The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-10-19

ed in tremulous voice, Walter! Walter!
Wherefore art thou here again-wherefore
art thou here again, when my aged father
hath sworn solemn oath, that thou eros
sest not his threshold again with life?---
Away, Walter! away while life is thine !
Away, away! speak not, but awayP
'LiteS and what is life to me! One
month since | stood at this lattice an hon
est and an industrious man; now, aye noac,
| stand here with the brand of shame up
on my brow; stand here with price ups
on my head; stand here as a-felon!---
When yon moon shone on the edge of the
horizon, a pale and shadowy crescent,
knelt at your feet-I claimed your hand
You cast me from you with scorn; you cast
me aside, and your hand was clasped by
the miser-the old dotard-the rich far
mer Craigelk of the Grasslin farm! Ycu
are now his betrothed! The moon round
ed and full towers in the heavens; the same
moon that beheld me honest and industrl-
Gus, new beholds me branded with the
ma ne Of felon? aye, of outcast'
Walter, your words are wild--youl
manner strange!' exclaimed the maiden
throwing her fair white arms upwards in
the moonlight with gesture Of surprise
i am betrothed, Walter, and betrothed tc
another, but as | have ever been true tc
you in heart, hear me witness, that it is
not from love that | am the betrothed o.
Craigelk of the Grasslin farm her voice
was subdued in tone, aud her words came
fast and hurried; My father, Walter-he
is old, very old. The hard encounter with
the world has chafed his mind, and streng-
thened his love of gold, and, and
And | am poor, poor and landless, you
would say, Marjorie, the young hunter in
terupted with bitter sncer; 'Craigelk Of
Grasslinn is old-he is old, he trembles on
the verge of the grave; but, ha, ha, ha,
Marjorie, he hath gold, gold and lands,
Marjorie!' -
Hist, Walter! my father sleeps in the
next room; he may awake. and harm may
come should he see you here
Walter drew nearer to the lattice, and
took the maidcn's unresisting hand, and
casped in his own. His dark eyes gleam
ed with a wild and wander light, and his
features assumed an expression which was
full of the stern melancholy of despair.
'Morjorie, we have loved long, very long.
Since the earliest hours of childhood, we
have known each other; we have grown up
together; and had hoped one day to call
this fair hand mine own. l may not be.
You are the betrothed of another. am
an outcast. To-morrow's sun will see me
on my way to those far lands which mari
ners tell US have been found beyond the
seas. This strong hand and this true har-
quebus will supply me with the means of
life Ere 60, | have one request to make
of you. Come from the cottage and walk
with me along the well known path that
leads through the wood, toward the water
fall of the Grasslin. Come forth, Maror-
e, and walk with me, as you were wont to
walk in the days of our youthful love-
Marjorie gazed at the face of the young
hunter; she marked his ardent manner;
she heard his deep-toned voice, and her
heart tiuttered with convnlsive movement
as she drank the wild glance Of his dark
eyes.
4 will 90 forth, Walter; I will walk with
you. A moment, Walter-l will see that
ny father sleeps, and then be at your side
The lattice closed, a moment elapsed,
;he cottage door opened, and the fair hand
Of Marjorie clasped the muscular arm of
he young hunter. A kerchief Of white
vas thrown around her head, and gather
ng her dark tresses into its confines, it gave
% view her beaming face, her neck with
is full rounded outline, and her well form
ID shoulders, sloping into the expansive
)ust,
Marjorie, you gaze at my face with a
strange, fearful curiosity, as though you
would ask the story of my crimes-aye,
hats the word-and yet you seem trem-
,ling with fear lest the question, What
means this mystery, Walter?' should pass
,our lips Here is the old wood, Marjor-
e-here the path we rambled in childhood.
was innocent then-you were happy,
iariorie. Yonder are the pleasant fields
f the Grasslinn farm; yonder are green
plains of golden wheat, hills
rowned with orchards. Marjorie, nay,
ay, rather the fair Mistress Craigelk, we'd
ed dame. of my Master Craigelk! mistress
f the lands of Grasslinnr
Maroria replied not to the bitter sneers
nd frenzied taunts of Walter Denys, with
lords of entreaty, of passion or reproaeh.
She replied not with words, but the fair
and resting upon the arm of the hunter,
'embled like an aspen leaf; the tears, the
lrg ge liquid drops of pearl, which indicate
emotion, the tears stood in her
yes, and her lips quivered convulsively.
''Tis pleasant woodpath, Marjorie, but
ou answer me not--you are silent---you
emble. Is it because you are afraid of
LACK HUBERT, that you glance so anxious Il