Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-08

1
any but pleasant meditations. The fair Susannah
was now upperrnost in my dreaming fancies, and.
reversing the grasp upon my whip,t ivory han
die OF which, lined with an ounce or two of lead
seemed to me sufficiently effective weapon for the
worst of dangers, babe my friendly blacksmith
farewell and dashed forward upon the highroad.
A smart canter soon took out of the settle
inent. and, once in the woods, | recommended
myself with all the happy facility of youth. to
| It's most pleasant and beguiling imaginings, I
suppose had riddena mile or moreNthe story
| OF the bedlamte was gone utterly from NV
| thought-when sudden turn in the road showed
me person, also mounted, and coming towards
me at an easy trot, some twenty. five or thirty
yards distant. There was nothing remarkable in
his appearance. He was plain farmer and wood
man, clothed in simple homespun, and riding a
short heavy chunk of an animal, that had lust
been taken from the plough. The rider was a
spare, long-legged person, probably thirty years
| or thereaboutS
| lie looked innocent enough. wearing that sim
pie' open-mouthed sort of countenance, the
owner OF which, we assume, at a glance, will
never set any neighbouring stream on fire. He
belonged evidently to a class as humble as he
was slmple,-but l had been brought up in q
school which taught me that the claims of poverty
were quite as urgent upon.courtesy as those of
wealth. Accordingly, as we neared each other I
prepared TO bestow upon him the usual civil re-
cognlzation of the highway. What is it Scott
says am not sure that I quote him right
ssWhen men in distant forests meet,
They pass not as in peaceful street."
And, with the best of good humour, rounded
my lips into smile, and got ready my saluta-
ton. 10 account somewhat for its effect when
uttered, must premise that my own personal
appearance at this time was rather wild and
Impressive. My face was full of laughter and my
manners of buoyancy. My hair was very long,
and fell in masses upon my shoulder, unrestrain-
ed by the cap which l habitually were, and
which, as was riding under heavy shade trees,
was grasped in my hand along with my riding
whip. As the stranger drew nigh, the arm was
extended, cap and whip lifted in air, and with
1ree, generous lungs, l shouted-"good morn
ing, my frend,-how wags the world with you
to-day 2" rs
The effect of this address was prodgious-.
The fellow gave no answer,-not a word, not
syllable mot the slightest nod of the head
mais, tout an contraare. But for the dilating of
his amazed pupils and the dropping of the low
erjaw, his features might have been chise]led out
OF stone. They wore expression amounting
to CONSERVATION, and could see that he caught
up his horse. and then, as if suddenly resolved,
edged him OIL, as closely as the woods would al
low, to the opposite side of the road. The un-
dergrowth was too thick to allow of his going
into the wood at the spot where we encountered,
or ne certainly would have done so. Somewhat
surprised at this. said something, cannot now,
Impressive upon him than my former speech.
The heads OF our horses were now nearly'paral-
lel-the road was an ordinary wagon track, say
twelve feet wide--I could have brushed him with
my cap as we passed. and, waving it still aloft,
he seemed to fancy that such was nv Intention
for, inclining bis whole body on the off side
row at his enemy beneath his neck--his heels
thrown back, though spurless, were made to bella
bour with the most surprising rapidly the TANKS
OF his drowsy animal. And not without some eff
feet. The creature dashed first into trot, then
into canter, and finally into galop, which, as
was bound one way aud he the other, soou
threw considerable space between US.
''The fellows mad ~ was my reflection and
speech, as, wheeling my horse half about,
could see him looking backward, and driving his
heels still into the sides of his reluctant hack
The next moment gave me solution of the mat a'
ter. The simple countryman had heard of the
bediamite from Hamilton jail. My bare head, 81
the long hair flying in the wind, buoyancy IF II
manner, and the hearty, and, perhaps, novel g
form OF salutaton with which addressed him,
had satisfied him that was the person. As the
thought struck me, resolved to play the game
out and, with restless love Of levty which has
been too frequently my error, put the whip
over my horses neck, and sent him forward in
pursuit. My nag was fine one, and very soon
the space was lessened between and the
chase. AS he heard the foot falls behind, the q
frightened fugitive redoubled his exertions. He
laid himself to it, his heels padding in the sides
of donkey with redoubed industry. And thus d
| kept him for good mile, until the first
houses OF the settlement grew visible in the dis
lance. i then once more turned to the path to the
Owens, laughing merrily at the rare chase, and
the undisguised CONSERVATION of the countryman.
The story afforded ample merriment to my fair
friends Emmene and Susannah. sit was so
ridiculous that one of my appearance should be
taken for mailman. The silly fellow deserved :,
the scare" On these points we were all perfect-y
y agreed That night we spent charmingly .-
The company did not separate till near oa.,
o'clock. We had fun and fddles. 1 danced byy
turns with the twins, and more than once with
Miss Gridley, a very pretty girl, who was pre-
sent. Squire Owens was in the best of humors,
and, no ways 10th, was made to stay all night.
CHAPTER III.
A new day of delight dawned upon us with
the next. Our breakfast made a happy family
picture, which began to think it would be cruel
to interrupt. Sosnugly did sit behind Emme-
line. and so sweetly did Susannah minister at the
coffee urn, and so patriarchally did the old man
look around upon the circle, that my meditations
were all in favour of certain measures for perpet-
uating the scene. The chief difficulty seemed
to be-, in the way of a choice between the sis
tiers.
s'How happy could one be with either,
Were t'other dear charmer away a -
turned now from one to the other only to be- =
come more bewildered. The lively glance and
playful remark of Emmeline her love smiling
visage, and buoyant, unpremeditatye air, were
triumphant always while beheld them; but the
pensive, earnest look of Susannah the mellow ca
dences of her tones, seemed always to sink into
my soul, and were certainly remembered long
est. Present, Emmeline was irresistible; absent,
| thought chiefly of Susannah. Breakfast was
fairly over before came to a decision. We adj
journed to the parlour,-and there, with Emme-
I'll