Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-02-09
From the American Union.l
THE WOODMAN'S DAUGHTER;
OR, OVERCOMING AN OBSTACLE.
BY OLIVER OPTIC.
CHAPTER L. rs~
CHAPTER /.

manly IOrm.
"Ah, Eugene, you are rich, the son
of proud father; I am the daughter Of
a poor woodman, looking forward to nc
heritage but alifetime of toll and hard
ship" replied Evelyne, throwing a
glance full of anxiety, as it was of love
and tenderness, upon him.
al will redeem you from your desti-
ny; you shall escape the drudgery Of
labor-you shall be a lady,"
"Alas, l fear it can never be-"
"It must be, dearest; these hands
were never formed to do menials Of
fee, nor the light of that beautiful eye
to be wasted upon boor. No, love,
let me bear you away from these desc
late woods"
"Where would you bear me, Eugene?"
"To New Orleans; we can be happy
there"
"Will you make me your wife, Eu-
genel'' and the delicate frame of the
maiden seemed to tremble with anxiety,
as she put the momentous question.
"You are suspicious, love; you do
not yet repose in confidence upon my
honor"
"Ah, Eugene, you love me; but is
your affection such as an honest maiden
can encourage? Nay, Eugene, you
shrink from me-
"On my life, l do not!''
"You cannot love the daughter of a
poor woodman," sighed Evelyne.
Gas ] love my own soul!''
"You will wed one of the proud
damsels of the circle in which you
move. Better, Eugene, that you go
now, than lead me to love where it can
not be requited." ,r.
sNay, Evelyne, you are cruel. 1
love you, and can never forsake you?"
"Will you make me your wife?"
The young man hesitated.
"Ah, knew it was so," said she, as
a brace of pearly tears slid down her
cheeks. & 'ii'
"My father would never consent to
such a union, beautiful Evelyne; but
we can still be happy"
"Nay, leave me then" returned the
disappointed maiden, as she attempted
to disengage herself from the embrace
of herlever
"On my soul. Evelyne, l love you"
Gas the wolf loves his prey"
"You are cruel; l would not harm
you for the world" ~
"Why have you spent week in my
presence, won my heart, pleaded your
love till l confessed my existence was
bound up in you2%Why have you re-
mained here, if you think not of mar
riage?"
al said not that marriage was impos-
sible; 1 only pointed out the distance
between our respective social positions. +"
"You would be ashamed of me, then,
in the bright hall of gayety and fash
ion?' e'''0}
"No, Evelyne, you are worthy to
walk the palace of prince"
"I am not the ignorant being that
nv station would seem to indicate. In
the silent.shades of these woods, l have
attained that knowledge which the
world demands. and have spent three
years in a boarding school"
"Name not these things, dearest; the
heart careth not for them"
81 wuold prove myself worthy to be
your wife" ai 1ri -
"You are worthy, my love-" replied
Eugene, again enfolding her in his arms;
al am an only son; but my father, who
is proud of his family name, would dis |
inherit me if l should marry beneath
my position" - - E.1.
"Then you love your wealth better
than you love me-" -
"Youw wrong me, Eyelyne." -
"Choose between it and me; promise
to make me your wife. or let US part
here, and now forever "'aEin1ear vabs5at
The devoted girl gazed fondly into
his face, while her heart almost over
powered her with its anxious flutterings.
The conversation we have narrated
occurred at woodward, on the banks
of the Mississippi. Eugene Walworth
had gone ashore, while the steamer in
which he was passenger on his way to
the north, to spend the summer months,
was "wooding up" Wandering among i
the lofty cotton woods on the banks of
the river, he had encountered Evelyne.
She was beautiful creature, and his
senses were enchained. Calamity ac-
costing her, conversation had ensued,
in which he was surprised to find in her
a delicate taste and 2 cultivated mind,
far superior to the station to which she |
belonged. - 49,. -
More beautiful than the princely
danes in whose society he moved, his
heart became interested in her. He
tarried long by her side, and when the
bell Of the steamer summoned him to go
.onsboard again, hel found it difficult to
tear himself away. They walked to-
gether to the landing; but ere they
reached it the steamer was casting of
her fasts, and rounding out into the
stream. Fastening torecover the time
he had lost, he reached the bank just
as the bow was receding from the shore.
With a mad spring he attempted to
reach the boat, but was precipitated into
the river.
K The swift current was carrying him
down, when the maiden Of the wood