The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-07-06
THE PIN HOLE.
A ROMANCE OF RAGLANy.


BY the descendants of the Lady Mary Gotham,
there is one of peculiar interest. The after
noon OF an unrval!ed summer day was verging
towards evening; long shadows w re cat on
the turf &c nile breeze stirred the thou sand
leaves OVERHEAD, and ripped the surface of the
river Wear, which pended back, formed the
really magn hcent sheet of water that constlu-
It'd one OF the chief ornaments of Wearsc t.,
the ancestral domain Of the Chobham fam ".
p!eas1re-boaf, into which the dripping oars
had only recently been drawn, rocked on the bo-
som OF the lake, and On a rustic sat on the
margln sat two young people, who had been
lettering away the whole day in a state Of entire
ielici'P. The Lady May was tn Il at that tine
not more than mt Ell, AMI rather oh ldish in
appearance, with tong fair h ir flowing in III
tantine carelpssnass and grace, clear delicate
complexion, large eyes ina sought the ground;
the whole contour barely giving p7rntise Of that
exquisite levelness which IN after days sh ne
unIlvalled m the court of George III Her
dr. SIS was I'm OF ciild-a simple white Fl ok,
wiili broad blue crap sash; a comfortable
Gernaa bonnet, with lis deep ,ippet or cape.
The young grl was slightly .hrowa back on
he seat; and whilst her companion h Id her
left hand, The right was buslly engaged in for.
cling the gold pin hist had fastened her sash in
and out OF the hard oak arm of the park chair
THIS she did IN sort of unconscious manner.
though every now and then the blood would
rush INTO her checks, and her efforts became al
most spasmodic. With infinite difficulty, at
such times, speck of wood might be f re, d
out, almost big enough for the crlcke, bail Of a
mt. Perseverance, however, did much, aud
the pin hole attained more and mare of a res
peclable depth and shape. The young man by
the Lady Marys side was in reality not much
older than herself; but the hardshlrs of sea-
fdrlng HE, the constant chan re of climatA, and
The real service he had already seen, gave him
an appearance of aye and manliness He had
entered the navy at hrt en-, and was now en-
joying short leave OF absence Arthur Town.
send had no adventurous advantages; but if
you looked IN his face, its high resolution and
great mental power shadnwed out the future
companion of Nelson and Collingwood. You
might also have read his part of Trafalgar.
And now he was warming with the subject
most interesting to him aud that voice of sim
gular sweetness, destined 'to shout amid the
shouting crew. was telling to earnestly at en-
tive ears, of Moonlight watches on the ,idrless
Mediterranean; ofst,rmy conflicts in the Bay
OF Blscay; ay, and of the cannons roar-of
conflict, and death, and victory. The Lady
Mary, with head decli. e., and little hand work
ing diligently with tn. gold pin, listened with
breath almost suspended; to the account of the
gallant and successful defence of Gibraltar
she seemed to see the red-hot balls as they fell
on the enemy's ships and batteries; and the
flush on her cheek came and went more rapidly
as the narrator described the daring deeds, thu
moments of peril, as the victors braved every
thing to rush to the rescue of their baffled foe
maddening and pershing in their burning ships
no longer considered as enemies, but as sutf.r-
ing fellow-creature-; and her heart swelled
within her as she instnctlvcly recogniz ed, felt
through the little that was Indicated how larye
share the narrator had IN these events. Ano
then Arthur Townsend described safter scenes
coral isle,s formed under sunny skies, where
the famingo was wading in the still lagoon, anc
the palm-tree saw its tea,hered top reflected
scenes of quiet beauty, like ill evening aftel
stormy day; and the cheek grew clear and
pale, aud the wonde working little hand rested
but IN these communmgs, there was no talk o.
self.
