Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-09-07
The swOoP OF the Night Hawk.
a AsKTTca ~ ruE MAGAZINE srrlE.


.
, Il was the gentle hour Of cleaning. Th
beautiful Isabel bad left the parental cot for Al
evening ramble. Through green lane. redo
lent Of honeysuekle. she bent ber way to 81
antique wooden bridge. crossing rivulet tha
murmured beneath the baronial towers, distan
some hall a mile from her humble, but not les
haPP. dwelling. a mendieanl, who was lean
ing over the bridge, rose as she approached
and, in hoarse voice, solicited aims Isabe
had left her purse at home, or the apr cal to be-
gentle bosom would not, perhaps, have been il
vain. There was truth, then, in her protesta.
ton that she had nothing for the man; but h,
would not believe it, and as she hurried TO es
cape his importantly, be followed her with th,
accelerated step and heightened voice so char
acteristic q the determined and professional
beggar.
AT this juncture, youth, emerging from be.
hind gnarled oak, and armed with substan.
lial walking cane, suddenly placed himself be-
tween the maiden and the vagabond, authori.
tatiyely ordering him to go about his business.
The fellow, grumbhng, sulkily obeyed The
young man, taking off his hat respectfully
made an offer to escort Isabel home, and his
services we're gratefully accepted. He was tall
and dark, wearing profusion Of sable ringlets
with moustachios and tuh. The moon, which
was just then rising over the neighboring cas-
lie tower, beamed full upon his aquiIine nose
and was reflected in the lus.re of his black eye
Beautiful meon 7 he exclaimed, addressing
the planet. For ages of ages, on this turbu-
lent world, hast thou shone down, tranquil and
serene as now. And thou wilt shine on, in
thine Interchangeable calmness, on hopes as yet
uniformed, on griefs unfelt, on unimaginec
fears. Thou, moon thou smilest on the
quiet graves-thou wilt one day smile as peace
fully on US, when we are laid in the earth, and
all our cares forgotten Is it not so 2
%, yes answered Isabel with emotion.
The youth heaved loEg-drawn sigh
This is a strange meeting he observed after
pause. "A few moments more, and we part
perhaps forever. In the meanwhile, might
l entreat trifing favor, which would render
me extremely happy ??
Really, sir, THAT is-pray, excuse-G
could not, indeed ? stammered Isabel, blush.
ing with an intensity visible in the moonlight
''Suffer me to imprint but one kiSs'-the
maiden drew back--'on that delicate land,
said the stranger
That is indeed strange request, she re-
piled. ~, ..a
1T is perhaps romantic. But of late years,
be continued, 4 have resided in Germany,
where the boon which | now venture to crave
you'd be esteemed life-long happiness
Would you deny SO rich blessing SO easily
granted 2 .
To my pr.server that would indeed be
Isabel answered. And divestlng
Ter little hand of its neat kid-glove, she pre-
ented it to the stranger, who, kneehng res
'ectfully, raised it to bis lips.
At this moment wild cry for help pro-
eeded from the cOppice not far distant -
The stranger started to his feet, holding the
land OF Isabel in his own, and clutching it con-
ulsvely as he listened to the heart-piercing
hriek.
Await me for moment 7 he exclaimed "a
ellow-creature is in distress Farewell, beaIl-
ful being, for one Observation-Disclosures
IellP And bounding over gate into the ad
dining field, he disappeared.
So had diamond ring from IsabePs forefn-
err 1t was the gift Of a generous uncle, and
Torth at least thirty pounds. She never saw
ither the stranger or the ring. 1t is but too
robable that the latter was stolen, and that
he former was member of the swell mob.