Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-11-29


ever, busy, anxious life of luxury, and tt
quiet and ease of an existence which th
white cottage seemed to symbolic, ha
caused all this change.
Coming from the city mere than usua
i iy ieisurely one afternoon, he overlook
young man of his own age, with rema ri
ably prim and elastic appearance, briskl
walking along the road which stretebe,
onward towards Arthur's home Reinin
IN his horse, that the wheels of his ligh
/; wagon might not envelope tue travelle
with dust, Arthur became attracted b
the young mans appearance, and the pc
liteness which had sought to save hin
from the dust, now rendered to the trav
eller seat in the carraige 1t was as DO
litely accepted but as the young mar
stepped in ne blushed deeply, yet sprans
quickly to the proffered seat It was tn,
Widow Elford's son, and he had formed
such an opinion of the "aristocracy" O
his mothers wealthy neighbor. that hac
be known who it was that proffered hin
help on the way. be would not have ven
tured to accept it. But in great haste te
reach his mothers cottage be gladly an
swered yes. and now was whirlng rapidly
along the road by the side of that neigh
Dor, and in pleasant conversation with
him.
1t was a great pleasure to Reuben Ell
ford to be able to change his opinion of
young Hadley, for how much more crate.
tul was the thought that bis mother had a
social, Joviai, obliging neighbor, than what
be supposed was her fortune in that re-
spect. And what a refreshment to the
humble clerk, Of very limited means, was
that ride ano as they rode along. what a
perfect equality did the cast of their minds
make between them 1t seemed as though
they had been acquainted for years and.
rapidly. conversation changed from the
weather, crops and country, to books, au-
thors, pictures and music and when they
! separated, Arthur could but say to him
self, 8 wish | had a cultivated mind like
that young man !" while Elford felt that
bad he had the opportunities which Had
ley always commanded, he would have
something of his cultivation, but he was
delighted with the geniality and kindness
OF his mothers neighbor
AT that time, when Reuben stepned
from the carriage at the door of the Had
ley mansion, to take the by path to the
ShItC NOItdSC- uiS SiSstI NUN was SlCtlnr
at the end window OF the little attic room
of the cottage which looked towards the
mansion She always sat there at that
hour. She said it was pleasant to see the
people who came from the citv to visit
the mansion !; but somehow she always
noticed more about the movements of Ar
thur Hadley than any other perse.;,on,
.n oeeoi it'nes - hn- ynethn- nv eiueh'
attending any arrival from town. Arthur
was sure to be the central and allimpors-
ant parsonage. But now she sees her
brother Reuben in the carriage with ar
thur, end down drops the sewing in her
lap, and she bends out of the window to
push away a branch of shade tree, to
see more distinctly the prospect. She
watches for Reuben as he descends. but
instead of instantly turning the corner in
the direction of the foot path by the wood
/ land he is unseen, and has evidently en-
tered the house. At length Arthur and
| Reuben appear from the door in the di
rection of the cottage, and expressions of
most courteous parting are exchanged
/ by the two young men, as Reuben is about
| to leave
| Ruth darted down stairs, just putting
/ her head into the room where her mother
sat. exclaiming, Reuben's coming !" and
! off she ran
Sitting with that mother at this time
was one of her younger friends, the daugh-
ter of the principal family in her late
husbands parish, who was at this time
paying a long contemplated visit. Miss
Arnold, for such was the young lady's
name. was no common parsonage and one
could not help noticing her striking pecu
liarities, combining as she did an attract
i've person with engaging manners and
most refined dignity. She had always ia
ken great delight in the society of Mrs
Elford. as she had grown up under the
pastorship of her late husband, and had
received peculiar attention from him when
quite child. and gave a most happy di-
rection to her studies and the most grace
ful refinement to her tastes and manners.
She had not seen the widow for some
years. and now she was reviewing by her
conversation, some very precious years In
the life of her hostess. When she heard
the cry of Ruth. Reuben's coming in she
darted to the window at the end Of the
room. and looked out, expecting to see the
round and ROSY faced boy she remember
ed and whom she had not seen since his
sixteenth year. She made no calculation
about the change which more than half
dozen years must produce, and therefore
when Ruth came tripping up the path with
her brother. she looked beyond for anoth
er male form
Ruth and Reuben met as such relatives
, should meet. with delight for each 9th
er's presence as though it was the best OF
luxurjes and as she walked by his side
, with her arm in his. one would be apt t.
, imagine tha. not nature but affection hat
: drawn them to each other. Ruth dartec
r her face down so as to gaze up into the
! ewes of her brother, and then she threw
her head back again, with her light curl
: swinging to the music of her laughter, t,
be succeeded almost instantly by som,
r grave question, which gave to her eyes no
e only the look of seriousness, but almos
+ the promise of tears.
: But how is it, Reu, that you came ou
with our aristocratic' neighbor ln asket