Squatter sovereign., 1855-10-30
a Rich Old Uncle.
AND A BILIOUS FEVER.
DV our FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

Beautiful as an heuri, of cearse, as all l,e-
roines are. But more than this. Linda
had mind and heart OF goodness, as
well as personal beauty.
She was the brightest scholar Of Mrs.
seminary, and was the Joy of her
father. the pride Of her mother, the go-be-
tween and confident of score Of little
Rays-her noisy young brood of brothers
and the friend and consoler Of all the
poor and distressed who came within her
knowledge.
Linda was engaged to young Slocun,
an embryo lawyer of fashion and of some
talent, who had only the slender income OF
his profession to depend upon. but which,
added to the rnodestliule fortune of Linda,
would enable the young couple to live
quite comfortably.
1t was DOW in the fitful month of April.
The following June was to witness the
bridal day Of Linda and her lawyer lover,
uron which event the happy pair were to
start for the Springs.
Linda looked magniicently on horse
back. and on this April morning, indu'g-
ing in her favorite exercise, she was sit
ting like the queen of beauty, glowing
with freshness and radiant with Joy, upon
the back of her matchless bay-the most
knowing and graceful piece Of horsefesh
to be lighted on by a fond and indulgent
parent.
Young Slocum WAS by her side, and was
descanting upon the beauty Of the morning
-and the beauty of the morning queen"
when suddenly the latter sped from his
side Ike the morning breeze. Linda's
steed had taken fight, and was flying thro'
the air, scarce touching the paving stones,
at fearful rate.
..She will certainly be thrown and
killed - and Sloeum's heart, as he ex-
claimed thus-or the place where his heart
should have been-beat with a feeling
akin to despair.
When, however, Slccum arrived some
three or four miles further, towards the
edge OF the city, a scene met his view
that called up other emotions than those
of pleasure at the safety Of his beloved.
Linda was seated on the turf, reclining
against the trunk OF tree. A tall, hand.
some stranger was bending over her, la
wing her brow with water, and pouring the
magnetism Of his warm life into kis faint
ing energies.
The. .look-the..strange. mysterious look
tha: OF soul recognizing soul, which passed
between them when Linda opened hef
eyes full upon hiai, iaunted young Slocum
like disagreeable night mare for months
after.
The next day, the tall handsome ssran-
ger called ub BON tie lovely girl he had res
cued from certain death, to inquire after
her health.
Some how OF other it was full three
hours before the .'eall'' was concluded
Time had passed 50 pleasantly in that easy
flow of thought and sentiment, where soul
met its kindred, that both were surprised at
It's rapid fight.
Again and again they met, always
talking as though they had been friends
forever; so uneonstrained and easy was
the interchange of thought between them.
Il generally happened, too, by some strange
chance, that Sloeum was either out on
some fishing excursion, or something Of TIE
sort, whenever the tall, handsome stran-
ger called upon the bride-elect.
The middle of May arrived. The wed
ding day was drawing more near. In a
maze of bewilderment The young betfothed
awaked as from sudden dream.
"Do love him well enough 10 become
his wife g asked she of her own heart.
Alas. deeper depth had been sounded
in that young heart. A deper depth than
the shallow line Of the groom-elect could
hope to sound.
But the spirit that had taugh. hcr-her
own heart-lhat had taught her the mean
ing Of the word love-tile tall and hand
some stranger-he had gone as suddenly
as he came. Business had called lIiEn to
I distant country and cline.
True. he had never spoken OF lore. but
when he was gone, Linda had found to
her dismay that he had taken her heart
with him, and that Slocum se9ned to her
now nothing more than a sort Of autona-
ticn man, brainless and .heartiess-
...But / will be true TO honor and my
promises said tie courageous Linda. res
oIutely. I viii bury my own ileart and lis
lose. and perform my duty faithfully.