The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-02-01

rolled away, and she only remembered 1t to re]olce
still more in the brightness Of the presect and the
hopes of the future.
Months giidsd on. the vivid bloom of spring melt
ed in the glory of summer. and still Rose was The
hsppiest Of the happy. The national festival oil
| freemen approached. The manner in which
they were accustomed to celebrate it in this vii
iage was peculiarly delightful. for female patriot
| ism and taste were allowed to blend with manly
enthusiasm. and gild it with many a decorating
tint. After the usual outpourings of eloquence.
and the hustle of public dinner, the gentlemen
and ladies met together, towards the sunset hour,
on some green plot, selected for the occasion.
where = bnwer was erected and table spread,
| covered with every variety Of cake and fruit,
adorned with the flowers of the season, and
wreehed with wildwood gariands. A band Of
music stationed in the shade OF the trees, that
made the srose ring with melody, and blthe hearts
| respond to the inspiring strains. Augustus had
been orator Ct the day. and with that graceful.
forid eioquence which is so captivating to the eye
and to the ear, had ELECTED universal applause.
Rose exuted in the admiration he excited. but
when she saw him led away in triumphant pro-
come. and she began to trembe. He turned as
he passed and met her anxious glance with one SO
full of love and confidence. that she felt ashamed
of her momeutary fear. She had not time to in
dulge 10 any misgiyings, for she was chosen the
presiding queen of the bower, and in honor of
Augustus she wanted it to be decorated with regal
beauty. The bower was erected on the hanks
of the stream already described, and boat with
awnings waited the motion of those who felt dis
posed to glide on its bosom. -
Rose and Harriet, assisted by the other young
maidens of the village, had rihed the woods of
their sweets. and little Mary. who had followed
them with hop. skip and jump. every step they
took, gathered the buds and blossoms that nestled
low in their mossy beds. Her unwearied fingers
hslped to swine the fsstoons that swept from tree
to tree. linking bough with bough in fowery sister
hood. When the fairy arch completed. and
declared to be perfect in beauty, she filled her
apron with some hidden treasure, and seating her
self in remote corner, appeared to be engaged in
mysterious operation. Then springing on her
feet. she waved a lovely garland in the air. and
running towards Rose, Sse,' said she, .y.u are
queen 10 day, and here is your crosn-is i, no,
sweet snd daaI she hook sweet in it J. continued
she, sppealing 10 all around her, as Rose bent her
irad, aud Mary bound The dswy coronet 90 her
brnws. AL united in paying testimony to the
sweetness Of Rose, for she was the dail.ng of the
village, AMI sweet was the very epithet to be ap-
piled to her.
Every body said Rose Somers was q sweet
looking girl, yet one had called her beauti-
frYi Stac uin1y 1ul I,n,
at this moment, in her simple white dress and
crown of-wild flowers. the color in her cheeks
coming and going, her eyes darksning aud spark
ling as the music svyelled on the ear, and her
heart told her it was the herald of Angus u.s.
But little Mary herself was object that attracted
every eye. They had twisted rose buds and
myrtle in her fl ken ringlets, encircled her white
neck and grdled her waist with wreaths, which
she in her Innocent childhood delighted to wear.
Rose said she looked almost too much like lamb,
decorated for sacrifice, but Mary would not part
with any of her ornaments, and wore them with
sportive grace that might have excited the envy of
city bell.
There he 10, there is brother exclaimed she,
clapping her hands, as the music sounded luud and
near the thick boughs swung back, the military
band parted to the right and left. and Augustus
was ushered in between, directly in front of the
bower, where Rose stood, attended by the fairest
mHidens of the village.
What is the matter. Rose = said young girl
by her side. whose arm she had caught with an
unconscious grasp.
Nothing. answered Rose. but her face turned
as white as her dress. and her eyes had sudden
look of anguish and dread. One glance told her
that Augustus had forgotten his VOW of self DENIAL
and yielded to the temptefs snare. He had the
same hig flush on his cheek and unnatural bright
ness of the eye. she too well remembered having
once before seen.a His hair was disordered, his
steps irreguar-in short. he had that indescribale
air of abandonment, that mingled expression Of
self satisfaction and fol y. that plainly mark the
incipient stages of inebriation.
Why, Rose, my bouny Rose exclaimed he.
| in an exalted tone, you do act the queen most
| rarely Let the most humble and obedient OF
subjects thus pay homage to your majesty Then
dropping on his knees, he burst forth 10 flowery
and theatrical strain of compliment, she in vain
endeavored to check. Mary laughed at this mock
heroic strain and thought it very graceful and ad-
mirably 10 keeping with the joyous occasion; but
Rose, who knew too we'll the cause of his un-
wonted freedom Of speech and manner, felt her
heart ache within her. She tried to smile, but in
the very efart tears gushed from her eyes. His
sorrow and wonder and sympathy was now as ex-
travagant and high flown as his admiration, and
Rose. finding her situation intolsrable, drew back
behind the boughs Of the nrbour, where she for
awhile eluded his observation. Thither Harrie,
followed her. and had they been at homo and
alone. the two unhappy girls would have thrown
themselves into each others arms, and wept unre.
straiuedly. -..--.s
There was yourg man who had persecuted
Rose, with very unweicome attentions during the
absence of Augustus attributing the slight he had
received to preference for him, felt for him the
bitterest hatred. He it was who had discovered
the burning plague-spot in his heart.' and exerted
every art to spread it into consuming flame. Al