Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-07-12

"I have won YOU, nv pretty flower, to

y
make you bride .-tremble not too vio-
lently-I mean not for myself, however
proud ! might be,' added he with gal
lantry, ''to wear so fair gem next to my
heart. Perhaps" and he cast his eyes
around inquiringly, while the current of
life leaped joyfuly TO her brow, and a
! murmur OF surprise ran through the crowd
-"perhaps there is Some favored youth
among the competitors, who has higher
claim to the jewel. Young sir" he con-
tlnued, turning to the surprised Henry,
"methnks you were the victor in the list
before me. | strove not for the maiden
though one could not well strive for fair
er--but from love for the manly sport in
which saw you engaged. You are the
victor, and, as such, with the permission
OF this worthy assembly, receive from my
hand the prize you have so well and hon
orably Won"
The youth sprung forward and grasped
his hand with gratitude, and the next morn
ing Annette was weeping from pure Joy
upon his shoulders. The welkn rung
with the acclamations of the delighted vii
layers, and amid the temporary excitement
produced by this act, the stranger with
drew from the crowd, mounted his horse,
and spurred at a brisk trot through the vii
lage.
That night Henry and Annette were
married, and the health of the mysterious
and noble hearted stranger, was drank in
overflowing bumhers OF rustic beverage.
One evening, having just returned home,
after hard campaign, he was sitting with
his family on the gallery Of his handsome
country house, when an advance courier
rode up, and announced the approach OF
General Washington and suite, informing
him that he should crave his hospitality for
the night. The necessary directions were
given in reference to the household prep
arations, and Colonel Carroll, ordering his
horse, rode forward to meet and escort to
his house the distinguished guest, whom he
had never yet seen, although he was serv-
ing in the same widely extended army.
That evening at the table, Annette, now
become the digniied, matronly and still
handsome Mrs. Carroll, could not keep her
eyes from the face of her illustrous visitor.
Every moment or two she would steal
glance at his commanding features, and
half doubtlngly, half assuredlv, shake her
head and look again to be still more puz-
zled. Her absence of mind and embarrasS-
ment at length became evident to her huS-
band, who inquired of her afectonateIy if
she were ILL.,
81 suspect, Colonel" said the General,
who had been some time with quiet, mean
ing smile, observing the lady's curious and
puzzIing survey Of his features, "that Mrs.
Carroll thinks she recognizes in me an old
acquaintance" And he smiled with a
mysterious air, as he gazed upon them.
The Colonel started, and a faint memory
Of the past seemed to be revived as he gaz-
ed, while the lady rose impulsively from
her chair, and bending eagerly forward
over the tea-urn, with clasped hands, and
an eye of intense, eager inquiry, fixed full
upon him, stood for a moment with her
lips parted as if she would speak.
"Pardon me, my dear madam--pardon
me, Colonel, | must put an end to this
scene. ] have become, by dint of camp
fare and hard usuage, too unwieldy to leap
again twenty-five feet and one inch, even
for SO fair bride as one | wot Of"
The recognition, with the surprise, de-
light and happiness that followed, are left
TO the Imagination of the reader.
General Washington was indeed the
handsome young leaper, whose mysterious
appearance and disappearance in the ma
tive village of the lovers is still tradition
ary-and whose claim TO a substantial body
of bona ,fde flesh and blood, was stoutly
contested by the village story teIlers, until
the happy denouement which took place at
the hospitable mansion of Col. Carroll,