The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-08-20

ginia. Here is my daughter sir, lool
at her and make your trial" The of
icer glanced upon the trembling nader
about to be offered on the altar of her
fathers unconquerable monomania with
au admiring eye. The poor girl looked
at Harry, who stood near with a troubled
brow and an angry eye, and then cast
upon the new competitor an imploring
glance.
Placing his coat in the hands of one
of the judges, he drew sash he wore
beneath it tighter round his waist, and
taking the appointed stand, made, ap-
parently without effort, the bound that
was to decide the happiness or misery of
Henry and Annette.
"Twenty two feet and an inch -"
shouted the judge. The announcement
was repeated with surprise by the specta-
tors, who crowded around the victor,
filing the sir with congratulations, not
unmingled, however with loud murmurs s
from those who were more nearly inter
ested in the happiness of the lovers
The old man approached, and grasp
ing his hand exultingly, called him his
son, and said he felt prouder OF him
than if lie were prince. Physical ac-
tivity and strength were the old leaper's
true patents of nobility.
Resuming his coat, the victor sought
with his eye the fair prize he had, altho'
namelcss aud unknown, so fairly won.
She leaned upon her fathers arm, pale
and distressed.
Her lover stood aloof, gloomy and
mortified, admiring the superiority of
the stranger in an exercise in which he
prided himself as unrivaled, while he
hated him for bis success.
Annette, my pretty price, said the
victor taking her passive hand, " have
won you fairly" Anuette's check be-
came paler than marble; she trembled
like an aspen leaf, snd clung closer to
her father. while the dropping eye
sought the form of her lover. His brow
grew dark at the strangers language.
have won you my pretty flower, to
make you bride !-tremble not so yio-
lently-I mean not myself, however
proud ! might he, ,n-ha-alsledw wits,--g"I~
lantry to wear SO fair a gem next my
heart. Perhaps" and cast his eyes in.
quiringly, while the current of life leap
ed joyfuiiy to her brow, and murmur
of surprise ran through the crowd, "per-
haps there is some favored youth among
the competitors who has higher claim
to this jewel. Young sir" he continued,
turning to the surprised Henry, "me-
thinks you were victor in the list before
mel strove not for the maiden, though
one could not yell strive for D fairer-
but from love for the manly sport in
which [ saw you engaged You are the
victor, aud as such, with the permission
of this worthy assembly, yon receive
from my hand the prize that you have
SO well and SO honorably won"
The youth sprang forward and grasp
ed his hand with gratitude, and the next
moment Annette was weeping from pure
joy upon his shoulders. The welkin
rang with the acclamations of the de-
lighted villagers, and amid the tempo
rary excitement produced by this act
the stranger withdrew from the crowd,
mounted his horse, and spurred at brisk
trot through the village.
That night Henry and Annette were
married, and the health of the mysteri-
GUS and noble hearted stranger was
drunk in overfowing bumpers of rustic
beverage.
In process of time, there we're born
unto the married pair sons and daugh-
ters, and Henry Carroll had become
Colonel Henry Carroll of the revolu-
tionary army.
One evening, having just returned
home after hard campaign, he was sit
ting with his family on the gallery of his
handsome country house, when an ad-
vance courier rode up and announced the
approach of General Washington and
suite, informing him that he should crave
his hospitality for the night. The neces,
sary directions we're given in reference
to the household preparations, and Col.
Carroll, ordering his horse, rode forward
to meet and escort to his house the dis
tinguishei guest, whom he had never
yet seen, although serving in the same
widely extended army.
That evening, at the table, Annette,
now become the digrifed, matronly, and
still handsome Mrs. Carroll, could not
keep her eyes from the face of her illus
trious visitor. Every moment or two
she would steal glance at his command.
ing features, and half,doubtingly, half
assuredly, shake her head and look again
to be still more puzzled. Her absence
of mind and embarrassment at length
became evident to her husband, who in
quired affectionately if she were i'll ?
"I suspect, colonel" said the gener
al, who had been some time, with {
quiet, meaning smile, observing the Ia
dy's curious and puzzled survey of hi