The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-29

fairy dream-land, entirely unconscious of
all around, when the cracking of a dry
twig started her, and she sprang up i'll
alarm; but pair of dark eyes looked into
her own, and familiar voice reassured
her. She laughingly greeted the intruder,
saying, "Why, Herbert, how you started
mel" He smiled, and advancing to meet
her, replied, "I am sorry l occasioned
you fright did not think to find you
here; but you are looking pale-are you
faint?" and he gazed at her with so much
anxious solicitude, that poor Minnie's
equaninity was entirely overthrown, and
sinking again upon her seat, she covered
her face with her hands and burst into
tears. The feelings so long pent up, and
the tears that had been gathering for sew
eral days, had at last found vent.
Herbert Clayton had. grown up with
Minnie from childhood. lie had always
loved her, but had felt that deep gulf
separated him, a poor widows son, from
the only child of the wealthy Esq. Arlin,
and therefore he compelled himself to
worship from afarn He, too had heard
the rumors of Esq. Arlin's losses and
he supposed this was the cause of Minnie's
agitation. He could scarcely repress the
hope, sweet and faint though it was, that
Minnie might mow be his; but checking
this feeling, he seated himself by her side
to comfort and cheer her, if possible. -
Gradually she became calm, and then she
impaired to him the story of Roby. He
was indignant at such baseness, and led
on by his feelings told Minnie of his own
love and hopes. His unsel6sh affection
touched her heart Here was one who
loved her for herself, and was willing to
take her, even if poor. But the wound
she had received was too fresh to allow
her to do aught but rise embarrassed, and
though thanking Herbert with her eyes,
to shake her head sadly.
But that chance interview decided the
fate of both. The more she thought of
Herbert's disinterested offer, the more his
character rose in her estimation. Mean
time, as she had consented to receive him
as a friend, he often visited her; and grad
ually esteem for him ripened into love.
One soft, summer evening, Herbert ven
tured to urge his suit again; and this time
Minnie, though as embarrassed as before,
did not say him nay, but returned blush
| ing answer that filed his heart with joy.
They fingered long amid the forest shades,
and when they returned, Herbert sought
Esq. Arlin, while Minnie ran up to her
room, like frightened deer.
When Herbert had confessed his suit,
Esq. Arlin, looking archly in his face,
made reply, ado you wish to make poor
Minnie Arlin your bride? Can yom think
of taking doacerless wife?"
"Oh! yes," earnestly replied Herbert,
"I should never have told my love, had
she still been as in days gone by"
The old gentleman smiled peculiar
smile, and said, "Yes, Herbert, she is
yours-you are worthy of her; but 1 am
glad, for your sake and hers, that am not
so poor that she will be portio,eless bride
But you Unjust let Minnie tell you the story
Minnie did tell him the story, and Her.
bert was almost aghast at the idea that ht
had won the hand of the heiress of ESQ
Arlin's wealth; but Minnie laughingly
told him that her poverty had lost hel
one lover and won her another.
Herbert was also a lawyer. But poor
and without influential friends, he had
many times been nearly discouraged; but
now he felt his heart become strong with
in him. more because he had won the
hand and heart he so long had desired
than at the prospect of portion Of hel
fathers wealth.
They were soon after married, ant
Esq. Arlin's handsome mansion was thrown
open to the crowd of friends who gathered
to witness Minnie's bridal
Before the day arrived, however, th'
story of Minnie's ruse had become ru
mored forth in the village; and Roby
finding himself and his selfish principle
too much the topic Of conversation, fount
it convenient to leave Belmont for SOM
other field of labor
!