The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-07-28
5rlrttth 5turu.
M Y FIRST LOVE,
BY MARGUERITE BLOUNT.

lalling over the shoulders, and a pale, res.
o!ute face. clad IN a long flowing dressing
gown, ans holding light high above its
'nead, and looking steadily down at me- as
assembled the stairs--this was what |
saw as | went up to my room in the
Spread Eagle Inn, Gracechurch street,
London, on the night of the ls h O: Sep
.lember, ls48, us an n Christian!
l stopped short and locke at the fig
'ure, rs 1t Was looking at me. had not
'been drinking. was not walking in NV
sleep, and, more than all, knew the face
and torm-but what, in the name Of ,orn
mon sense, MAS Il Young lady doiu. IN the
passage OF an old INN at that hour alone.
ard 4" such a dress she Llmshcd scar
!e, as drew near, and wrapped her dress
ing gown more closely around her; but
the next moment she was as pale AS be
fore, and spoke to me eagerly and bur
'r'edly, Iu, in very low voice.
sir, are sou the landlord Of this inn =
i am not, madam
do you know where he is p
Down stairs in the coffee room. ,l,ink.
but what's the matter Are YOU illl Has
'-'HN liiibS gone wrong
She stamped her foot slightly with i'm
patience, and looked me full in the face
Sine eyes she had--blur AMI soft, in gen
'eral-huL now they were blazing.
Don't stop 10 ask questions, sir Bring
hum here at once; and come back with
him yourself. Bring pistols, if you have
abem; do You hear AMI run for your
!iiie-ior your life ! she added. leaning
over the banuisters, aud speaking in the
same low, hurried tone.
| WAS away in an instant, thuug,l
.new no more OF my errsnd than the man
IN tho moon. But should like to see
'ihe man who would not have done the
same. Apart from the fact that she was
claiming my aid and protection, there WAS
something IN the ring of the voice, bow rs
1T WAS, AnI the flash Of the eve, that warn.
r'i me thtt rhe WAS not to be trined with.
She would nave mnde good general, had
ethc been mau; aud, wager my head,
Irot u soldier would hsve dared TO retreat
'!aL she .r"kcn Ms she did TO me that
I'ght. Bat before finish my story, |
inu>t brsin il. am bu, laundering
fellow. Nv wife always ssys, If mis-
take can be made, am sure TO make it
"ni believe WAS going to tell yon abou,
the landlords coIuing, before | said What
dee had come for. Now, then, will com
nnenCe the ,hing rightly.
The Spread Eagle Inn. which ia still
standing, nmd may be seen any day, by
the curious traveller, is clumsy i'll light
ed house, siu,ied in the hear, Of the city
yet keeping Sll lis oddities, which were
lJust in the fashion some two or three hun.
'dred years ago Ii is bull, around a
court yard, shut in by gates, across which
galleries are thrown, from one door to the
other, with the paved yard below. has
'ba'ustrades and staifcases containing suf.
:ticient oak to buil,l half modern house
with and deep window seats, and queer
shaped, gloomy roo oms, and old little clos
cts, chairs and pictures that Mrs. Noah
might have kept house with, in the AK !:
TO say nothing Of the curious OLD china
on the silehoards, aud the wine glasses
and decanters to match. To su English
man, it offers the snugecst of homes, and
the roast beet md mutton there are un.
'exceptionable while the waiter is as ciyi.
and as steady rs il he had been breath
ing the atmosphere Of the old place fur
yeais. IL makes one feel respectable,
meSeIy TO live there for time; and,
who had been wild enough college lad,
found myself SOLDERING down day ly day.
AS | pored over my manuscripts, or dined
quietly by myseltunder the eye Of Charles
the waiter. off my slice of mutton and
baked potatoes, my pint OF porter, my mp.
Iple or damson tart Quite like family
man ! felt, at times though my wife and
children were with my ship, aud was TO
como home some dav, and bring me an
immense fortune. did not know how
long the voyage might take. not knowing
esaR from shat port the vessel WAS to
start and so ! lived under tie wings Of
the Spread Eagle, and worked at my man
.mseripls, and waited.
One day, the sitiing-room next mine
was taken, after. il bad been standing
empty Tor week, a1d heard the voices
OF an old man, his wife, and the fresh,
clear tones OF young girl. often Judge
people by their voices before | see them,
and pictured the lady to myself, quite
correctly. There was ring 10 her words
buoyant, lark like tone, that gave me
tie idea Of a happy spirit and perfect
health. Now and then the voice depeen
ed and sofIened, and knew tha, her face
had lost It's smile, and that she was look
ing grave-perhaps sad. SO knew that
she haG suffered, aud as day after day
went on, and the voice grew familiar,
judged that she had suffered deeply
There was something behind that natural
gaiety, known only TO he,self aud God, it
may be, and yet Il threw gloom over
her whole life, md would always do So
And I1thougbt should like TO see her.
and judge IL my surmise we're correct.
| aske'i the landlord about the party.
He looked at tho book, and read the
,names--'Rev. Edward Williams and lady.
Mrs. Arnold. Nsw York City, pt