Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-02-01
PRIDE AND PRINCIPLE.

was returning home after an absence Of
eight years. returning to the home of nv child
hood The numbering coach that bore me
rapidly along. was already entering the vii
lage where l was born. where had the 6rst
important principles of an education, where |
supported many happy childhood's hour and
where had first learned to love-
Yes to love the prettiest, nerriest, aud
proudest maiden IN all the village not wise
ly. but too WE'LL She rejected my suie-she
bad higher aspirations. 1t was true, she
liked me very vell-it might be, loved me
was not rich, aud she was proud and haugh
ty. as well as beautiful Yet she was indeed
kind aud charitable, she did not reject nv of
fer disdainfully. but seemed to study some
method by which her irrevocable reply might
give me no pain
l did not question her motives. I knew
them too well, and then and there | resolved,
that if health should be spared me, I would
depart at once from my native village and
some day return wealthy man--uot again
to urge my suit. not even to claim her as
friend or acquaintance, unless it should be her
desire, for too bad proud spirit. and could
never condescend to plead with woman.
All these thoughts passed rapidly through
my mind. as L neared my fathers cottage;
and 1 rejoiced to think that, in part, my pur-
pose had been accomplished 1 was rich
rich even beyond the fastidious requistiticrs
of Isabel Hayne, richer than her father had
ever been. and yet my stern resolve had seen
no change.
/ met my father, now silver Aaired with
age. My mother bad been lying in her mar
row. silent rome for nearly two years. My
sister. my only sister, whom fondly hoped
to meet was married, asd had gone to dis
tant place to dwell The spirit of change had
breathed upon every dear and familiar object
The houses, the fences, were mouldering
away. L met the companion OF my youth,
who welcomed me back with smiles which
seemed the distorted mockery of the smiles
that lit up their happy faces in my boy hoods
days. They we're growing old.
Yet some seemed apparently no older than
when had seen them eight years before
did not meet Miss Hayne, nor did even
inquire about her. She had probably gone
away. or what vas quite as probable, her ia
thor might have become so wealthy that she
no longer moved in the village society. Per
haps she was married, and was living in some
other place. What was she to me that l
should spend thought in speculation as to
the cause of her insensibility? And yet
could not efface her image from my mind
If ever In distant landsI had succeeded in
my mind efforts to Danish her from my mem
ory. could not do so now. The associations
of bone and familiar scenes brought back the
recollectioDs of happy days-and her name,
her form. just as she appeared to me then.
was iDdispensibly necessary to complete the
picture which fancy painted me
There was social gathering OF friends but
she was not there. Why should L look SO
an1iousy about. hoping and yet fearing to
encounter her beautiful face? Why could [
not forge. her at once and forever.
Some one mentioned her name. why
vas she not there?'
..She does not go now since their misfor-
.uue
..What pity! Poor Hayae! They say
hat she supports him by teaching female
school,"
..Yes. she is engaged in the district just
beyond the village. 1t will be very severe
md humiliating lesson to her; she was very
proud
must confess [ was interested. and desir-
ID to know more. much more. but l asked no
luestions could not forget the past.
Not long after this 1 learned that the Hay'e |
state. which had passed into the hands OF
ONE Eastern speculator. was again for sale, |
purchased it. having no definite purpose in |
lew, unless it was the thought that 1t would !
make a com Portable residence for my father !
n bis declining years, since his own cottage |
vas fast going to decay. at once set about |
epalring the large mansion on toe Hayns