Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-19

as if a gentle hand was laid on his arm, and
soft, persuasive voice said, Arthur, | would
mt do it ;" and he could not do it. The con-
sequence was, his young companions soon be-
gan to wonder how it happened that Arthur
had so suddenly abandoned all his late tricks.
and become so agreeable a companion. But
no one, not even Ellen, guessed the cause
She was too modest to attribute an energy so
potent to the few words she had spoken in the
nursery.
Six years passed away, and Ellen Hastings
was no longer a child, for she had bloomed in
to wemanhood, having reached the golden age
OF the novelist, sweet sixteen. But during
these winged years, which in their fight bad
borne her so rapidly to this point, she had nev-
er forgotten her beloved sister Clara or her
parting counsel To be good and to do good,
had been her constant aud noble aim. Such
an aim could not fail to give a moral elevation
and dignity to her whole character, which
greatly enhanced those natural charms with
which she had been endowed in no stinted
measure.
When Ellen was sixteen, it so chanced that
she spent few DAYS with friend who resided
in city where was located fourisbing col
lege One evening, during this visit, she was
" IL SilldlI anu SeltcI ctTcIe Oi lUIl-
mate friends, among whom were two or three
of the college students. One of these was no
other than her old playmate at Mr.. Herbert's,
Arthur Dunning But Ellen did not recog-
nize him. They had not met since that time,
and as that meeting had made no particular
impression upon her mind it was almost for
gotten. When introduced to Mr.. Dunning, nc
suspicion of ever having met him before cross
ed her mind
Not so, however, with Arthur Dunning.-
The impression made upon his mind had been
far deeper, and therefore not so easily effaced
10y the lapse of years. AS soon as Ellen was
introduced to him as Miss Hastings, he was
struck with something familiar in the glance
which met his, and in the tones of the voice
which fell on his ear. They seemed to have
strange connection with some scene of the past,
though all was dim and indistinct He could
not recall where he had met that glance and
heard those tones
For half an hour after this introduction. Ar
thur Dunuing puzzled and wearied himself by
chasing this phantom of the past. Sometimes
it wouId almost assume a tangible shape and
he would think he was about to seize it. when
it would ciude his mental grasp seeming as
airy and intangible as ever.
At length, one of the party with whom Miss
Hastings was on terms of familiar intimacy, ad
dressed her as Ellen, my dear" In a mo-
ment the misty veil was removed from the mind
OF Arthur Dauulng, aud he mentally excam
el
II" | have it, have il now it is Ellen Has
tingS," and internally the whole scene in the
nursery at Mr.. Herberts came up before him
" 1t is the very same. | was sure that her
counteuance and the tones of her voice were
strangely familiar, and equally sure that they
were connected with some cherished recollec
ton of the past. All that fortnight at Mr.
Herbert's-how we'll do recollect it ! Ellen
Hastings was my good angel then"
Towards the close of the evening, Arthur
coutriyed to get by the side of Ellen, aud also
TO draw her into free and animated conver-
sation. lie was about to call to her mind
their former acquaintance, when the attention
of both was arrested by the conversation of
the other members of the little group &.
Certain college regulations which were re-
garded by many of the students as very un-
reasonable, onerous and arbitrary had occa-
stoned dissatisfaction so general, that plan
was forming and being openly discussed, to
resist them The diSaffected students imagin-
ed they were so strong in numbers and infu-
tnee, that if they combined in this movement,
they should overawe the college officers, aud
compel them to modify the odiuuS regulations
In this way they thought TO escape the dis
grace usually resulting from rebellion against
college laws.
The plan had been boldly discussed by
portion of the students for some time. aud
those present did not hesitate to bring it for
ward and combat its Feasibility. in the select
circle there gathered Arthur Dunning, who
was naturally somewhat impatient of restraint,
had been inclined to sympatlize with the dis
affected party, aud had serious thoughts of
joining them, should their plan be Carried into
execution
The subject was discussed with much ami
nation and earnestneSS by those present, and
o variety of opinions were expressed in rela-
ton to it. After listening TO the rest for some
time, Arthur suddenly turned TO Ellen, and
said.
What do ycu think of this measure, Miss
Hastings? Would YOU advise Us TO join the
party who are about to adopt it ?"
Z" | wouldn't do it," replied Ellen, earnestly,
though her cheeks were instantly after suffus-
ed with bushes, as she thought how frankly
she had expressed her apinion to an entire
stranger,
The words torched an electric chord in the
mind of Arthur Dunning.- ouldm't do it"
He was instantly transferred by them back
to chiIlhoof's days. Once more he was in the
nursery at Mr. Hcrberts The hand of the
speaker was laid pleadingly, arrestiRgly on his
arm He could hardly persuade himself that
he did not feel its gentle pressure At last he
reused himself from his musings sufficiently 10
that tha Silo xxla;ah follnrraA
Hastings last wortis might seem 20 her long
and strange. Almost mechanically he inquiF-
cd, why not ?"
Ellen hesitated Was she called upon to
express 10 Mr.. Dunning. stranger as he was,
/ - ! q