The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-02-23

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summer morning, he peremptorily an
swered, "No! l do not wish goa to learn
to be smuggler. ;" But then, he Instant
ly checked himself, and afterwards was
more anxious and kind 10 me than ever
Still Richard and continued playfellows
until we grew up. and both admired Char
lotte. He would have made formal
proposal for her hand, if the marked DIS
couragement of her family had not shut
out every opportunity. This touched his
pride and once made him declare, in an
off-hand way, that it would cost him but
very little trouble to land such a light carr
90 as that, some pleasant evening, in
France, or even on one of the Asore Is
lands, if orange groves and orange
blossoms were what my lady cared about
1t is wonderful how far, and how swiftly,
needless words do fly when once they are
uttered. Such speeches did not close the
breach, but instead, laid the first founda-
ton for one of those confirmed estrange-
ments which village neighborhoods only
know. To repugnance manifested by
Charlotte's friends was partly caused by
the mystery which hung to Richards am
pie means. The choice was unhesitating-
ly made in my favor. In consequence, as
sort of rejected candidate, Richard Le-
roy really did lie, amongst us, under an
unexpressed and indefinite ban, which was
by no means likely to be removed by the
registering, scornful air of superiority with
which he mostly spoke of, looked at, and
Charlotte and took leave of my father
on that grey September evening with the
full conviction that every blessing was in
store for us which affection and wealth had
the power to procure. Over the green,
and up the lime-tree avenue, and then,
good night, my lady-love! Goodnight,
thus parting, for the very last time. To
morrow-ah? think of tomorrow. The
quarters of the church clock strike half
:. past nine. Goodnight, dear mother-in
law. And, once more goodnight, Char
! lotte? ssal ssg ak
!, 1t was somewhat early to leave; but my
fathers plans required it. He desired tha
:. we should be married, not at the church o
E the village where we all resided, but a
: one distant short walk, in which he tool
peculiar interest-where he had selec
! ted the spot for family burial-place, ant
j where he wished the family registers to b
e kept. It was secluded hamlet; and m
E father had simply made the request that
j would lodge for while at a farm nous
q there, in order that the wedding might b
: performed at the place he had fixed hi
: heart upon. Ny duty and my interes
were to obey.
}, "Good night, Charlotte" had not Ion
1t been uttered, before I was fairly on tn
d way to my temporary home. Our vi
% lage, and it's few scattered lights, wen
h soon left behind, and I then was upon til
Il open down, walking on with springin
,e step. On one side was spread the Englis
n Channel; and from time to time coul
!, mark the appearance of the light at CaI
Ie Grinez, on the French coast opposite
N There it was, coming and going, fashin
p out and dying away, with never ceasir
le coquetry. The cliff lay between N
as path and the sea- There was no DANCE
,g for, although the moon was not up, it W
If bright starlight. knew every inch OF Il
ur way as well as I did my fathers gard
" walks. In September, however, mists W
I'd rise; and, as l approached the valley, the
al came the offspring of the pretty stea
to whichran through it, something like alig
i'd cloud running along before wind. Is the
er a night-fog coming on? Perhaps the
mt may be. If so, better steer quite clear
TX, the cliff, by means of gentle circuit
of land. Itis quite impossible to miss t.
tie, valley; and once in the valley, it is equal
rs difficult to miss the hamlet. Richard I
81 roy has been frequently backward and f'
re- ward the last few evenings; it would
NO strange if we should chance to meet he
,h- and on such an occasion.
sat On, and still on, cheerily. In f
err minutes more shall reach the farm, a
me then, to pass one more solitary night
,ht almost pleasurable delay, a refnem'
ms in happiness. I could sing and dance
nv Joy. Yes, dance all along, on the elias
th- truf! There, just one foolish caper; j
49,, one ss-..#.
~ Good God! is this not the shock of
- earthquake? I hasten to advance anot
I..t step, but the ground beneath me quiv
- and sinks. grasp at the side of va,
aut ing pitfall, but grasp in vain. Down, do1
:. down, I fall headlong.
., When my senses returned, and CO
. look about me, the moon had risen, ;
-, was shining in at the treacherous
through which had fallen. A gla
was only too sufficient to explain my
'ei' sition. Why had I always SO foolishly
cav fused to allow the farmer to meet me