Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-02-28

Phy hyoiOioh, WIN "HOui nc WdS upon
terms of intimacy, he said, after few
moments conversation, 'What is it,
doctor, about this affair af Mr.. Arlin :
Is he really so reduced that Minnie is
obliged to become shop girl ?
| well, replied the friend, 4 thought
at first there must be some mistake,
but | heard the old gentleman say this
morning, when some one spoke Min
ME being so Industrious, that Minnie
Arlin would not see her father reduc-
ed to poverty, and not make some eff
fort to assist him. So presume there
is some foudation for--the reports But
my dear fellow, Minnie is a noble girl
without her property, although she has
not so pretty face as some young
women
'Oh,' replied Roby, carelessly, Il
hope you don't think Pm commltted
there | have been somewhat friendly
with Minnie, it is true, but nothing Sc
rious, | assure you. No trouble about
the heart, and he laughed, though
added he, Il should regret exceedingly
to have them meet with reverses.' He
soon after took his leave, and return.
ing to his Office, seated himself at his
writing desk and wrote, sealed and
dispatched the following note:
MY DEAR Miss ARLIN During
the time that has elapsed since | saw
saw you last, my feelings have become
somewhat changed, or rather | have
analyzed them more closely, and [ fear
we can never be happy together. 1
see now that [ was somewhat prema-
ture in my proposals, though I still en-
tertain the warmest feelings of regard
and friendship for you Your cool re-
ply 10 my proposal, Iedme to suppose
that your feelings were not very much
interested in myself, and perhaps it
were best for both that the affair
should terminate here. [ remain, most
respectfully, your obrdient servant,
WALTER RoBY.'
Minnie shed some tears when she
received this cold epistle, for she had
| hoped, as maidens sometimes do, that
her lover might 'be tried in the balance
and not found wanting.' But brush
ing the tears away, she went to her la>
ther, and handed the note to him. say
ing, 'Ah, father, you've lost the hand
some, accomplished young lawyer for
sOn-in-laW. He d,esn't think vOur
homely. poor Minnie can make him
happy
Leaving the room, she caught up
her straw hat, and went out to ramble
in the woods to her favoaite haunt,
hoping the sweet influences of Nature
might soothe and calm her somewhat
troubled spirits.
The scene was lovely, for it was the
sunset hour, and the dreamy golden
light glanced down between the inter-
facing boughs upon the soft green moss,
making dancing lights and shadows in
every greenwood path. The air was
soft and ba'my, No sound broke the
stiffness of the forest shade, save the
signing, plaintive wind-harps, or the
occasional carol OF bird. Yielding to
the lulling influence of the scene, Min
ME seated herself upon fallen tree,
and was soon lost in reverie. In her
musings she thought how pleasant it
would be to be loved for ones self
alone. and voice seemed whispering
in her ear, with soft, thrilling tone,
lovess own cadence, and dark eyes
we're gag ng into her own. with tender
loving look. She had wandered thus
far into loves fairy daeam-land, en-
tirely unconscious of all around, when
the cracking of a dry twig startled her.
and she sPTang up in alarm, bit pair
of dark eyes looked into her own, and
$ familiar voice treasured her. She
laughingly greeted the intruder, say
ing, 'why, Herbert; how you startled
me = He smiled, and advancing to
meet her, replied:
Il am sorry l frightened you, l did
not think to find you here, but you
are looking pale, are you ialnt'' And
he gazed at her with so much anxious
solicitude, that poor Minnie's equan-
unity was entirely overthrown, and
sinking again upon her seat, she COW
cred her face with her hands, and burst
into tears The feelings SO long pent
up, and the tears, which had been ga
theriDg for several days, had at last
found vent.
Herbert Clayton had grown up with
Minnie from childhood He had al
ways loved her, but felt that deep
gulf separated him. poor widows son,
from the only child of the wealthy Mr..
Arlin, and therefore he felt compelled
to worship from affair." He, too, had
heard the iumors of Mr.. Arlin's losses.
and he supposed this was the cause of
Mlnnie's agitation. He could scarce
y repress the hope, sweet and faint
though ii was, that Minnie might now
be his, but checking his. feeling. he
seated hsmself by her side, to comfort
and cheer her if possible. Gradually
she became calm, and then she i'm
parted to him the story of Roby. He
was indignant at such baseness. and
led on by his feelings, told Minnie of
his love and hopes. His unselfsh af
fiction touched her heart. Here was