The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-04-15

ting piercing glance, that fairly impal-
ed me through and through, and took
my breath awayl-why all these we're
raptures only to be experienced in a
love-chase.
At last we met to speak. TWAS away
from the town, in a forest road, hidden
among leafy trees;--a quiet narrow
road, with damp, overgrown turf, dimly
shaded with old trees and thick under
growth up TO its very borders--the very
spot to render a meeting romantic and
delightful
She was riding, and came upon her
around a turn so suddenly that her
horse SHE'D and in the confusion Of
meeting me she dropped her whip
Blessed opportunity In an instant I
secured it, and, with hat in hand, was
bowing and returning it.
The horse was restive, and, startled o
little by my proximity, backed into the
brushwood I caught his bride, and
led him back to the road, quieting him
by few pats and soothing words.
why Charley, Charley" said his
rider stroking his arched neck, "don't
be afraid, Charleyp
Charley" exclaimed I, laughing; els
it possible2 My namesake-"
ooh, sirl" exclaimed she, reddening
to the very roots of her hair, 81 didn't
lit was quite
"Accidental, of course" said T.
"But, believe me, I never was so proud
Of a namesake before.
Still blushing, and with her eyes bent
upon the ground, she tapped the horse
lightly, and would have rode on, but 1
was determined not to let the encounter
end so fruitlessly.
"Will you pardon me?" said I, with
an easy movement, getting before her in
the road; "will you pardon me if / ask
in what direction this road will lead me?'
"Itenters upon the highway, sir, about
a mile beyond" "
"And as charming as this all the way?'
''I think it very beautiful, sir.
'sI am very ignorant of all your local.
tiles, said l, "for am a stranger, and
only accidentally wandered into this eX-
quisite retreat about an hour ago--and
i beg your pardon, but am sure you
must ride and walk here very often, it is
so surprisingly lovely"
"It is my favorite ride, sir But, par
don me, will you permit me to ride on?"
1 stepped back, and lifting my hat
deferentially, remained uncovered until
she had passed by and was out of sight.
I did not, like Ferdinand, in that re-
markable love story of D'Israoli's, rush
forward and kiss the sod upon which her
horse had stood, but have no doubt
that INDUCED in antics equally extrav-
agant--and let me say that lover with
out extravaganza must be an absolute
icicle, a bit of Arctic frigidity, CONCEALED
from the tips Of his fingers to the core
of his heart.
From that moment my time was either
spent in this secluded path, or in hover
ing about the cottage l met her a num-
Der of times, but never with an oppor-
tunity to more than utter a passing sal
utation. But, still felt that my cause
was prospering; for detected that in
her manner which no ordinary sensation
at meeting a stranger would have caus-
ed She took too much pains to avoid
me- was always, when 1 approached, too
much absorbed in flower OF. a book and
altogether was at too much pains to keep
her bonnet drawn, to be acting with
simple consciousness.
And 1 therefore grew more demon
strative. 1 left flowers every morning
upon her doorstep, and saw them some
times worn in her bosom. watched
her once gathering and admiring some
MOSES. The next day left at the cot
tage a most beautiful collection, (Which
had cost me full three hours labor,)
prettily garnished with some shells from
the beach.
ventured from flowers to fruit, and
and every day some rugged urchin,
picked up on the road at the cost Of a
penny, would steal up to the cottage and
leave on the doorstep a splendid clus-
ter Of grapes, or a moss-set basket Of
fruit,
We were now fairly into September,
and went out frequently after paftridg-
es, end such game as the surrounding
country afforded. ] was not Jealous
OF devoted sportsman, and l came back
as often with my bag empty as full, In
deed, 1 used the sport mainly as a cover
for my advances upon more delectable
game for no matter how often l might
meet the beautiful Mary, a gun upon my
arm was always an excuse for my pres
ence and served frequently as a means
for a few chance words of conversation.
But one day wandered q mile.or two
from the town, and in an opposite direc-
ton TO the wooded path where my ram
bling steps usually led me. was after
birds in eager earnest upon the occa-
sion; for I had determined to send the
following morning to the doorstep of
my Mary's cottage as dne brace of par
tridgos as ] could shoot.
At an unexpected moment, while In
tently peering after my game, voices
broke upon my ear from behind a copsc
close by-and one Of them l knew in
stantly as Mary's. The other was a
youthful voice, but unmistakably mascu-
line, The hot blood few to my face,
and felt a quick pang shoot through
my heart-a jealous pang, if ever jeal-
ousy there we're.
OF course it was absurd. I had as
much right to be jealous Of Mary Cole
as i had of the French Empress; but
as / listened and heard that unknown