The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-27
The Berry Excursion,
BT KATE CARROLL.

It has been nothing but Clayton st. Claire
ever since you got that scented. hish.hown,
condescending note Of his, (the presumptu-
GUS jatk.u-hdpesD informing you that his
imperial bighness would faaot you with a
visit some time within this month. Ughl
don't hope he'll be seized with fit Of the
chronics before he sets out!" / cried, i'm.
patiently, and, let me add, disrespectfully, at
the close of q penegyric that my dear aunt
Chloe had bestowed upon the absent youth
whose name had so scofingly used, and
whom, dear re ader, she wished me to marry
There, the secret is out; and msy as well
confess that I, Nell Wilder, was confirm.
ed coquette, and had no idea of marrying
anybody. -..
"Nell Wilder" replied my aunt, severe.
ly, "you grow ruder every day. You pain
me, my child; indeed you do"
| was touched, fer saw she was hurt
I threw my arms about her neck, saying,
"Furgive me, aunty. didn't neon it.
but when you bring up that detested name,
l can't restrain myself. The very thought
Of being 'bargained and sold,' like Cir
cussian slave, makes my blood boil. Be-
cause 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 tone of re.
proof.
pouted, and twirled my break fast spoon.
Directly my aunt resumed,
"Let US talk nationally, child" she said.
"There is no such thing as buying and sell,
ing in matrimony, in this happy land; and
you know it. Your ou,cry about Circassian
slaves is silly. Some time, you will doubt
less think of matrimony. Mr.. st. Claire is
a worthy young man, and one whom ! hope
to live to see you marry" ....
,"Then you'll reach On unheard.of age
cried, unable to control myself longer
"or shall die sooner than intend to."-
Here | left the breakfast table, and half an
cry at my aunt's pertinacity, half ashamed
of my conduct to her, put OIL my sun-bon-
net, flew to the kitchen for basket, ant
started off berryng, in order. 10 be out o
the way of Aunt Chloe for the rest of tht
morning
Wandered on and on, from field to wood
and from wood to field, singing and picking
till, suddenly, when crossing meadow,
heard terrible roar, that Get me quakins
from top to toe, and looking up | saw al
f enormous bull dashing toward me. Will
with fright, ran oni scarcely seeing wher'
: | was going ill reached a bit of risin!
ground, and saw before me high wall, ap'
, parenty the enclosure, Of the pfivat
grounds Of mansion, that loomed cut from
amid a grove of trees within, .Withou
stopping to think, I climbed the wall, avail
ing myself of sopling tut grew aga'ns
it, and leaped down into the garden. Mer
f cy! il hadn't mprovised o Trail at the ex
O pense of two,thirds of my dress. took
!. In my hands in dismuy and glanced ut tn
k mansion.
"Won't you walk in!" said mani
. voice, close beside me.
# "Yes' do come in. hoped the wicke
,. animal hasn't hurt YOU" said femu
# voice.
/ looked around, blushing with mortificu
e ,ion. A gentleman, apparently only thre
j, or four years older than myself, and strh
n inslt handsome, accompanied by your
D. lady, about my own age, was standing clos
by. saw Immediately. that they we
th brother and sister. My first impulse was
il, fly. My next to pull the whiskers of Il
le gentleman, in revenge, Tor. suppress'
at smile at MY expense, which rippled over b
face, though he did his best to look grave
r. My last to accept the invitation, and bra'
it out, for when had Kate Wilder ever "f
at the feldP g.,
at We entered pleasant library, wher
he while the brother went out to order luI
II, cheon, the sister assisted me to repair n
torn dress. In little while, was preser
OF able again; and we passed into tEe dinin
&C room. Somehow we all got acquainted j
to mediately. The sister was as full of f
.. and gaiety as myself. The brother h
rare powers Of Conversation, had travele
had read almost everything: in short W
the most fascinating man ] had ever met.
- The hours passed without my knowing it.
At last, happened to hear the clock stril
N and started up in dismay. My new
" quuintances begged me to stay, saying tn
~ would send word where Twas; but was NJ
~ some what ashamed OF having shown su
~ pleasure in the brother's society; and &c
=" was peremp,ory to 60. Finally, they c.
ION sented to let me depart, but insisted on
I ~, companying me part Of the way.
-. All! what sweet dreams mad, that, mig
49, How, the next morning; when aunt Oh
=. introduced the name Of Clayton st. Cla
,ah again, was more than eVef wilful, and
ro, her hated the very sound Of it. co
~ not rest at home. Iresolved not to be 81
near the mansion OF my new friends, tho'
10 Lucv. the sister, had invited me, over
zedl over again, to see them, but before lon
vas found myself. basket in hand, a-berryinl
\, The woods, half wnv there. AL at onct