The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-06-17

i VacduOH, uS TeueCbeu, anu tuey "ouio o0
all gone. and when he left the cars mile
or two from home, and marched off across
the fields, in preference to taking the
stage, he looked forward with pleasure
to the long and uninterrupted interview
be should have with mother who was
very dear to him.
! His course led along the banks of a
little lake, where he had often wandered
and sported in childhood, and be was
standing in a deeply shaded nook that o.
verlooked the lake, thinking intently oil
the past; when his musings werc inter
rupted By the rustling of the leaves and
branches near him; and minute after
wards, female form crept into view, u
pom the lower branch of an old tree that
grew out horizontally over the water,
some twenty feet.
Her face was half concealed by an obi
Gus Sloomer hat; but the fine form and
graceful motions, could not fail to arrest
bis attention; and the trouble she had in
arranging her fashionable skirts excited
his mirth to such degree that decorum
alone prevented bis indulging in hearty
burst of laughter. Having arranged
them to her satisfaction, the young lady
sat down in the crooked seat he remem-
bcred of old, took book from her pock-
ct, and went to reading.
But her mind evidently soon wandered
from the printed page to the works ofna-
ture around her; and in looking up she
discovered the tiny nest of a hummiDg
bird upon one of the dropping branches.
She rose suddenly, and on stepping for
ward with the book in one hand, and the
other outstretcbed toward the prize, her
foot slipped, and she was prccipitated
down
But O, Shade of Eugene! what fall
was there Those abomina able criDolines,
ropes, hoops. and what not, caught firmly
upon broken branch, and in spite of her
shrieks aud struggles, hung the fair lady
up between the heavens and the earth.
with her head and shoulders submerged
in the dark waters.
Edward forgot to laugh at the ridicu-
lousness of her position, when he saw the
imminent danger she was drowning; but
with his usual readiness, he pulled out
and opened bis jackknife, while running
with all speed to the rescue. The water
was not more than waist deep; and rush
ing in as quick as possible, be raised the
| fair maiden out Of it with one hand, while
he hacked off the odious hoops with the
other and then brought her safe to land.
She had struggled and swung herself
out of the water, and shrieked and tore at
| her stout garments, till she was strangled
and her strength exhausted, and now she
was black in tie face aud nearly senseless.
He laid her down gently upon the soft,
mossy bank, and was parting the dark,
dishevelled hair from her face, when she
caught breath and began to revive. He
then raised her to a sitting posture, and
supported her with bis arm, till she be-
came sensible of surrounding objects. He
watched the changing hues upon her coun-
tenance with the deepest interest, and
when it resumed its natural color, he ven-
tured to ask in low tone if she was bet .
ter.
AS she turned aud looked up eagerly in
his face, the truth flashed upon her palsicd
mind, overcome with shame and confusion
she covered her face with her hands and
burst into tears
DO not let it distress you, he said,
guessing her feelings; we are all liable
to accidents, aud let US thank God that
this did not end fatally
Deeply mortified at the accident, and
frightened to find herself in the arms of a
stranger, the girl started up as soon as
she had collected her senses and rem away
with the speed of an antelope.
That's cool, any way exclaimed Ed.
ward, as he looked after her With an eager
halted provoked air. She didn't even
stop to thank me for this duckiDg, to say
nothing of all the anxiety she has given
me for year or more. For in this pfet
ty wood and water nymph, be had dis
covered his fair inamorata of the Launay
! station. a
He sat down and mused upon it for q
while regertfully, and then hunting up
his carpet bag, be took out pretty, white
summer suit, made himself presentable
and marched on towards home. He haC
sent no word of bis coming, hoping to give
his mother pleasant surprise, so in he
walked without ringing, just as they were
sitting down to dinner.
"Why, Edward, did you rain down tc
us 7" said his mother, as she rose to gree
him; and then turning, she presented
"my son" to "Miss Jennie lie Roy, on'
of my boarders, who is spen ding the va
cation with me, in the absence of her faith
er from the city"
Edward could hardly command his
countenance, when in Miss lie Roy h'
recognized the heroine of the morning
and the maiden herself sufficiently be
trayed her confusion at the sight of hi m
She rose, as if to Fly from the room; thel
sat down again, blushing to the roots O
her hair, and seeming more than half in
clined to cry. He saw it all, and charit
ably withdrew his mothers attention
from her till the meal was nearly over