Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-02-26
BY ZEN. PERLEY POORE.

It was near the close Of a beautiful
October day, in the year Of 1856, that
a man approached the town of Hartford.
in Connecticut, b. the road leading
from New Haven. At that time, the
valley of the Connecticut was densely
wooded, affording, at that golden season
t,f tie year. every variety of tint that
nature can display. The maple was
yorgcously beautiful the chestnuts were
OF a deep yellow; other species of trees
had put on a motley livery, and the
Gins that bordcred the highway, were
clothed in foliage of varied hues, from
a lively green to the deepest orange, all
mingling, by the incest gradatioiis of
shades, like the prismatic colors. As
he entered the main street, 1.-The ives
tern waves Of cb5ing day poured
flood of glistcning light upon the dia-
mond panel easements in the eastern
fronts of the houses; while beyond WAS
the broad Connecticut, sparkling like a
mirror. The overhang arch was of
lovely azure, studded here and there with
heccy clouds; while high in zenith was
the silver moon, only awaiting the re
treat of her eclipsing orb to shed more
chaste light upon the lovely scene.
The young man was fine specimen
of the sturdy colonist of those days.
Born in Decrfeld, his infant slum5crs
had often been disturbed by the prepa
rations of his father for defence, when
the war-whoop Of the savage resoundcd
through the surrounding forests. The
rifle was familiar to him in boyhood,
and although he now carried on farm
at Middletown, he had not entirely re
linquishcd his fondncss for forest sports.
We have said that he was young, but
his electric black eye, compressed lip,
and gallant horsemanship, showed that
Evcrard Walthem could both think and
act for himself, and was, therefore, well
qualified to represent his townsmen
in the General Assembly, then in ses-
sion.
Entering the main street, even then
a beautiful avenue, Everard Waltham
rode slowly along, occasionally bowling
to some acquaintance, or speaking to
one of the 99ads who were driving home
the cows, kept at nearly every house,
and mingling their shrill cries with the
musical tinkle of the bells. At last,
however, his gaze encountered couple,
which drew half suppressed oath from
his pouting lips. Applying the spur to
his horse, the high -mettled animal sprang
to the other side of the road, and he had
good pretence for negleeting to salute
them. In a few moments more he had
reached the famed hostelrie near the
site of the present State House, and dis
mounting, threw his bride to a negro
hostler.
s.Ah!' exclaimed an elderly gentle
man, who was pacing the porch, with a
pipe in his mouth, ''the member from
Middletown has arrived just in time to
see the sport
at matters not" replied Waltham
with frown, for he thought the allu-
sion was aimed at the couple he had
met. Perhaps, that we may start more
fairly, next time we should explain who
that couple were.
The gentleman was Lieutenant Coffin
a pert coxcomb, who had been sent from
the Massachusetts Bay, few weeks pre-,
vious, in command of a detachment OF
ROYAL Fusileers, destined as a body
guard for the new Governor. Insutfer-
ably naughty, he kept aloof from every
one, until by chance, he met Henrietta
Morley, with whom he had become Sc
intimate that, on the evening in ques-
ton, he had invited her to take social
ramble, and Henrietta-how shall We