The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-22
MISCELLA A N 90 US.
A LOVE STORY.

| a LUVE olUn1. ... .H
The following romantic tiIle is taken IRON
n sketch of the lie Of Hugh Miller, the stone
mason, the geolOgist, and tile famous writer
aud poet Thus lac won Ia vile -
-. lie was visited one evening ny u female
friend. accompanied bv two ladies, whom he
had not seen before - one oi them q CHARM
lug blonde, just entering her nineteenth
wear, hut whose small aud niry hture and
waxen elearncss Ol con pleSiOh, gave her the
appearance of beautiful child rather than
grown woman. She seemed to take M
notice of the unSainy, dust'besprinked
mechanic, in his shirt sleeves with II leather
apron :; but il afterwards itranspired that
she made an excuse tO gain nearer look ol
the person who had been pointed out TO her
by some such distinguished man ms the
Cromarty poet. A few evenings after, he
met the same young lady under circumstances
little more favorable to sentiment and ro'
nance. Just as the sun was rinking, he
was sauntering along one OF his iayorlte
walks On the hill IA skirted glade -
enjoying the delightful prospect ot The en-.
chanting shores and waters at TIE Crom"rty
Firth, when he unexpectedly found her in
his presence. She was sauntering through
the wood as leisurely us himself--- now aud
then dipping into volume in her hand,
which had not, however. in the least, the
louk oc novel, and which proved to DO an
elaborate essay on Causur'ion. They passed
each other, however, without any sign oi
recognition, AS she disappeared, with a
quckened pace, from his sisht, she remind
cd him that her presence was in harmony
with the picturesque forest and the gorgeous
sunset = furnishing Il most appropriate fS'
ure for a lovely scene. Soon alter he began
% meet her ut the I" aesthetic teas, which
he loved to frequent. She proved to be the
daughter of respectable widow lady, who
had come to reside at Cromarly, had re.
ceiyed Il superior education, and At once
made good her claims to the highest intel
lectual circles. ' Of. # .
Our accomplished mason soon found that
she had a turn even for the severer walks oil
literature, and had formed II habit of COM
position in the style of the bIst English
models. Her natural shyness rapidly wore
away under the attractions of Hugh's intel
ligent convers ,tion. and they became great
friends. lie was nearly ten years her senior.
and had read many more books, and was
well calculated to be her Intellectual coun.
sellor. She visited him, after srme maid
enly scruples had been resolved by the sane
ton of her friends, while working in the
churchyard, and soon became one of his
most constant guests. They conyersed to-
gelhcr on literature, philosophy aud science,
alwaNs, however, avoiding one subject, viz. |:
= that mysterious Affection as MIR. Milllnr
quantity expresses 1t, (which sometimes
springs up between persons OF opposite SEX
es, when thrown much together" Love
formed the one solitary subject. which, from
some curious contingency, Invariably escaped
them. The imperturable Hugh was not one
of the sort of people who fall in love at first
sight. Ho had even made up his mind to
lead bachelor life. Still, he was not alto
gether as obdurate Us The rocks of his ia
vorite science. In spite of his tough, sin.
ewy Scottish heart, he sometimes INDUCED
in ideal visions. For fourteen or fifteen
yesrs, rs he tells US, with his inimi'able
nGviete, he had often iancied in his solitary
walks female companion by his side, with
whom he exchanged many thought, and
gave expression to many feeling, and whose
standing was us vigorous rs her taste was
iaultless and ber feelings exquisite. But
these visions at length faded into thin. air,
in the presence of his new found friend =
lie had no hope that the feeling would be
mutual, lie had never prided himself on
HI, good looks, Though in point of strength
and activity, he was conscious Of his supe'
riority to his fellows; in his personal ap
pearance. no felt that he was below the ay-
erage make. ..... 4. r,.. aru....... ...a .
WIh this lack Of faith in his own charms,
while he admitted that Beauty had made
u conquest of the. Beast,' he had not the
slightest expectation that the Beast would in
turn would make a conquest Of Beauty
His young friend had several admirers, all
young and better dressrd than the s,alwart
mason, and with better prospects in lie ;
hut at last matters came round the young
people discovered that they were mutually
in love, and conditional engagement took
place. 1t was settled thai thev should re.
mpin tlreo years more in Scotland on the
existing terms, and il, during that time no
suitable field Of cxertion should open. a,
home. that they should quit the country for
America. and share together in a strange
land, whatever fate might have in store. I'd,
Nearly two Of the three years passed by.
and still he was an operative mason. Bright
prosr rects at last arose, Upon the establish.
ment OF branch Of the. Bauk OF Scotland
in his native place, he was offered the situa,
ton Of areonntant. When ne received this
appointment, he had been working as ma.
son for fifteen years, including the term Of
his apprenticeship; he was without expe.
rience in financial or mercantile affairs he
had arrived at the thirty second year, of his
age; but he determined to make himself
master Of his new profession; and thus,
resolution and energy carried the day
Mean,ime his work on The legendary history
of Scotland was Issued from the press, II
met with favorable reception both from
the public aud tho critics. AT length the
season passed by his term OF probation for
the hand Of his intended came to a close
and, after a courtship Of some FIVE anxious
years, Hugh Miller became the happiest Of
men in the possession Sf his bride"