Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-14
DAILY. A. EVENING STAR.
A LOVE STORY

80 In the autobiography Of. Hugh Miller,
the Stone Mason, Geologist and Poet,
published in the New York Quarte,fp,
we find the following, which shows how
he was courted and won while pursuing
his trade in humble life: -- ''' =
"He was visited one evening by a fe.
male friend who was accompanied by two
ladies, whom he had not seen before
one of them charming blonde, Just en-
tcring her nineteenth year, but whose
small and airy figure and waxey clearness
of eemplexion, gave her the appearance
of beautiful child rather than grown
woman. She seemed to take no notice
of the ungainly dust besprinkled me.
chanic in his shirtsleeves, and with
leathern apron !: but it afterwards tram
spired that she made some excuse to gain
a nearer look Of the person who had been
pointed out to her by so distinguished a
name as the Cromartyr poet. A few
evenings after, he met the same young
lady under circumstances little more
favorable to sentiment and romance. just
as the sun was sinking, he was saunte..
ing along one of his favorite walks on
the hill-a tree-skirted glade-enioyinr
the delightful prospect of the enchanting
shores and waters of the Cromartyr Firth.
when he Unexpectedly found himself in
her presence. ShewaS sauntering through
the wood as leisurely as himself-now
and then dipping into volume in her
hand, which he did not, have, in the least,
the look of novel, and which proved to
be an elaborate essay on Causation.
They passed each other, however, with
out any sign Of recognition. As She dis.
appeared, with quicker pace, from his
sight she reminded him that her presence
was in harmony with the picturesque
forest and the gorgeous sunset-furnish.
ing most appropriate figure for lovely
scene. Soon after, he began to meet her
at the aesthetic teas" which lie loved to
frequent. She proved to be the daughter
of respectable widow lady, who had
come to resideat Cromartyr, had received
superior education, and at once made
good her claims to place in. the highest
intellectual circles.
Our accomplished mason soon found
that she had turn even for the severer
walks of literature, and had formed a
habit of composition in the style of the
best EnglishImodels. Her natural shy-
ness rapidly wore away under the attrae
fractions of Hugh's intelligent conversa-
ton, and they became great friends. He
was nearly ten years her senior, had read
many more books, and was well qualified
to be her intellectual counsellor. She
visited him, after some maidenly scruples
had been resolved by the sanction of her
friends, while working ia the church.
yard, and soon became one of his most
constant guests. They conversed to-
gether on Literature, philosophy. and
science, always, however, avoiding one
subject, namely !" that mysterious aftc-
tion," as Mr.. Miller quantity expresses
it, (which sometimes springs up between
two persons Of opposite sexes, when
thrown much together" Love formed
the one solitary subject which, from some
curious contingency, invariably escaped
them. The impertWable Hugh was not
one of the sort of people that fell in love
at first sight. He had even made up his
mind to live bachelor life. Still he was
not altogether as sobdurate as the rocks
Of his favorite science. In spite of his
tough, sinewy Scottish heart, he some.
times INDUCED in ideal visions. For
fourteen OF fifteen years, as he tells MS,
with his inimitable naiuete, he had often
fancied in bis solitary walks female
companion by his side, with whom be |
exchanged many feeling, and whose
understanding was as vigorous as her
taste was faultless and her feeling ex-
9uisite. But these visions at length
faded into thin air, in the presence Of his
new found friend. He had no hope that
the, feeling would be mutual lie had
never prided himself On his good looks.
jim point Of strength and activity,
be was conscious of his superiority to his
fellows, in his personal appearance he felt |
that he was below the average make.
With this lack of faith in his isowncharms,
while he admitted that beauty had made
a conquest of, beast he had not the |
expectation that the beast would
in turn make conquest of beauty. His
young friend had several admirers, all |
yotnger and better dressed than the stall
wart mason, and with better prospects
in life but, at last, matters came round; |
the young people discovered that they
were mutually in love and a conditional
engagement took place. It was settled
that they should stay three years more
in Scotland on the existing terms, and II, |
during that time, no suitable field should
open at home,, that they should quit the |
country for America, and share together
in strange. land whatever fate might |
have in store. Nearly two of the three
years passed by, and he was still an |
operative mason. Bright prospects at |
asst arose. Upon the establishment Of a |
branch Of the Bank of Scotland in bis ma
i've place, he was offered the situation of |
accountant. When he received this ap-
pointmefit, he had been working as al
mason for fifteen years, including the
term Of his apprenticeship; he was with |
out experience 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 profess
sion, and thus resolution and energy car
fied the day. Meantime his work on the
history Of Scotland was issued
rom the press. IT met with 9 afavorablel
reception both from the public and the
critics" AT length the seasons passed
by; the term Of probation FOR the 4land
IF his intended came to close, aAd'sfeer
. A..x.I:, -. cou,a fiua auKioaxS YoRrN Il