Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-04-15

sought her to elope with him, then return for
the forgiveness which he knew the old eldel
would scarcely withhold, despite the rigid no
tions which would cause him at once to per
emptorily refuse the hand of one of the world.
people" for his child-though Martha bad
steadily refused to do this, and, after the an
ticipated refusal of the elder, in a fit of pique
the young man had upbraided her for the lack
of love as well as courage, then gone back to
his city home-yet all this sank deep ia the
young girls heart; and although the subject was
never mentioned between her and her father, till
the old elder fondly imagined she had forgot
ton him and began to look favorably upon
Reuben, still Martha pined and grew unhappy.
At length she fell really i'll, and Sabbath af
ter Sabbath her sweet face was not seen in the
meeting house On the hill.
"How is Martha p asked Reuben, one Sun
day, joining the elder as he walked home
wards
"Weli, / don't know, Reuben" replied the
old man. "Somebow, the girl don't seem to
get strength. Come in, lad, and sit awhile
Maybe thy cheering talk will brighten up Mar
tha"
"Nay, elder, don't think Martha cares for
my society. But, elder, heard something the
other day" and the young mans face grew
suffused with color-"I know thee will not
think me intrusive, Elder Grant"
.Nay, lad, out with it, replied the elder. rs
it anything concerning Martha?"
Elder Grant heard the other day about
that young man who asked Martha's hand of
thee. He is in our neighborhood again; and
he told Friend Parker that he had come once
more to seek the hand of the prettiest maiden
IN Enfield. They say he is wealthy man, and
d worthy man, too. Did'st thou never think,
elder, that Martha may have cared good
deal for him ?"
Nay, Reufen," and the old elders words
showed as much asperity as ever dared intrude
on the equable Quaker's speech. whats got
into thee laaf 1 thought thou vast once a
suiter for Marthas hand thyself, and this is
strange indeed if thou hast taken up pleading
the cause of another man, and he outside of
our sect. 1t may be- after all, that Martha
fancied the young fellow, for confess he was
a smooth-spoken gentlemanly man; but l
thought the girl would in time forget hitt, and
/ should yet call thee son-it-law, Reuben"
4 sudden light flashed in the young Quaker's
eye, and deeper color came upon his check,
If this might be so If Martha might yet be
his
But Reuben Kane was not selfish; and
moments thought told him that, though Mar
tina might bestow her hand on him at het fa-
Tiers command, such an union could never be
a happy one. He knew Martha's nature, and
when this revelation of anothers love, which
he had just then learned, came to him, he knew
the reason of her pale cheeks and detected air.
Then noble resolve was born in the Quaker
youths heart. He would plead the the strangers
cause with the stern elder; Marthas happiness
should be secured, and he would find his in the
consciousness of having performed the selfsac-
rificing act.
NAY, elder," he replied, Martha does not
love me in the least-of that am we'll asusred;
and would not, at the risk of wrecking her
happiness, ask her again to become my wife,
even if knew she would answer yea Rather
would see her mated with this young man
tarrying over yonder at the village, and for
whom 1 have no doubt she is pining. Maybe
thou hast been too strict, elder"
"What, Reuben Thou, Quaker lad, ar
guing with me to consent that Martha may
marry one of the worlds people?" exclaimed
the elder.
"He is worthy, aud comes Of a good stock.
The BentIeys are a good old family, and, after
all, Martha might be happier there in her city
home than pining here, She could not control
her love, 1 suppose, elder" replied Reuben
calmly.
"Maybe-maybe, Reuben. And Martha
has always been good child-good as she is
comey, and a dash of pride was infused into
the elders tones; for, despite his prejudices
against ''the worlds people, he could not but
feel little Hattered that his child's beauty
should have attracted the admiration of one
whose cause Reuben now stood pleading. "A
good girl Martha has been, and perhaps she
set more by the young fellow than thought.
At any rate, l want to secure her happiness,
and, though l had set my mind on having thee
for son-in-law, Reuben, yet if thou art set up
on giving the girl up because thou art sure she
does not, nor cannot love thee, I'll have talk
with her, and also inquire into the character
of this city youth, who 1 suppose will be hang
ing round again. But walk in, lad; Martha is
sitting by the window, and will be glad to see
thee, / doubt not.'
May, not tonight, elder replied the young
man, from the garden gate, where he had lin
gered to talk this matter over. "Thee had
better not defer thy conversation, but get
little color into Martha's pale cheeks, if thou
canst," and glancing towards the window
where the Fsle girl sat, he bade her father good
evening and turned away.
And Martha, looking after the plain, quiet
Quaker youth, little thought what selfsacri-
fcing act he had performed, in thus resigning
his deep, strong love to secure her happiness in
another's; bat wheN the oldelder laid his hand
on her head, and said, "Weil, my gfrf, hsve
half mind to send thee out among the worlds
Reuben wants to get rid of thee,
believe, since he has been begging in thy
favor" and then talked long with Martha
about her city lover who, she confessed, hast
improved the afternoon, while the cider sat in
the church, TO pay her a stolen visit-then the
girl knew to whose ttselfish sffection she owed
the prospect of happy future with her own
beloved.
And when-as happened in the bright June
time, much to the wonderment of adj, and the
eefisure of many broad-britA ir the Quaker
society, save Reuben Kane-the handsome
Philip Bently bore away to his spendid city
home the fairest Quaker flower, Martha placing
her hand in the Quaker youths to bid him
goodbye, could scarce restrain the tears Of
gratitude which sprang into her blue eyes.
But the impatient young husband stood at
the door of the elegant travelling carriage be-
fore tie gate, and in another moment the girl
was whirled away from the roof thet might
shelter her never again in girlhood, and the ell
der stood gazing into the highway where a
cloud of white dust marked the path of the
bridal party.
Then he turned with heavy sigh to watch
Renben Kane walking slowly, thoughtfully
homeward.
"The lad has done selfsaerifcing deed this
day, for am sure he loves my girl still /" mus