The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-08

ohNy S'iil VI ohC ihuoCCuG oWCCo laOO vi
her child. Suddenly two horsemen
pulled up before the window-they had
often been noticed before, but this was
the first time they had ever halted.
Mrs. Dempster," said dark hand
some young man, while the other, fair
youth, held back and blushed, "we have
pulled up to ask for a drink of milk, or
beer, or anything you can give US. II
is long time since we have drank any
thing in your house, but it will be with
pleasure we shall renew the CUSTOM"
Welcome, welcome, Master Clifton, D
replied Mrs. Dempster, without rising
:" it is indeed long time since you
used to come and listen to my poor hus-
bands stories, and drink his goats
milk "
GA long time; when your daughter
Alice there, was six years DID," replied
Clifton, "and Ned and [ were sprigs of
boys. Poor Mr.. Dempster, we missed
him very much when we came home
from school,"
=" He often talked of you when he
came home from his voyages" said Mrs.
Dempster, as the young men were shown
in by Alice.
d" 1 suppose you have forgotten u.s.
continued Walter, addressing Alice, by
whom he had sat down.
"No," exclaimed the young girl,
81 have forgotten neither of
my old friends, Wally nor Ned"
Meanwhile Alice was bustling about,
plain but wholesome lunch
Of bread and cheese, to which the gen.
tlemen did ample justice. This done
they remained an hour in conversation !;
Walter chiefly addressing himself to
Alice, Edward to her mother.
From that day Walter became a reg
ular, Edward an occasional visitor.
Walter soon allowed his admiration of
Alice to peep forth-he lost no oppor-
tunity in speaking with his eyes, and
soon began to whisper words of affection.
Alice listened with downcast looks, but
made scarcely any reply. After about
a month Mrs. Dempster asked him to
take tea and spend the evening. She
perceived the dawning passion which was
rising on both sides-and as she saw no
disproportion, except in fortune, between
q rich farmer, and merchant captains
she was inclined to foster the
feeling for her child's sake. John Nor
rison was to be of the party-Mrs.
Dempster had confded to him her secret
and after one or two objections to the
ways of the young man, he consented to
be present. 1t was about an hour be-
fore tea time when he came to his reso-
lution-and as soon as he had done so,
he went into the garden.
John Morrison was pale, cookbook
ing man, of moderate stature. He had
no pretensions to be handsome, but none
would have looked at him without
his marked and speaking coun-
tenance-to admire, not its beauty,
but its power and intellect. But why
is he now so overcast and sad' Let us
listen and we may hear.
"And is it for this 1 have trained her
up? Is it for this | have devoted nv
existence to her for several years-for
in the girl l saw the dawning woman
to be the victim of the wild reckless
youth who will break her heart? Be-
cause she will be rich, easy, comforta-
BILE? Well! if she could be so happy,
L should be glad-but Walter Clifton
loves with the love of boy-a love of
him his toy and he will
break it ~
"Wbat are you talking to yourself
about so freely ;" cried Alice, tripping
from behind some bushes, where she had
been cutting flowers for the evening
g But how pale and ill you look Shall
[ get you anything -
" No, Alice. | am well in body. but
the mind is i'll at ease"
g Are you ill, john my friend, my
brother"
" Ah yesn' cried he passionately,
6 there it is /; l have been fool, | have
taught you to treat me as brother, and
the idea could never enter your head of
me as aught else."