The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-10-21


manly beauty that few possess. he had
yet chosen that better part, and though
his mind was not yet made up as to his
future, he contemplated an Office in the
ministry as calculated to afford him en-
during satisfaction, and field of action
where he could best serve the immortal
interests of his fellow men. He had not
before tonight, for years, entered ball
room, and in truth, he knew not what
drew him there. He stood silent and
observant, looking around upon the dan
GERS, searching for the face that bad i'm
pressed him so strangely, though he
caught but casual glimpse. Fair mai
dens smiled and bowed to him. and many
wondered to see him there, At last
Maggie crossed his vision. The band
was silent, the sets forming. rs he
caught her eye there was vivid color
in her cheek, and she vas turning away
with conscious look from the man that
claimed her hand, Harry started as he
saw tie latter, and bent an earnest
enquiring glance; watching his every
movement with the strietest attention,
and seemingly with no very pleasant
thoughts. Again and again from one
end of the ball room to the other, did
Halls eyes follow the form of the strau.
ger, and thus inteptiy watching, Bob
found him, during an interval between
the dance.
"Well, sir, you are the subject of all
the conversation; were yop aware oft ?"
asked his brother, as the two walked near
recess; people are asking Bhy you
came, why you don't dance, and the
dickens knows what Miss Everly, q
very clever, accomplished girl, you know
her, declares that she is going herself to
ask you as soon as the recess is over,
and she is certain that you can't refuse
her."
"She will hnrdiy have the opportuni-
ty," replied Hal, Gas I shall go home
before the next dance commences"
Nonsense however, do as you please;
I confess it isn't very pleasant to see
you standing here like a post, nobody
knows what for, possibly concocting some
satirical article to go into to-morrow's
Times; however, what do you think of
Miss Gilderslie ?''
GA queenly girl, peerless creature !!
but she is out of place here p' exclaimed
Hal, earnestly.
"Out of placel what do you mean
why, it Is her clement"
~ cannot think so," replied Hal, in
the same quiet tones "her eye, her
brow, contradict it; there is too mnch
soul in the eye, too much mind in the
brow; she cannot be happy here, or if
she is, she does not yet know herself,
and the time will come when she will
wake up to her true interests, and mourn
the sacrifice of years"
did you see the young man who
danced with her? It is said they are
engaged, and there will probably be an
elopcment, as angry papa, you know, for
bids the banns."
Engaged Miss Gilderslie engaged
to him !" exclaimed Hal, his face betray-
ing the deepest Indignation "why, that
fellow picked my pocket at Brussels, two
years ago, and cannot have been cut of
jail more than six months. I thought l
knew him when 1 saw them dancing to-
gether, and few moments ago he gave
me look that confirmed my impression
IF were to remain, he weuld leave,
and as it is, I should hardly wonder if
he did. I assure you 1 shall make it my
business to put Miss .Gilderslie on her
guard"
The young men left the place few
moments after; the drapery of the win
dow moved gently aside, and Maggie
Gildersie herself, with colorless face,
came out of the nook in which she had |
been seated. Her first effort was to ask
a friend of her father to call her carriage,
as she felt suddenly i'll, and in few mo-
ments she was set down at her fathers
house. Entering her own chamber, she
saw the maid asleep in her chair, the
lamp burning dimly, and her own refec-
ton in the great mirror looking CHASTITY,
haggard and heart-sick. Divesting her.
self of her ball attire, without help, she
walked up the servant, sent her to her
rest, and sat down to reflect. What had
sac escaped On the morrow she might
lave yielded to the strange fascination
If an elopement-withw whom ? A COM
non thief, pickpocket, a genteol villain.
As she thought of his attractions and
Ter recent regard for him, she trembled
rom head to foot, picturing the desolate
lome, her mother in anguish, her father
u dispair, herself ruined. Then came
he words of the noble stranger, whose
ad earnest glance had so often attracted
eF-"she cannot be happy here, or, if
he is, she does not yet know herself /
nd the time will come when she will s
rake up to her true interests, and mourn L
he sacrifice of years"
"The time was nearer than thought, i
had gone off with this man." she s
ried out to herself; ooh he read me ly