The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-09-17

out to her companion as Mp Estills residence,
and requested hin TO stop there. II
A servants cane otit viii, tights. Mt the sound
and stopping d he Carriage wheels before tie
entrance, the WHEELER threw hi. short cloak-
long enough Mill to cover her suall fiyur-
around the girtta conceal her masculine dnss,
and bad. her, 4 low voice, tie a handkerchief
over her hat, seas to give il, in some sort, the
appearance Of a1ady riding hat.
Thank you said she, gratefully and com.
plying with hiseuggrstion,- how kind and
considcrate youSre!7 Then, sprinyny from
the buggy, she nn up the steps and INTO the
house with the athomc manns OF one PERFECTLY
familiar with th,tcali,ies
T,rrc OF four sinu.es passed corccly long |
enough for the tnyeler TO decide neither or no |
he should follow he servants suggestion, that |
+" M'ssa had betty 2" up in de hoe p Missus
would be VERY glad to him, when an
elderly lady, of fgnifed and preposscssnr |
person, appeared r. the steps, and with much
ease and swectncA of manner, invited him into
| the house. TX
"Ths visit o. aY ieice is very unexpected,
but not the less pItisdht she has told me brief
" her indeb;edae y you, sir, and it is her
wish, as well as mxoSn, that you give her an
opportunity, by shafng our hospitality, of ex-
had"
| In good sooth, ourraveler needed little urg-
iny His horses waarness, the hours late
ness. the distance to IN inn, curiosity to hear
the promised explanation, and more than all,
| rather mingled with N, most Ito hm) unac.
coun,able feeling ofiherest in the heroine Of
| this romantic adventl'c ALI these prompted
hun to accept the hospitality so politely offer
I ed, and he alghtcdjat once and followed his
| hostess. II
| At supper, where the lady Of the house pre-
sided, his late compnion did not appear her
aunt apologized, la her neice had walked nrar
twenty miles that dy for the first tine in her
life, was quite worn ont, and had gone to bed,
but would see and think her kind protector IN
the morning.
During the meal, I've gentleman was rather
silent and distracted, LIT managed to inform his
hostess, though with tsorc apparent hesitation
and embarrassment than common place q
| thing demanded, that NE might address him As
| MIR. Mason, that he lied at some distance, and
was on a visit, rather Il pleasure than business
at Y.
81 have not yet" said Mrs. Estlll, " had an,
long conversation witiiny neice, but from VIVA
she has said, gather that she feels herscl
under the greatest obligations to you, sir, 10
your kind assistance and protection, MIR
Mason made a gesture OF dissent KNOW
you woud Of course dhelain any credit on ina
score, but both she andI must teel 1t no less
| know much better than she how great reaso
we both have to be thankful, that she ESCAPED
the dangers to which her rashness and wllfu
ness exposed her
81 hone" said the traveller, more gravel
than he had vet spoken, " that the young lad
has done no,hing-that her masquerade had II
origin in
How true you are to your sex, interrupte
the lady, smiling; I" have scarcely seen ge'
tleman IN my life who would not almost as soc
commit crime as a mistake, and be shot al RI
Their than laughed at Bat make yourself cas-
on that point,-your kindness and your galia.n,
ry have not been abused, .assur. you. W
ne'ce has been guilty OF NOS h'nS out rashh :,
frs; in A.. Her father Mr.. Nixon"
/" Mr.. who Uninterrupted Mason hastily
q i" l beg your pardon, madam, did you say Nike
I-Pendleton Nixon?'
That is his name, sir, are you acquainte
with him.
i "I-I-yps, madam that is, have know
him for many years; and with long breath, til
| traveller relapsed into silence.
alt is necessary to tell you," resumed tn
hostess, that her father has been long anxiou
in fact has promised her to a gentleman WHOM
she has never seen, and TO whom she has Con
ceivcd most nnconquerable aversion. 1t seem
the ich has lately been urged upon her NOR
strongly than she could belr and this masqu,
rade and flight are the consequence. Lucy i
one OF the noblest girls in the world--her onl
faults are too much romance of disposition, an
little natural wiltulness, that has scarcely bee
much lessened by her fathers indulgcnt fond
ness.
IT'S It pcssiApate :. asked The STRANGER, viii
some embarrassment, and alter long pause
81 that any gentleman would persist in torcin
himself thus upon lady to W lom he was 80 dis
| agreeable p
8. As to that replied Mrs Es,nll, /" the gen
tlenan in question does not reude in K, an
| 81 far as know, is entirely unaware OF Lucy
dislike To him. The proposed husband he
fathers cousin, gentleman of the same fanl
name, and living at N, and The match orig,
mated wholly III the fathers anxiety to keep u
the family line and name
Our traveller, VIII, had appeared somewha
relieved by the first words Of tie lady, reply, be
came! nanitesly embarrassed at the close
that the hostess, installing the source OF il
said
Excuse me, sir, for boring you thus WIT
these minute and embarrassing details. Luc.
has always been great favorite With me, and
forget that very thing relating to her cannot b.
as much matter Of interest to others as to my
SELF
81 hope, Madam, you will do me the justic
to believe that nothing concerning her can b
undressing to me. On the contrary, her fac
! and manner have made an impression upon m
that ask your pardon, madam, as strange
for taking the liberty to say so-but really you
| niece has made a most extraordinary impression
upon me, and l deeply regret that l have, in
voluntarily mean that any thing should hav
obliged her to leave her home, though coul
almost rgsice at it too, since it may perhap
lead to my enjoying the honor OF her aequain
| lance"
There vas barely perccptible tinge Of mis-
chievous Aumer in the slight smile that crosses
the old lady's features, while she replied:
"The obligation you have conferred, sir, give
you the privilege Of old acquaintanceship, an
my niece will feel but too highly fattered b.
the favorable opinion you expressed of her, i
spite of the >inauspicious circumstances unde
which you met.
A few moro minutes and few more remark
passed, and then the visitor was shown to hi
room.