Night had crept round, and finally closed owe
Wearscote; the morning hours were even ap-
preaching, but sill Lady Cobham medtateC
in her library. Living in courts, the intimate
f lend OF politicians, acute and far-seeng in al
things, the aspect of public atflirs filed her
with anxiety. There are discomfort and dis
union at home abroad, the nations were still
staggering under the effects of the French Rev
oution the course Of Bonaparte was begin
ming. Nor was she ins-nsible 10 the dangers at
tending the career her young knsnan had 81
well begun On the morrow he would depa
When, how should she see her sisters soon
again. Now she considered the two childr..r
were at rest; hours hid passed since their brrgh
unthnking good night.
She was reused by most unmjstakeabIe
step; one acquired only by those whose walk
is over the unsteady waters and young Town.
send entered. There was neither hurry nor an.
ETY. in his manner, and the strong will sup
pressed all emotion. Qietly, respec fully, he
told his aunt that he loved the l. idy Mary, and
hat he intended 10 mary her. Th're was grea
feel ng; there Was earnest purpose; there was
othins ridiculous in he declaration OF the bow
lver. He rather express d his conviction Of
what would be, than ask d sanction or assis
lance.
LadyC was, 10 say the least, greatly surprised
she thought the pr p s,ion absurd-ts probdbl-
l'tes small. The youth was en- ering t,
of difficulty and danger; years mig e!apse be
fore he would see his native land again: and
then would he b. a match for her child Frank
frtune, W, re alike Inadequate The mothers
eye foresaw tn, splendor OF womanh rod into
which the young girl would devrl"pe; she did
not underrate her great advantages of wealth
and connection; and here was saor-bpy al
most clinint her She | oked up: in the
calm, clear eye, the self reliant, ample brow
the hero stood revealed; she doubted not his tu-
,ure or his destiny. He might die; but living
or dying, every one comm cted with him would
be ennobled. TIL tulhlnrnt of his hope wa,
unlikely, but she would not nd her sisters
child away in sorrow.
ARTHUR" she sad, and eye and lip quivcred
my child is happy in your love: hereafter you
will understand more of her WORTH her position
and its requirements. You must entirely de-
serve her; till you do, do not attempt to WIN
her. have but one stipulation; no word of
what has passed between us must disturb her
peace, until you can become her husband
Strange words to boy of sixteen, stranger
still that it did not seem homogeneous; and he
accepted the terms Long before the rest o.
the world was stirring, he again VISITED the seat
by the river mead, and made prize Of small
portion of blue Grape sash that had been left
waving in the breez'; and by sunrise he had
joined his ship by Portsmouth.
The Lady Mary returned 10 school. 1t was
observed that for some time she paid marked at
tenlion to her geographical studies; and walk
ing her measured pace round the dull London
squares, her thoughts were often on the broad
Pucfic, or coasting the Mediterranean. Time
passed on, and these things faded But she
lived in stirring times, and hers was no spirit
that cocld live for itself alone In all the daily
occurring public events, she took an abs orbing
interest. Suitors came and went; she never
seemed to have but kind aud gracious words of
refusal to give them. She could not account
for it herself. From time to time, she read with
interest, but without emotion, the glowing des
crptions of Arthur Townsends prowess and re
wards She saw his name coupled with all that
her country valued and honored, and she telt
glad and proud that she was related to him
Twice he had returned, and they had met with
pleasure and unreserve on her part; but they
had never been at Wearscoie together again.
And still more years passed, and with them
came sorrow her mother did not live 10 see
The end of the romance. And now even that
trial was over; and at a five, and twenty the
Lady Mary was in the possession of great
wealth, every personal charm in full pei lection,
but still wandering, fancy free, by the river at
Wearscote.
And again it was summer evening, ard
again the Lady Mary is sitting on the chair by
the side of the lake, and again, earnestly, res
pectfullv, by no mean cavalier, is suit she has
often heard before urged on her. The afec-
tons of the Lady Mary are disengaged; she
almost fears it is selfish indif rent, ought
she not to give some encouragement, some
hope? She waves in her refusal; assuming the