Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-07-20

them with parental kindness and atten-
ton. But as she approa ched TO woman
hood and began TO attrac, the esteem
and admiration Of all who became ac-
quainisd with her, BY her amiablc diSpo-
sition. her sprightliness and beauty, this
former manifestation oil kindness on the
part of Martin ard his wife began unac-
countaby TO decline; and instead of re.
ceiving these demonstrations of esteem m
towards their deserving daughter with
that pride and gratifica alton which real
parents would feel, they seemed to sicken
at the praises she received, and view
them with increasing uneasiness, giving
vent TO their feelings at least on the in
nocent and distressed cause OF them, in
such bitterness of manner and expression
as TO render her often extremely miSera-
Bile. And this treatment was the more
painful and perplexing as 1t arose from
no avowed or reasonable causes. being
founded probably in sense of growing
inferiority, and petty jealousy at the
reference with which she was person
ally regarded. and the greater respect
which her intellectual superiority al
ways commanded. leaving her the most
hopeless of all tasks, the endeayer to con.
ciliate those whose conduct arises from
motives they are ashamed to acknowl-
edge. and whose dislike has no other ori
gin, than in the baseness OF their own
hearts.
A new era now occurred in the life of
Mav-the era Of her rSt love. William
Ashley, an intelligent and enterprising
young man, Had been employed by gem
tleman in Massachusetts,. owning wild
lands in Vermont, to survey tract west
Of the settlement. Making the valley
his head quarters and the house of Martin
his home on his stated returns from his
laboriuus duties in the woods. he becam
in:ere Sted in May-loved her, and was
soon loved in return, with that fcryer
which young maiden yields up her viz
gin affections. The intimacy soon re-
suited in an engagement Of marriage; and
determination on his part. to purchase
farm and settle in the valley; to all Of
which, Martin and his wife either seem
ed coldly Indifferent. or manifested their
dislike, though. as before minated, they
had the year previous, used considerable
management To induce May to consent to
the has,y proposals of one, a thousand
times less worthy. Ashley having now
contracted for farm III pursuance of his
resolution to settle in :he place. his time
had since been spent in alternately i'm
proving his new purchase. and re assunl
ing the avocation which had been the
means Of introducing him into the settle
ment.
Having now given the reader brie:
sketch Of he situation and characters OF
the leading personages OF our little story
we will return to the thread of the mar
ra,ive where we left it for lis disres-
sicn.
After parting from her lover. May re-
mained almost unconsciously some time
in the vicinity OF the romantic spot
which had witnessed their adieu; now
listlessly STOPPING to pluck some favor
ite flower that peeped from lis covert
beneath her devious footsteps. and now
pausing TO scratch the initials of her
loved ones name on the bark OF some
solitary tree, while her mind was sweet
ly occupied with the pleasant reminls
cences of the past, or indulging IN those
dreamy and bright imaginings of the fu-
,ure, which love and hope are forever
uniting 10 create in the bosoms OF the
youthful. And it was nearly sunset be-
fore she was aroused to the necessity
of q speedy return 10 her home. Now
quickening her step, however. she soon
arrived a. the door, ard was timidly Ell.
tering under the expectation of receiving
some reprimand from Martin or his wife
as was their wan, on her being absen.
from her domestic duties, when with a
feeling approaching thoughtfulness. she
caught third person ir the room. sitting
with his back to her--thinking that his
presence would protect her from the an
ticipated rebuke, till the occasion should
be forgotten. Bu, this penalty she
would heve gladly suffered the next mo-
ment i'm exchange for the disagreeable
surprise she encountered. For she had
scarcely reached the interior of the room
before the person turned round, and IN
him she at once recognized the man
whose singular conduct she and Ashley
had lately witnessed with SO much sur
prise and suspicion. She instantly re-
coiled at the unexpected discovery. and
stood moment mute and abashed before
the painful scrutiny of his gaze.
"Why! what ails the gir.." exclaimed
Mrs. Martin. "A body would think she
was afraid of strangers"
"Perhaps, wife," observed Martin with
a malicious smile, "perhaps Mays walk
has confused her wits little-these love
meetings and love partings are terrible
things TO fluster one-ain't they May
"There." rejoined the former i'll q tone
of exulting glee, there! see how the girl
bushes! guess she thinks the gentleman
may have seen her and her beau in their
loving ramble across the pasture. May
be. sir. she continued. turning to the
stranger. "may be you witnessed the part
ing?'
mo. l saw no one after leaving the
woods till | reaceed the house," replied
the man with evident uneasiness of man
ner--"D;d you pass the way. come,
Miss?"
IL have not been in the road sir" an
swered Man with as much calmness as