Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-07

claimed little Marian, the pet of the house
hold. " will pray for blessings on our kind
| friend for sending us money to buy sister Alice
medicine and brother Charley books"
The mother looked at her sick chd-her
| delicate beautiful Alce-on whose sensitive
nature her parents distresses had produced a
most alarming effect, and fervent benedction
was bestowed on the unknown for the much
needed assistance Three months after, when
Colonel Leicester heard that his cousins ell
dest daughter was no more, he renewed his
rejoicngs with almost fendish delight
You little thought when you rejected me
with scorn, Mary Wyndhem, that the day
would come when | should mock at your Sor
row and rejoice at your proud husbands dream
that his defeated rival would one day crush
him to the dust, aud exult over his fallen
pride"
But Colonel Leicester was far from being
at ease even when triumphng at the success
of his schemes. Knowing the generous nature
of his son, he was in daily dread of hearing
him avow determination to visit his relatives,
even in defiance of the curse he had threa: en-
| ed to pronounce on him in case of such disc.
bedience. But young Leicester had been too
early impressed with the reverence due to his
parent to hazard SO fearful consequence
! The dead mothers teachings were strong in his
heart, and he felt compelled to content himself
with occasionally sending his cousins such sums
of money as he could venture on without excit-
| ing his fathers suspicious. 1t was therefore
with sincere pleasure that the Colonel gave
him permission to travel for few years in
company with a most estimabe gentleman
about to leave his native land in search of
health.
We must now pass over space of six years
during which the relative positions of the two
families were but little changed Edward
Leicestcr's circumstances had improved, but
be still found it necessary to labor at his pen
Gil for maintainance. His son Charles, now
nearly eighteen, was in situation of but lit
tie profit, but which bid fair to reward him
some day.
The Colonel had grown very old in that
short time. lie had discovered that revenge
was not quite SO sweet rs he had at first i'm
agined. Unpleasant thoughts would arise at
times, aud something very near akin to re-
morse, whenever he thought on the child he
could not but feel MS cruelty had murdered.
Again it was annoying TO reflect that he made
himself an object Of hatred to bis people that
one and all deserted him, and drew un pleasant
comparisons between him and their former
landlord. His son, too, gave him many
heart-pang for well he knew that, disguise
it as he might, the noble yonng man in his in
most soul looked with horror on his fathers
guilty revenge. Altogether, it was not won
derful that Colonel Leicester looked old, that
his hair had grown gray and that the marks
Of cafe had come tticky OF his coantenance.
Our next scene opens on the banks OF one
of those beautiful lochs," the pride of Scot
land and the delight Of poets A blue sky
and bright sunshine were not wanting nor
fine old trees, nor distant hills and rocks-all
that artists love to paint and poets to sing of.
But the lovliest object in our picture was a
fair young girl, who gazing thOughtfully on the
blue waters, looked the very personifcation of
graceful beauty. She stood on a messy bank,
one hand claSping the low dropping branch of
an overhangiug tree, the other carelcSSly hold
ing a gypsy hat, the long blue ribbon of which
trailed at her feet. Her dress was perfectly
plain, and there was something in her whole
attire that showed her one who wore no orna-
ments while her exceeding beauty at once
told the beholder that there was little need of
them.
>. Long she stood in silent thought, all uncon-
scious that one was gazing on her in rapt as
tonshment, with quickly throbbing heart and
strange emotions But he advances a step and
the spell is broken. With a start the maiden
raises her head and beholds the intruder The
next instant she makes backward movement
her balance is lost !; for a second she seems
falling into the deep waters-anOther and the
strangers arm is around her ; he clasps her
to lis breast, and feels that she is saved from
fearful death.
After such an introduction, was il likely that
they should be other than friends They met
again and again in those shady walks on the
banks of the beautiful loch, and Marian Lei
cester (for the maiden was none other than she
we last saw as a child, gave her heart into
the keeping of the,Strauger And stranger he
truly was, for she did not even know the name
of him who had gained so much influence over
her future life. She loved him passionately,
dev0tedly, with all the strength of an innocent,
uuwordy heart and he returned her affec-
tion With q love no less sincere and pure. Yet
never for an instant did the young girl forget
the duty she owed her parents. No promise
would she make him, and he reVeEenoed her
for her filial respect.
6 Fain would call you mine, Marian" he
said. when the time came that the maiden must
return to her Euglish home. Happy would
be to call you my betrothed bat dare not
ask you to do ought displeasi,g to your pa
rents We shall meet again when may open
u avow my name, and with the sanction of
your friends, claim your promise. Until then,
darling, keep me in your heart, and never, ne
yer, doubt my truth. | shall come to you some
time 1t may he very shortly--it NAY not be
for years but shall come, never doubt that"
Marian promised all he asked and then the
farewell words were spoken. For an instant
she was clagped to bis heart, bis first Kiss was
pressed on her brow, aad then they parted,
The night after her arrival at home, Marian