Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-10-02

meadow. took straight line for Ban6eld's
Near the house is piece of woods,-on
corner of the leafy mantle that covers tn
bill slipped down Its side and trailing upo,
the borders Of the fertile field below. Jus
as he passed the woods he saw Hugh Bran
ming letting down the bars and leading hi
pony out into the road. The only bride
path through the woods led over the hill L
the little house on the westerly slope, wher,
lived Dame Ransom, Lucy's bowed and wrin
ked grandmother. Mark wondered not
little where the midshipman had been; bu
as he still retained the memory Of the ole
quarrel, be did not accost him. and presently
thought no more of it. Reaching the house
he got some dry clothes and then went home
with bounding steps. The earth was never
SO beautiful nor the sky so benign. The
cloud of doubt had fuiled off and left his
heaven blue. He had spoken and found that
the dream of his boyhood and the hope of his
youth had become the proud triumph of his
manhood. Mildred Knloch loved him
loved him MS sincerely rs when they were
both children ! What higher felicity was to
be thought OF? And what motive for exer-
tion had he now lie would be worthy OF
her. and the world should ackno Wedge that
the heiress had not stopped when she mated
with him.
CHAPTER TX.
Mrs. Kinloch was surprised ut finding that
neither Hugh nor Mildred, nor yet Lucy
Ransom. was ia the house.
Mildred came homo first and was not ac-
companied by Hugh, as Mrs. Kinloch had
hoped. He had not found her, then,-per-
haps be had not sought for her. Next Lucy
returned, coming through the garden which
stretched up the bill. Being questioned, she
answered that she had been TO her grand.
mothers, aud had come back the nearest way
over the hill, through the woods.
"W hat had she gone for after the fatigue
OF washing-day p
because Squire Clamp, who owned the
house her grandmother lived in, wanted her
TO take a message"
Mrs. Knloch began to become interested.
Squire Clamp! !! she exclaimed when did
you see him y
He called here yesterday evenng,-on his
way to Mr. Hardwlck's, / guess"
"Wby didn't he ask me II you could go
think he's pretty free to send my gills about
the town on his errands."
You were out Ma'sm,--in the next house;
and after he'd gone forgot it,
You remembered il to-day, it seems"
"Yes'm; after diraer thought OF it aud
hurried right of; but granny was sick and
foolish, and didn't want TO let me come away,
so couldn't get back as quick as meant
to-"
Well, you can go to the kitchen"
"Yes'm."
IL must keep an eye on the girl" thought
Mrs. knloch. "She is easily persuaded, fc-
kIe, without strong sense, ard with only
very shallow kind OF cunuiCg. She might do
mischief. What can Squire Clamp want
The old hovel her grandmother lives in isn't
worth fifty dollars. Whatever has been go.
ing on, l'm glaG Hugh is not mixed up in it,"
just then Hugh rode up, and, tying his
horse. came in. lie seemed to have lost
something of the gaiety OF the morning. Il
am tived," he said. 81 had TO get of and
lead the pony down the hill, aud it's steep
and stony enough"
There are pleasant roads enough, in the
neighborhood," said his mother, without
your beiug obliged to take to the woods and
Chamber over the mountains"
81 know it," he replied but had been
up towards tho Allen place, and l took
notion to come back over the hill"
Then you passed Lucy's house?"
Yes. The brdle- path leads down the
hill about mile above this bat on foot one
may keep along the ridge and come down
into the valley through the garden"
80 suppose; in fact, believe Lucy has
just returned that way"
"lndeed it's strange didn't see her,"
at is strange"
mother came to the conclusion that the girl
had told the truth about her going for the
lawyer.
Presently Mildred came dowa frou. her
room, and few minutes Mrs Knloch went
out, casting fixed nearing look at her son.
She seemed as impatient for the issue Of her
scheme, MS the child who, after planting a
seed, waits for the green shoot, and twice a
day digs down to see il il has not sprouted
Mildred, as the reader may suppose, was
not likely TO be very agreeable TO her CON.
pan.on the recollections of the day we're too
vivid, too delicious.
She could not part with them, but con-
stautly repeated to herself the words of love.
fhope, and enthusiasm, which she had heard
so she moved or talked us in dream, me-
chancal!y while her soul still hoated away
on lhe summer sea Of reyere.
Hugh looked at her with real admiration
and, III truth, she deserved it. A fairer face
you would not see in days journey her
smooth skin, not too white but of rich
creamy tlnt,-eyes brown and inclined to be
ureamy,-her hair chesnut and wavy,--a fig
~ '"'uei utlOW tnc medium size, Out Win
iull, graceful lines,-these, joined with gen.
tie nature aud certain tremulous sensibility,
constituted a divinity that it was surely no
sin to worship. II sin it were, all the young
men in lnnistield had need Of immediate for
giveness.
Hugh had some qualms about approaching
the goddess. He was sensible of a wide gull
between himself and her, and be could not
but thihk that she was aware Of it too.
you have been to Mr.. Aliord'sy'
A monentary pause.
did you speak. Hugh y
lie repeated the question. Her eyes
frightened a moment as she nodded in the
affirmative then they grew dim again, like
windows seen from without when the light is
withdrawn to an inner room. She seemed as
unc onscious as pictured Madonna.
"A beautiful day for your walk" be ven
tured again. The same pause. the same mo.
mentary interest as she answered, followed
by the same abstraction.
Il suppose" said he, ut length, shat
am having the last Of my idle days here;
expect to he ordered to sea shortly"
''Iudsed !" Mildred looked up.
=. ~ l.