True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-11-05


owner in his powdered clothes, lifting up
the great bags of wheat by the rope that
dangled from the. front window, or pour
ing the corn into the large trough. under
which the great wheel FLASHED and groan-
ed in the stream all day sit was, as we
said, great contrast TO go on few rods
farther to the new store, with its green
shutters and large sign, and see Jason
standing in the store, dressed better than
the minister, and receive one of his ini.
mitable bows.
Then it would be such conquest, and
all The girls would envy her so. She
would be Mrs. Williams, the Merchants
wys /" 1t sounded exceedingly well,
and yet, when she thought oft, that low
voice would rise up and speak for the
miller again, Poor Lefty no wonder it
was so severe a struggle between her al-
fections and her pride.
She looked. out of the window, and the
full moon was shining down on the bare
earth, and whitening the naked branches
Of the tall trees. The sweet, pensive
light stole softly into The girls heart, and
drew her towards it.
81 guess Ill run down TO the grove.
if anybody comes, you can talk 10 them,
mother. ill get back, for won't be
gone long" was her sudden conclusion.
The girl had not been absent for more
than five minutes, when there was a
knock at the door, followed by the en-.
trance of Jason Williams. He took a
seat by the great fire place, and chatIed
few moments with the old woman about
the new meeting house, and the prospects
of an early spring, when suddenly there
was another light tap at the door, and in
answer to widow Psase's "come in"
The miller made his appearance.
1t was not SO remarkable a coincidence
after all, that the young men should
both visit Lefty this evening, for it was
bright enough with its baImy air. and
large, round moon to woo any man
TO visit the woman of his seeking. Of
course, the merchant and the miller could
not have regarded each other with pecui-
arIy complacent feeling: and probably
wished the other thousand miles off,
notwithstanding they met quite as cor
daily as rivals could be expected to do.
But somehow the conversation Jagged
exceedingly, and at last Jason proposed
to Seth that they should 20 down to the
grove in search of Lefty, 10 which the
latter gladly consented.
She did look like picture, as she
kneIt there, piling up the dead, old tree
boughs, while the shadows and the moon
beams danced restlessly over her figure,
as restles as they.
The young men came suddenly upon
her, and she sprung up with little
shrek and bounding Of the blood into
her cheeks-but her laugh, oh, that was
like all sort of sweet sounds, az it ran
ripping off to the echoes of Blueberry
hill!
Well, you've come, and row l shall
set you straight to work, young gentle
men, said the girl, with that dainty,
Auttcring motion of the head so natural
to, and so graceful in some women.
"Of course you will. We're ready
to obey orders, Lefty" was the simultan-
eous repose of the young men; and the
dainty merchant and the handsome mil.
ler set themselves vigorously to work ;
and the voices Of The trio mingled loudly
and merrily, as they piled up the BRAN
ches of pine, and birch, and hemlock.
Lefty affirming that the sugar boiling was
likely to he the easiest she ever tended,
now all the trouble of gathering the fire
wood would be over.
Hurk didn'i you hear u strange kind
Of noise !" and Lefty lifted her head
suddenly. and stared eagerly around
her.
ats nothing, Lefty, only the sap
dlopping into the tubs" answered Jason,
as he added fresh handful of boughs 10
the rapidly increasing pile.
"No, it isn't the sap. Thele, I hear
it again. It's a rustling among the bran
ches."
They all heard i.now :: it was strange
stealthy, mysterious sound, that, heard
in the woods, and at night, is perhaps
more startling than any other,
A faint shrek suddenly broke from
Lefty, which drew the gaze Of both the
young men to lfer. She was standing a
few PAGES from them. her face white and
rigid, as though death had struck sudden.
" at her heart. There was something in
that stony face that chilled both the young
men, and they sprang eagerly TOWARD
her, crying, Lefty! what is the mat
ter !"
They saw what it was, then, and the
faces Of those two strong men grew white
as the girls; for there. peering OUT with
their wild, glaring, hunger.l lighted eyes
from the low underbrush, were two large
bears, crouched down ready to spring
upon them.
, The young mems question broke III,
spell Of horror which had trans6xed Let
: ty Pease. With a low shrek she spranp
} past her companions, and with cry
fearful in its rage and hunger, the snimalI
. rushed out.