True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-24
An ynter.e!stilna GaIe.
THELOVERS SOF CLOFTON
Bird GEs.
BY FRANCES p. PEPPERELL.

q BY FRANCES p. PEPPERELL.
The sun was setting over the Avon,
throwing red radiance on dipping hough
and ripping water, transmitting the great
stone piers of Clafton bridge into massy
gold, and half hiding with, long, level
shadows the two young figures upon a
low abutment beneath the shoreward arch;.
the figure of young man, who, sitting
carelessly, ever and anon threw his line
far inio the river, unmindful Of piscatory
success, while the eyes were bent upon
his companion, an English girl wearing
the beauty of sixteen summers, who stood
hall leaning oyer.the broad stream from
her nook OF fmisonry and lhey both wore
the ecostume of.the peasanlry.
"Thou wilt never fill thy basket, o
agile fshermanl" said the girl, STOPPING
to admire,the changing hues of brace of
fish struggling on the rushes therein
"How vivid the colors of their shining
sides, like the sparks of half burned en-
beres. In dying, methinks they evince a
beauty that all their lives between cool,
flowing currents, they never owned
Dostthou not perceire it", .-..... "
81 perceive only beauty before. which
allother fairness fades to an aslien pale
ness" answered !he youth, seriously. Z
E"Away with thy aattering speeches u
she replied. ."Hsst found another ladie-
love, that thau must needs revert to idle
phrate, here in the cool, rural shadows
whittier we have fled in our simple garb,
10 speak truth and be earnest away from
all those trivial palace whims."
81 could have no other love, for my
eyes give not one glance at other form
than thine"
sWhat aieth thee tonight 7" asked
the girl, with merry laugh. "Thy
mood is tragical, yet thou art somewhat
melodramatic, nevertheless! hast been
hearing The plays of the Jolly Chrildrew,
Of tie Significant French mystery ~
GAY, thou hast it. A French mystery
but which reads plain enough" :.s. -.
.a"'Whg wilt thou persist in thy mood
ness Thou art sad, tell me why, Suf,
folk - and she sat down deside him,
laying her hand caressingy on his shoul-
der. e ri.t t.
"Has thy Heart changed, Mary he
replied, touching the hand with his lips,
"since that hour, by my tablets, two
years ago this very day, when under the
great elm at Winsor, thou didst Vow
.,tYes, I know !--Foolish boy and do
true hearts change so? Am l fish, that
Ishould vary with every ray of light.
every graspof breath +! Thou, ,kou art
changed. Thou lowest me no longer, or.
thou wouldst never doubt me. Thou
wishest to be free Go Irelease thee
Never will Mary Tudor exact love from
any" and she arose proudly, yet with
tears coursing over he cheeks.
'But il love is exacled from Mary tn.
dor (" said Suffolk.
Never" she answered, "will any
one enforce my will. Ny brother, who
is king, will protect mel"
"Thou thinkest thy brother loves thee,
then :" = "a, 4 :
~ kno,O IT,
"And If thou and should part, Mary.
If | should be forced to resign thee g.
siLeaye thy enigmas ~ she cried, i'm
periously. Speak plainly, Duke Of Sui,
folk !" as, 7lai o J,1
Il .sSpeak lower, Princess Mary 4he
answered, smiling. "For what do we
wear disguise, if we proclaim our rank
to all the world ~ and rising, he drew
her gently to a seat beside him.
"Ah thou smilest," she responded,
half relieved. "Why dost thou pain me
sso3 Has thy heart gone astray, has ano.
.ther of noblcr name or greater welth and
beauty, won the'!" .h.asts
''Great beauty Of England does not
hold. OF wealth, Suffolk himself pos
sesscs sufficient !; and whose weds the
sister Of England's Eighth Henry, can
mount no higher on the ladder Of rank"
,,..Then why art thon 50 strange T.
vi have been thinking Of possibilities;
remembering what / pray to be but idle,
court gossip. Swear faith again to me,
Mary Swear that if danger threatens l
our love, thou wilt fly with me, into ger
many or Spain! France is indeed no
gefdgs foras! Fly ao,o!"
b" 81 rs there danger now :" she asked,
laugbingly. HWRy should !, who have
my brothers sanction on our love, fly
anywhere3 : |, wboain another month,
become wholly thine ~; tai4a9a
II fear. r.copstanty IL fearlest our hap
piness be1yisipnary. Lest images Of our
welded future may be only like the mir.
edges Of The desert, that deceive weary
travellers with delightful piciures Of iuxu.
rious rest. Detesthble thought / Dfeafy
wordsl let us leave them and dwell only
on tFeIpfesent that al least is ours. T"
aWhenthe old alderman spanned the
tide with these arches, dost think ht