find He determined to
be more fortunate, and to obtain the real
ity Of the child freshness, while they could
only conceive the ideal Luckily, he
saw his deficiencies and resolved 10 amend
them, SO that she could at least think OF
him; and after that-his sanguine nature
hoped the rest.
CHAPTER II.
" lie is fool who strive, for love and beauty
Old Max Kermon suddenly took it into
his head that eighteen WIS the proper
age for marriage, and bluntly told his
daughter so, who, on her part received il
with feeling that she could hardly un-
derstand. Marriage she had always look
ed upon as necessary evil which alt
must sometimes endure, and in her few
dreams of the future husband destined
for herself, had pictured him as a hold,
wild, frank hearted man, differing from
her fat her only in years. All ofihis class
whom she had hitherto known seemed 10
lack something-she could hardly tell
what-and the fact induced fears for her
future happiness. However, she hoped
for good fortune, aud thought little more
on the subject.
The hunter was determined that more
but man after his own heart should
possess his daughter, and almost the only
qualifications necessary according to his
views were strength and agility III manly
10 10 hta
'eerminalon. and it was surprising how
suddenly such games rose in favor with
the young men ofthe village and vicinity.
Am m,ng SO many it was somewhat difficult
TO distinguish the foremost, and yielding
to the general desire, Max Kermoa appoint
ed particular day for the contest, with
the understanding that the victor should
be backed by his favor. Diane protested
at first against this primitive plan, hut
the old man was resolute and she yielded.
If the truth must be told, she too felt an
interest in these proofs of manhood, and
was quite wiling to accept the victor Of
of the day as her husband, provided he
was not too far below the standard she
had mentally liked.
AT last the day came, and with crowd
of young men about him, Max measured
off the ground of contest, and made every
necessary arrangement.-The were
fair girls too, present at the scene bloom
ing Western damses, drawn together by
the excitement nf these rustic lists, or per-
haps anxiors to see what favored one
would be removed from that very neces-
sary class their beaux. There were
but two exercises, one Of leapng and one
of mere strength. Old Max. himself,
led off on the first and grumbled because
his stliened limbs could not carry him
beyond fourteen feet, four less, as he
bitterly exclaimed, than he could leap IN
his youth. Then came the others, one
by one and with different success. Some
fifteen feet, some sixteen, two seventeen,
one uckless boy only thirteen, and anoth-
er, more fortunate than the rest, aperiect
Ajax IN limb, reached seventeen and three
quarters This settled the question, and
all turned their attention to the second
trial. Just hen, the young lawyer, Charl-
ton, came up and gazed upon the pro-
ceedings with quiet indifference.
A bar was fastened firmly between two
parallel posts full four feet above the
reach of man from the ground. The can
didaies were to leap up catch hold WITH
both ends, and then, after heavy weights
had been attached to their feet in this po;
srion, slowly raise their shoulders I'LL
they touched the bar, then drop and hang
by single hand. The one who could
cling longest thus was the winner OF
wife. Fewer tried this game than the
other, Gr it required great muscular
Strength, and besides, the immense limbs
of the former winner seemed TO settle the
question. With the weights attached he
remained in the air Just twelve minutes.
, third longer than any other had done.
He descended with an air Of triumph
hat became a sneer when Charlton STRIP
ped forward and deliberately prepared
or spring Max rubbed his eyes, aud
Diane herself surveyed the young lawyer
horoughly-a mark Of interest she had
leyer before shown He seemed power
ulIy formed, though by no means 90
argc in bulk as his chief rival Yet sv-