Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-10-29
CHAPTER III.

I III
TIE BOAT gIDE-THE MAYNARD GiR4.
1 The day was drawing 10 close, and a
the sun moved quietly down behind th'
western hills. the scene was one of subdue
| loveliness Not breath of ar was siirri ing
and the bright waters of little headowdal
I Lake were calm and motionless.
/ A venturous stag was quietly drinking a
aSippiing stream which meandered ihrougi
| the Fad and flowed It's crystal wave int
the miniature sea below. While near o.
were care'essIy grazing the pescetul herd
and then 10 brc ak he monotuny came tn,
eagles shriil cry rom ncigh5oring forest
Near the opposite shore could ne seen thu
dainty cut nc of bark canoe. At first il
was barely visible, bat gradually approached
and ere long touched the beach short dis.
tance from Meadogdale House. 4 young
maiden Of surOsssing beauty stepped upon
the bank, and careies>ly entered the ioresi
path leading 10 the mansion; this was Me"y
Dawson. She had been enj0yn pleasure
ride upon the placid lake, and we find heT
returning home before nighttall cam9 u
darken her way. Before athird OF The dis
tance had been traverSed, she became aware
of the presence Of some personage. and
turning hastily around. behe d her uncIe's
guest, Captain BeTksford.
The British officer was true courtier,
well conyersant y ith all the little acrom-
plishments and structures attending tash-
ianahle life. After off ring few r. marks
Complimentary TO Mary's glowing cheek and
healthy festures, he politely rendered his
arm He was her urc,e's guest, and COM
mon courtesy forbade her to refuse. The
escort WIS accepted, and the Captain in
respectful tone siid:-
ait has been lovely evening, Miss Daw-
son, and presume You have been enjoying
it. Ispied you some time ego. and curiosity
prompted me to remain-yet scarcely an
the pleasure of meeting you.-
But Go you not eel unsafe IN venturiug su
Jar from the shore with no one near you"
"Not in the least, assure YOU Dir. Berks-
ford When in the enjoyment of health.
scarcely permit day to pass by without
taking my much priced voyage across the
lake.
"Yet regret that you could not allow
me TO accompany you this time. too,
can appreciate a boat ride--especially if the
company were as unexeePtionab' as your
SELF"
IL was informed hat Captain Berksford
was slightly indisposed, and therefore did
not venture to disturb him."
The color mounted quickly to Berksford's
brow and temples, for mingled with the
calm and polite language of his fair friend
he fsucied he could 'etect spice of sar-
casm, from which he inferred that the na-i
,ure OF his illness was not secret. He
Bit his lips long and nervousiy but forb 5re
to renew the subject They walked quiet
ly along, and had an observer watched the
features Of Mary Dawson he might have
noticed faint and scarcely perceptible,
smile wrpathing the rosy lips; one OF the
att nda1ts had informed her Of the nature
of .he Royalist's indisposition, and she
could not allow the opportunity to pass OF
gently reminding him of his failing. Mary
made some pleasan. remarks on the secen-
erv attending sunsetat Meadows1ale; but
her comoanion seemed thoughtful and
gloumy. IL was Gear that Captain Berks-
ford loved that young girl with as much
ardor as he w-s capable--but he was man
of the world, and she never could have re-
garded him in the Light he wish d, even
were she unaequainted with Henry R,y-
mond.
Tney reached her home, and silently
psssed into the drawing room. is they eu-
tered. the Major arose rom his seat and
glanced inqurirgly at Be-ksford, thinking
to gain from TIE EXPRESSION of hi~ features,
some know! ledge of what had trans pir, d -
But If an inference was drawn it was not
one of the most pleasant kind, for the
Captains reflections at that particular mo-
ment were far from being tranquil IL Il
few moments Befks.ord arose from his seat.
ard passing th ough the door, IVA ked though ht
fully down lhe grassy way leading 10 The
boat house The uncle and niece were now
alone, and after moment of silence. the
Major spoke:
1.-The Captain seems unusually tho ghi-
full and gloomy, Mary; can you tie the rea-
sJn!'
"Why do you ask me, uncle! am GER
tain have given him no cause tor uDhap-
piness!"
sAre you quite certain? Perhaps what
YOU might consider as the reverse. Think
now-did he not spe k Of the subject upon
which We conversed some weeks sincer'
Mary's pside, was wounded at this attor-
netRike examination, and she determined d
to make her uncle explain wh't he referred
to before returning him an answer, so with
more OF reserve than usual she repie -
"What subject, uncle! we have convers.
ed upon many within The last few weeks
"WAy, Mary! can it be possible that you
have permitted this to escape your mind
or is it sheer willfulnessi"
alt is neither, uncle. know very wei
what you are referring to, and had you nsk
ed me the question frankly, woull have
answered you in the same lone"
"But, Mary, did not ask you frsnklyl'
al thought you were cross questioning me
as though you feared would evade you,'
lreturned Mary in low and altered voice