Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-07-01

/ thpuSnL ne seemed fatner Out OF temper, thong
do not know what could have vexed him.
However, we all sat down together little tfhfl
| to rest, and tie water rushing over the grea
stones in its bed was SO noisy, and with all s.
musical, that it was no wonder We all grew 81
lent as we sat there lsten;ug to it. At last Mr.
Hampton started up saying that he wished tt
trace the course of the brook higher up; he wa
convinced we should find it beautiful enough t.
repay US for the walk. / could not refuse t.
go with him, especially as it was his last day
with us, (his visit had already extended far be
yond its intended limits, and tomorrow he must
certainly leave us) So we went, without cous-
in ] Ohm, who, rather ungraciously | thought
declined to accompany us on the pFetext of be
ing tired though how man who can swing
a scythe from sunrise to sunset could be tired
after an eight miles ride I did not know.
There was grassy path along the border of
the brool-a remnant, perhaps, from its work
ing days, where in winter, logs were dragged
down to the saw-miIl-but, encroaehed upon by
the bushes and young trees, the cart-road was
narrowed TO mere footpath. We wandered
on and on, every turn OF the brook showing us
new and more enticing glinlpses of beauty, and
till at length felt really tired, aud was glad to
consent to Mr.. Hampton's proposal that we
should sit down on the trunk of tree which
had fallen partly over the brook, aud rest
The woods were full of blac1berries. and, max
ing basket of some leaves, he went off, and
soon brought it back to me full of berries. Il
am ALMOST as much of an expert in this branch
of woodcrstt as Miss Annie herself said he.
with a smile wiI;ch showed very well lle had
not forgotten our first meeting, and L took
courage then to tell him something of the an
noyancc felt at my absurd appearance on That
day. First Impressions, you know l said,
'are so often indellibe." They are, indeed, .
he said.i Little did think, when YOU entered
aunt Ntyra's doorway and stopped short, BLUSH
ing like wild rosebud, how the whole course
Of '' Mercy!" screamed /, "there goes my
handkerchief into the water. Please catch it; ;
there, it is stopped by that stone!' and, not
waiting for Mr.. Hampton assistance, rescued
it myself and brought it, dripping, to the shore
upon the end of a long stick.
: Being reused to animation by this little Incl
dent, found myself quite sufficiently refreshed
to walk back TO the mill, which We did at a
very brisk pace, having no occasion now to loi-
ter in admiration Of the scenery which was no
longer new to us.
We found cousin John just where We had
left him, and sat down by him and gave him
an account of the beauties he had missed, and
made him promise to follow the brook up with
me himself some future day, Here, Mr.. Hamp-
ton looking at his watch, remarked that we
had barely time to reach home before dinner,
and aunt Myra might be anxious if we were
late; so we mounted and rode home. We were
all tired and silent-hungry, perhaps. -.
The afternoon l spent in my own room. AT
ter tea we were all in the garden, cousin John,
seized with an untiraely fit Of industry, diligent
Iy weeded the strawberry bed, and [, perhaps
inspired by emulation, trying to train up
climbing rose. Some of the branches were too
high for me, and Mr.. Hampton begged to be
allowed to assist me.
Il haze been rather lazy fellow most of my
life said he but mean to reform, and per-
haps you will give me my first lessen in Useful
ness. If you knew how much pleasure it gives
me to be able to do even little thing for you,
and to feel that am earning"
"a dollar a day. said I.
He took no notice of my itnrertinent inter
ruption. He did not seem to hear it. though
he stopped short in what he was saying, and
abruptly exclaimed:
"Miss Annie, must leave the farm early to-
morrow morning TOO early to hope to see you.
have spent here the six happiest weeks Of my
life. I never knew what life might be before,
and now thai"
The conclusion of his sentence was Suddenly
cut off by the most furious outbreak of barking
and cackling combined, accompanied by dis
tracted cries Of Hannah, Hannah p from aunt
MyrG. l rushed to her assistance, and succeed
ed in capturing and carrying of in disgrace the
cause of the disturbance vicious little terrier,
who had found some means of getting into the
poultry yard, and making sad havoc among the
broods Of young ducks and turkeys. +'"
The next morning, after breakfast cousin
John asked me if [ would ride with him again
consented, of course, telling little surprised,
for he always devoted his mornings to work.
He turned his horses head down the mill-road,
and after few commonplace remarks about
the beauty of the morning and the scenery, he
zahI into entire silence, but this was not 50 un-
usual vii: him as to e4eitein me apJ specular
ton with regard i9 its cause. .t .....5. 3
When we came to the fallen tree we sat
down as before and then cousin John began to
speak.
~Annie,' said he-in such a strange, forced
voice that it frightened me thought at first
that he vas angry with me that had offend
ed lin in some way-"Annie,' he went on
with little hesitation, q have made a promise,
nndertaken a charge which is difficult to exc
cute. / must speak to you upon matter
where a third person's intervention is embar-
RAISING, and hao better speak at once, that L
may keep my word more houorably. Hamp-
ton wished very much to see you again before
he went away; he had much to say TO you That
he felt unwilling to wrte he tried to say 1t
Yesterday, but was interrupted In short (and
here cousin Johns manner grew more than
ever cold and severe) in short he loves you,
and wishes to make you his wife but felt so
much discouraged by something in your man
ner yesterday, that he ddres net see you again
or write to you until I can give him some hope
of such an answer as he wishes. | ought, in
Justice to him, to say that have great res
pect for his character and talents, and think
he would make you very happy, if-you love
him."
Cousin John stopped, waiting for my answer,
but none came. Il must write to him, Annie y
said he, ''what shall L say?" Still no answer
till at last it came, in violent irrepressibe sobs
no tears, only those choking sobs. Annie
what is the matter? My dear Annie what have
| said? Dear, dear little Annie My own An
mel Then came the tears-a full food-but
they were wept on his breast and his hand wiped
them away.
I do not know what answer cousin ohm wrote
to Mr. Hampton; but after all do not think HI
], could have been unhappy very long, for he haC
only known me for six weeks.
: always loved the country; and cousin Johl
thinks. under aunt Myra's training, shall max