South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1853-05-06
THE rIc-:i &c.
A Story Of the H'issahickon.
CHAPTER Il.
pv CHARLES J. rir"EsoH

W. thAlS Jtt " Illhhts Dui III was
and ambitious, and he It'd not doubt he
should die millionaire. He had becn a
dreamer from boyhood : one Of those care
less fellows who write poetry, are fond Of
sporting, and live as if they were worth a
fortune. From eighteen until his majori-
ty,his guardian could do nothing with him.
lie had taken his degree, and he refused TO
study profession; so there was nothing
lett but TO idle away his lime as he best
could. The interval was employed in de-
sultory studies, ,and in pedestrian excursions
through the country, diversified now and
then by speculation in stocks. On the
whole, the lime was not ill-spent. lie ac-
qnircd considerable insight into character
during hali-vagrant travels, made little
money, and picked up hoard Of miscci-
lanrous knowledge.
Tom had been the handsomest man in
college, and few had such All oily tongue
among the girls. He was bit OF a dandy
indeed the only man Of sense ever knew
for !op. He was proud Of his curls and
whiskers always promcEaded Chrs,ru!
street before dinner, and wac perfect
n,au- milliner in the way Of fashions. He
sang : played OH the flute waltZed, as the
ladies said, divinely and used to vow he
had shut himself up for fortnight to study
the language Of flowers. He had a deli.
cate way of paying compliment that few
women could withstand and his convcr-
satlon possessed that mingled Sense and
gaity which please old and young alike.
Altogether he was ust The man for mnking
love. | often told him over cigar. That
he must acquire his fortune by mairrnony.
But Tom was full Of romance, and declared
he would marry for love or die bachelor.
When he had attained his majority his
guardian called him in to settle his account.
Tom found hc was worth ust ten thousand
dollars The SUM- appeared small to one
dreaming of millions, and for dav he
hcsitattd b-tween tri p to the Indies or
runaway-match from Saratoga. Tom DE-
cidrd in favor Of Canton. In less than a
week he had cm'arkkeI his whole fortune
in assorted goods, and was waiting only
for a fair wind 10 sail.
On the point Of leaving his native coun-
try, perhaps forever, he could not avoid
some melancholy feelings. To dissipatr
these he mounted hishorsr, and cantrred qy
Laurel Hill TO Germantown. Lat" ir tie
afternoon hr returned by way ofthe Wis
sahickon. 1t was early summer, when tn,
romantic stream was in all lis glory. The
sun was just lingering abov. the tree tops
that were piled up the side OF the preci-
pcc on the opposite bank, as he wound
down the rocky road and half the stream
below lay in shadow and half seemed moIt-
Ell gold. A profound Stiffness rrigncd a.
round, broken only by leaf rustling light
ly, or the dropping OF water from a
nrishborins rock. Charmed by the scene,
he drew ID his rein, in portion Of the
road where there is scarcely room for two
Carriages TO pass abreast between the cliffs
on one side and The precirice on the other !;
but he had scarcely halted when the rattle
OF wheels was beard, and Ii ght lro!.ing
wagon dashed up The hill. Tom had
thoughllessly stopped with his horse across
the road. EIc tUrnrd the animal iIrmYdi-
alely, but not soon enough to prevent the
other horse starting aside; and with kor-
ror lie brh:ld the frightened horse dash
toward the precipice, which in this place
has sheer descent Of forty feet. The &C.
cupants Of the wagon were youEg lady
and still younger boy, ;he latter OF whom
now lost all Presence of mind and dropped
the reins. An instant only hung between
the victims and eternity. Another bound
OF the maddeEed animal would carry him
over the cliff. Tom fr!l The blood curdlr
at his heart, and for a second was para
)yzcd, but the immintncy Of The peril
reused him, and dashinc forward, regard
less Of almost certain dsath, he seized the
head Of the beast, and by an exertion
OF almost sUperhuman strength turned il
up the road. In The struggle the carriage
was upset; but t!ic occupants gained time
10 leap out uninlurcd. The skill Of Torn
soon enabled him TO calm the spirited ami
NAL and he then, for The first time, be-
slowed curious look on the persons he
had 50 fortunately rescued.
The boy was apparently a5ont thirteen,
and seemed not yet recovered from his
fright but The lady, whom our hero tool;
for a sister, had rcganed her splf-posscssion,
aud now advanced 10 thank her delverer.
Tom thought he had never seen any fe-
male half 50 beautiful. And when, in
SO''N ~ h"' NiNb'H'OHs "itSJ d'ls WIN dN
eye moist in spite Of every effort to the
contrary, she called him her PIE 'crvel, our
hero, for the first time in his life, became
embarrassed, and was unable TO reply. At
length he Hammered out something, he
knew no, what and Offering TO lead the
horse past all danger, begged her to resume
her seat fearlessly. She seemed treasured
by what he said and when, as he assisted
her to the carriage, she leaned on him for
inoment,. every nerve within him thrilled
with ecstacy.
"You will call on u.s." she said, iookiny
at him with her large, soft eyes. "Father
will thank you as | cannot. Do come.
and tomorrow ?"
She handed him her card with an earn
est frankncss that bewitched him, vet
which no one could have misconstrued.
Tom colored and promised and mol until
the carriage had disappeared did he re-
member he was to sail the next day. He
then mentally resolved TO call that eve
ming but looking at the card bc saw only
The uame, and in the hurry Of his emotions
he had already forgotten the address.
CHATTER II.