The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-05-27
From Peterson's Magazine for June.
Nell WiIder's Berry Excursion.
by KATE CARROLL.

"Clayton st. Claire! Clayton ST.
Claire! 1t has been nothing but Clay
ton St. Claire ever since you got that
scented, high-flown, condescending
note of his, (the presumptuous jacka-
napes J informing you that his imperial
highness would favor you with visit
some time within this month. Ugh
don't 1 hope he'll be seized with a fit
of the chronics before he sets out ~ /
cried, impatiently, and, let me add,
disrespectfully, at the close of pane
gyric that my dear aunt Chloe had be-
slowed upon the absent youth whose
name / had so scoffingly used, and
whom, dear reader she wished me to
marry. There, the secret is out; and
| may as well confess that I, Nell VIII
der, was confirmed coquette, and had
no idea of marrying any body.
"Nell Wilder" replied my aunt,
severely, "you grow ruder every day.
You pain me, my child; indeed you
do"
/ was touched, for / knew she was
hurt. / threw my arms about her neck,
saying,
Forgive me, aunty. / didn't mean
it. But when you bring up that de-
tested name, | can't restrain myself
The very thought of being bargained
and sold, like Circassian slave, makes
my blood boil. Because Clayton St.
Claire's rich, and you're rich, and Pm
your heiress if marry to please you.
I'm to be traded off, forsooth! without
any choice of my own."
"My dear!' 1t was all my aunt
said, but there were volumes in its tones
of reproof.
pouted, and twirled my breakfast
spoon. Directly my aunt resumed:
"Let us talk nationally, child" she
said. "There is no such thing as buy
ing and selling in matrimony, in this
happy land; and you know it. Youl
outcry about Circassian slaves is silly
Sometime you will doubtless think Of
matrimony. Mr.. st. Claire is worthy
young man, and one whom / hope te
live to see you marry"
"Then you'll reach an unheard-o-
age" / cried unable to control myself
longer, cor shall die sooner than
intend to-"
Here left the breakfast table, and hah
angry at my aunt's pertinacity, hal
ashamed of my conduct to her, / put
ON my sun-bonnet, flew to the kitcher
for basket, and started off a-berryine
in order to be out of the way of aunt
Chloe for the rest of the morning.
wandered on and on, from field tc
wood, and from wood to field, singing
and picking, till, suddenly, when cross
ing meadow, / heard terrible roar
that set me quaking from top to toe
and looking up / saw an enormous bul
dashing toward me. Wild with fright
l ran on, scarcely seeing where l was
going till l reached bit of rising
ground, and saw before me high wall
apparently the enclosure of the private
grounds of a mansion that loomed out
from amid grove of trees within
Without stopping to think, / climbed
the wall, availing myself of a saplina
that grew against it, and leaped dowr
into the garden. Mercy! if l hadn'1
improvised a trail at the expense O
two-thirds of dress. / took it in my
hands in dismay and glrnced at the
mansion.
"Won't you walk in % said a manly
voice close beside me. al -
eyes, do come in. / hope the
wicked animal hasn't hurt you," said {
female voice.
/ looked around, blushing with morti
ication.. A gentleman, apparently only
three or four years older than myself
and strikingly handsome, accompanied
by a young lady about my own age
was standing close by. / saw immedi