Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-09


christopher himself beside his musket
Many time Mistress Hopewell had CO.
techised her children together, for she call
ed the young people her children. and in her
affections one was held almost as closely az
the other, for Christopher was good young
man, with loving nature, and one withaI
greatly more eOnsiderate of others, gentle
and confiding, than Prudence herself.
| If sack of new meal were in his fatber's
house, portion Of it was sure to be brought
to the mother of Prudence, and 90 it was
with all other .uxurles, and for all Mistress
| HoPewell knew full well that slo was in
debted to the suggestions of her young friend
though he never intimated that be had any
thing to do with the gifts he brought.
Many time, as Christopher assisted Pru-
dence to weed in the garden, he had called
her his sweetheart, and she had blushed to
hear il, but never frowned; and sometimes,
as he carried home for her her mothers per-
ton of milk, he had still further plsyfulIy
felt his way along her affections, by address
sing her as Mistress Grant
The sun was going down with an angry
red in his lace, through clouds that seemed
dragging their ragged edges along the leaf
less tree tops, and the November winds
were sweeping low along the grounl. and
gathering strength for high and stormy
night; and now and then branch of ths
nrar-growing chestnut tree ch:fei against
the low roof of Mistress Carrots log house
giving additional sense 10 the comfortable
security of her situation. as she eat in her
high-backfd Chair, reading aloud from the
Psalms, while Prudence, near the one snall
window, wrought her name in green letters
on a sampler of bright gold color.
"Oh, mother, motherI" she rIclsiu.ad.
elapping her hands with enthusiasm; "juS.
only look and see Whist a gay cavalier is
riding up the roadl''
"My child" replied the good woman. in
tones os solemn reproval. sis the Scripture
no better than gallant's face. which at
best is as the grass of the field, that your
giddy head turns from it so liehtly!"
"But he is go handsome, mother. just look,
and now he is turning this way; and his
stirrup Is of good solid silver, do belevc!'
"Thou speakes: as one of the foolish wo-
men speak," replied the mother; "pritLs,,
nv child, incline thine heart to wi,d IN, and
that the devil delights in gsod!y
outside
ale is dismounting. and coming. believe
to our poor house; and oh, mother. We ave
only the great chair and this one stool!'
"Yes," replied Mistress Garret, with
quiet severity, "we have also rod for
fools back and, as she finished speaking,
{, he resumed her reading.
By this time the young man had Al proash-
ed, and Prudence FASTENED to open The door;
but seeing the reverental attitude of Mistress
and the great Bible in her lap.hs
took off his cap, and bowling his graceful
head, remained respectfully silent till ths
conclusion of the chapter-behavinur viii ia
won the kindly consideration of the neither
almost as much as his fair face h I'd previous
" won the admiration of the daughter. He
hastened to introduce himself, and TO apole-
yze for his intrusion, while, ct tie same
lime he excused it by stating that he had
lost his road, and begging to be directed the
nearest way 10 Boston.
NV, it was almost in the suburbs Of the
.own that Mistress Hopewel lived, never
heless all appearance of it was C, mplstsly
shut out by hills and trees, 81 that it was
quite possible Arthur Harcourt, for that was
he young mans name, might be sincere in
MS inquiry.
That morning, he stated, he hll ridleu
lGr oad in company with small purity, fir, m
which accidentally becoming separated, he
had spent all the day hallooing amorg the
hills and keeping fast, until well-n Oh sx-
ha1sted, be had fallen upon the rU:a that
brought him where he then was.
"a most excellent termination" he CEN
;Iuded, with a low bow, '.to an unpromising
adventure"
Mistress Hopewell fastened to vacsfs the
yreat chair, and offer the hospitalities OF
ler house, and, poor as they were, they
we're profiered with simply disn;fied court
,sv that might I'VE become any gentlewo-
nan in the land.
Meantime Prudence retired to her sampl-
IT, with a more bashful demeanor than was
Ter wont: nevertheless she was not una
vare of the glittering spurs, md lace ruffiss
If the visitor. The sumptuous embroidery
hat urnamentel his waistc rat ot yijlet-cui-
red sat was in striking cont-Bs' with the
'iain lsey one,of russet ~ vornby Christ
,her Grant, and of this she W IL not unaware
'ither The decorations he wore, in COM
non with The men oi fortune of the dsy,
we're MT little dazzling - tn, eyes of our
ligh-sprited rustic, who had been seldom
egaled with costume more elegant than the
ray gown, silk stockings, and velvet capsf
he parish clergyman.
Is it any wonder if her green sti'ehe, went
wrong across her gold sampler, and il the
ed spots in her cheeks Sroudeael and deep
.ned, as she felt the sunshine lef sdmirikg
Eyes falling upon them!
But though his eyes rested not unfrcqusat-
v on the confused maiden, the stranger ad-
Iressed never a word to her directly, but
,ept on in genial talk with the mother,gai'y
bordering the generally somberly religious
;ast of it with the last news from the Court
md lie fashionable chit-chat OF the tcwr.
The sun went down, the anTrrei in his
ace growing dDrker, md he og tire began
o shine across the hearh, and make
antastic figures on the wall, wlis Arthur
Iarcourt vet remrined sitting in The high
packed chair, directing his attentions to the
mother, but at the same time pl'ying with
he heart of the daughter as ghtIy IS with
he enamel!eI key that dansled from his
iiolet waistcoat.
There was a timid knock Al the door, and
Prudence started and dropped her sampler,
while the mother, smiling. c: nscious tina; it
vas Christopher ut the door, oh,s'fLlly baGs
him come in.
The joyou, expression pa scd away from
MS face when he saw the stranger in tho
rreat chair of Mistress Garrt;t, while she
xas busy arranging the plate On the supper
able with an usual display OF houss-wifsly
pride.
"Sit down, Christopher, my child" she
said, kindly, indicating a goat pumpkin