The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-17

With every effort that Pluto made to get his hcac
down TO the water, Natalie felt that she was slippius
further of.
Don't lethim drink; make him 70 on, Miss Bryant,
she said.
Miss Bryant jerked AMI pulled with all her strength,
but all Pluto did was to shake his huge body in disap.
! probation.
Natalie instinctively reached out one hand to cling to
the twisted branches Of u grapevine, which formed O
green canopy over the edge Of the stream, when her
companion gave Pluto u jerk aud u cut that started him
Oft, and slipping from under Natalie, who was totally
anprepnred tor the proceeding, left her hanging At least
The splash Of = horses hoofs behind her told her
plainly that Antony Lesley had seeu her.
'Undius, Undine! Then you are no myth said .
gay voice.
lease me- was the reply, ~ Natalie vas preparing to
swing herself to . bed Of stones which cropped out
above the water.
water spirit that you are, you are in the power Of q
mortal. You will sprsiu your ankle If you attempt to
jump on those rough stones. Let yourself down now
on my horse be sand, as he came up to where she was
No, take away your horse, I'll jump was the curt
reply.
Jump away, them Lesley answered, coolly. sYou
will hurt yourself. and III pick you up and take you
back to the Woodlands.'
Without a word, Natalie seated herself behind Antony
v ~ "c ~WsS3 - s~Aso& u ~ uO8FNCl0uO HI
possible.
Miss Bryant was quietly watching the proceedings
from the other side Of the stream, AMI when she saw
Miss Page under Lesley's protection, she logged on,
quivering like a bag Of jelly with every step that Pluto
took.
Stop your horse, Mr.. Lesley I'm going to get off,
said Natalie, when they were firmly landed on the op.
posite bank. -
What for p be asked, as he ~quickened bis horses
speed, by a motion of his heel. .ryww.
Il am going to walk was the reply Of his companion,
But the increased gait of the horse made her tighten
her grasp, involuntarily. s
Every once and q while Natalie would loosen her
hold, aud just as often BY an imperceptible sign from
his master, Comet would start of again at a quicker
pace.
A satisfied smile was on Mr.. Lesley's face, which he
took good care to conceal, BY never turning his head.
As for Natalie, in spite Of her intense vexat. on, the
whole thing was so ludicrous that she could not help
laughing. a'yf @l rt n7.
BY this time they had overtaken the rest Of the party,
and the ascent up the side Of old Blair had COM
menced. t[Ha"+ @ - s t
If Natalie had but felt comfortable with regard to her
return, she would have enjoyed the magnificent view
which now presented itself. Distant mountains, grand
and solemn in their purple shadows others golden in
autumn tints and the glorious sunset and all around
the rose-colored and violet shades of the coming twi-
light. creeping slowly up the sides Of the nearer hills.
III g u oUUUOCO Ltd u eUUoJVU uGGs
self to be assisted on Comets back without a word F.;
and the ride home, in the hazy autumn twilight, was
only broken by snatches, Of sad airs, hummed by her
companion, or the subdued laughter of some Of the party
tehind them.
A week had now elapsed since the day Of the excursion
to the mountain. Natalie spirits had become strange.
Iy 6uctuating, now gayer than ever, then again with an
unusual disposition to reverie. There was a feverish
longing, but scarcely an expectation, Of hearing the
story which once before she had cut so short. Had An
tony Lesley but been naughty, or even cool in his de
meanor toward her, she would have taken heart Of
grace ; but he treated her with the same careless po.
iteness that he did Cora, or any Of the lady visitors
He never avoided her; he never sought her company. |
Natalie felt that she was playing the game badly. II
he was thoughtful, she was afraid he would suspect the |
cause, and then she was recklessly gay; if she was gay,
she felt that her laugh was empty, and she became 81
icnt again ; and so she alternated.
She had but one hope, and that was in the wedding
She had often heard that there was a certain magnetism
at such times, that made the propiuquity Of hearts ex-
ceedingly dangerous to bridesmaids and grOomsmen.
But the bridal evening came, and Natalie Page was
conscious Of looking more beautiful than she had ever
lone before ; yet az she sauntered about the crowded
rooms, or walked in tho cooler balls after a dance, with
her hand IN Antony Lesley's arm, it was not pressed
closer to his side than the veriest strangers would have
been be seemed to permit it TO rest there, and that
was all. a&4b
She talked about the picture in the hall, but instead
f its leading the way, as it had done before. to a story |
he would not now refuse to hear, Mr.. Lesley con-
,nenced a dissertation on painting She spoke of the
neighboring festivities which were to be extended to the
bride and groom aud Re replied, with indifference, that
30 much feasting was an annoyance rather than other
wise, and that as he was obliged to 60 North, be thought
he should leave in two or three days, and be in Rich
monl by the time Cora and Frank arrived there and
bad taken possession Of their new home.
mi ~s->- 5000 M-A n-1 =.
his announcement but her voice was steady as she an.
swered, after a moments silence, that it was certainly
a pleasant time of the year to 70 North
After this she danced every set, never seeming to
tire, and laughed and talked most pertinaciously to her
cavaliers.
asked Frank, a few evenings after the wedding.
Yes. l shall leave BY daylight, in time to catch the
through train at c. was tho reply.
Frank voted his brother mean,. Cora pouted, and the
rest Of the party loudly protested against the desertion:
All but Natalie. She sat by a table with her head
ranthemums, and the crimson leaves Of the gum tree, in
. vase before her.
Now, Antony said Frank, Il know there's no ne.
cessity Of your going. Stay now, to please Cora, won't
you? That's a good fellow! sefrg~
His brother seemed t. hesitate 4 moment. he
glanced at Natalie, whose fingers we're still busy, and
her head still averted
.Come now continued Frank, Suppose We toss up
whether you shall stay or 60; heads | win, tails you
lose,' be cast a laughing glance ut Cora, as much as to
say by that process he must stay, sou know.
you have all the advantage on your side, Frank, it
won't do, but l tell you what 1 will do; Miss Page has
not sid one word to urge me to stay !; she therefore is
Indifferent either way and will be fair so if she will
play q game of cbe>s with me, that shall decide the
matter. If I win, l am to CO.
Natalie appeared to have difficulty in making a cluster
Of the chrysanthemums stand erect for she still busted
herself with them, though at Lesley's proposition she
had suddenly turned her head toward him; but her
eyes were now on the flowers, and the crimson Of her
cheek rivaled that Of the leaves among which her fingers
trembled. ,f
To be sure she will play the game. Won't you,
Natalie !? asked Cora, and going up to where she sat,
she whispered, /. know you don't care anything about
bis staying, tut do it for my sake, won't you?
oh certainly, if yop wish it SO much, DEAR an
swered Natalie, carelessly. ssu
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