The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-08-21
A TRUE STORY

dusk, riding slowly into the little town OF
C., he was started from reverie in
which he WAS at the moment induging. by a
youthful figure which bounded from the
parapet and seized the bride Of bis horse.-
His first impulse WAS anger at what he con-
sldered as either malicious or impertinent
interruption; but the delicate face, slight fig
ure, and more than all the pleading and agi-
tatcd expression, which he observed in the
countenance of the youth, irresistably attract =
ed his attention, and impelled him to draw
his rein, and request, mildly, to know the
cause Of IN action so unexpected. In timid
and tremuous tones, and in which the incoho-
renee of extreme agitation was painfully ap.
parent, the stranger informed Davenport that
he had for some time waited in anxious
hope of seeing some individual whose respec
liability ofappearance might pass for guar
antee Of his honor. and whom, 10 consequence
he might have courage to address. In a brief
and hurried manner be informed Davenport
that he feared pursuit from some enemy. and
impored to be conveyed to some place Of
safety. There was something in the tones Of
voice which was at once tremulous and spirit
ed, but that spirit seemed subdued by ner-
vous alarm and fearlessness, which seemed
almost effemnate. As he spoke Davenport
felt growing interest for which he could
scarcely account. He requested the youth to
walk by his side as far AS the Inn, where he
limited that further explanation would be
necessary.
"And it." proceeded he, ''you satisfy me
that | shall not be acting Improperly, You
may command my services.
Having given his horse to the care Of n
groom Davenport entered the Inn. followed
by the youth, and Immediately desired to be
shown to private room.
"Well, sir" said he, as soon as the waiter
had withdrawn, "will you now obige me bv
telling me ow far | may he Of >ervic" to YOU
aud in what way. But beg pardon; Won
seem fatigucd pray sir, he seatel--shall
call for some refreshmen,s7'
The youth stood pale, apparently irreso.
lutte. and evidently abstractcd. while the
heaving Of his breast betrayed violent emo
ton.
At length he raised his head and eSsaved
10 speak. The effort was too much, his lips
quivercd, the tears which had gathered in his
eyes overhowed; the intended arlculations
burst, and was broken in uncomfortable sghs
and convulsve sobs, and sinking back into a
chair, he covered his face with his hands anG
bust into hysterica passion of weeping.
Davenport was amazed. "What, in
Heavens name, can be the cause Of this ex
cessive grief" said he. | bcseech you to
confde it to me, and if it admit of conso-
ation, | swear to do my utmost to assuage
it aud to promote your happiness"
The stranger returned look Of gratitude,
and made strong efforts to control his emo
ton. He arose and advanced toward Davan-
port, and, in performing this action, his hat,
which he had not hitherto removed and
which Davenport had remarked was worn
rather awkwardly, slipped from his head and
down fell, in clustering profusion. "black rs
the wing of the raven" the glossy cur- Of
female. Davenport started and uttered an
exclamation of astonishment He was not
less struck with the revelation which this
slight incident bad effected, than with the
highly characteristic beauty which stood
before him. A thousand thoughts flashed
with the quckness and evanescence Of light.
ming through his brain, as he tried to catch
a glimpse Of the meaning Of an adventure so
strangely romantic. Self is always so pre-
dominant in the best regulated minds, that
the leading iAea, MS prompted by this vanity,
seemed to ask him if such disguise as this
was the result of some unknown attachment
to himself. These thonghts, however, were
but the tumutuous crowdng ofa few Sec
onds
Meanwhile the stranger, seeing himself dis
covered stood confused Burning bushes of
conscious improperly suffusea her lovely
cheeks, which were the next instant, with re-
pulsion of feeling, pale and bloodcss as ala
baster, and such seemed the overpowering
nature Of her emotion, that if Davenport had
not stepped forward and caught her, she wo'd
have fallen To the floor
TELL SAID he, 81 besecch you, and tell
me calmly and candidlv. who YOU are, and
what is the ncaning of this disguised"
%, sir, what must You think of me :" cried
she, endcavoring to hide her face, which again
was covered with bushes.
There is something in your counterance,
sir. and in your manner. which tells me YOU
are u man of honor, and YOU feel for me |
will therefore, without affcctation, briefly re-.
late to YOU the painful situation in which
have placed myself. | was obliged to do
something similar TO :his or submit to that
which would have been worse than death"
my father is cold and naughty temper
ed man, who would sacrifice every feeling of
his nature in the enhancement Of his worldly
consequence. Since the death of nv mother
which happened when was very young, /
have experienced but very little affection
from him. He has lately, however, set his
heart upon my union with an aged peer who
promises to advance his political influence,
and whose cupidity, imagine, has been ex-
cited by the fortune which inherit through
ny mother. But as would rather die than
be made the victim of compact so mean,
strait, though perhaps undutifully, told my
father so, and the consequence has been a rig.
orous confinement ever since, joined to treat
ment so harsh, with view no doubt, of har-
rassing me into compliance, and showing SO
little affection on the part Of my parent, that
l resolved, if could by any means make my
escape, to quit him and proceed to London,
where | could claim the protection OF my
deceased mothers family, with whom my
father has long been at variance. He suspect
ing, | suppose, an occurrence of this kind,
kept me totally without money, and it was
with the greatest difficulty procured this
Il -, ub;oI a, a,a.oa,;o .a 4