The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-09-19
B. B. BLACKWELL. EDITOR

| together in various places, chatting in
low confidential tones. School over
the merriest of the lot sat down upor
the green turf and bent their bright
heads together, and said so many fun.
ny things, and made such a number O
comic suggestions upon the matter
they were discussing, that the whole
air rang with their laughter. Just
over the way from the young ladies'
academy" the stately house of Mr..
Waters cleaned out from the planta-
tions and shrubbery that surrounded
it-looking so royal and grand, so like
some old, ancient castle, with its arch
ing porticos and snowy turrets, and
above all so Formidable and threatening
in its aspect, that none but madcap
set of school girls would have dared
plan against its peace and quiet.
But from the many roguish glances,
and bright, suggestive smiles that
were directed towards it during the
day, it was quite evident that the old
mansion ana its grounds was the SUBJ
ject of their thoughts and plans. At
night the question was proved beyond
doubt; when the village was still and
quiet, and the moon sailed clearly up
the blue steep sky, pouring her rain
of silvery light over the old grange, a
strange procession of reckless merry
lasses stole into the wide, old gate,
that led through the principal avenue
of the formal old garden to the coveted
orchard.
For awhile as they wound along the
shady walk they were silent and eau
tious, hardly daring to breathe SEN
tence above a whisper, but each mo-
ment they gained courage, and before
they had traversed through half the
grounds, their mirth got the better of
their fears, and they laughingly joined
their daring leader in plan to cap
ture the owner if he should tronble
them.
The one that shall catch him first
shall have him." broke in light mus
ical voice above the buzz and laughter
of the party.
Good, good" answered another,
but that will be Kate Weston, our
captain, Kate, I am sure, for she can
outrun any girl in Cranston,. Why,
girls, she goes it like deer !"
Hush Hush !" Captain Kate
turned about suddenly as she spoke,
and held one white hand up threaten
ing towards the party.
{" If you mention the old ogre's name
he'll be sure to be out here. Remem-
Der his apples are dearer to him than
his gold for, like many other men, he
thinks more of having his belly well
filled than his pocket"
How beautiful she looked, standing
up there in the full clear moonlight,
brilliant, daring Katie Weston There
was a deal of pride about her slender,
willowy form-in the way she carried
her perfect head, flashed her great
hazel eyes, and curved her tempting
rose bud mouth And now she spoke
of Farmer WaterS-her whole face
seemed to glow with an expression
nearly akin to that of scorn. For
some reason, no one new what, she
had taken a bitter dislike to the great
man of the village. Her very first i'm
preston of him was an unfavorable
one, she used to say. When she met
him one afternoon, as she was return
ing from a walk, he had stopped a
friend to ask about her, and that too
in such loud tone, that she could
not, had she willed it, remain ignor-
ant of what he was saying. She haG
heard his companion give her history, in
short, detached sentences 'Poor
orphan-delicately reared, we'll edu-
Gated, very beautiful and talented
proud, living with poor relation on
the outskirts of the village" were the
words that fell upon her ear, as she
swept haughtily by them. After
that she had been introduced to the
handsome, wealthy, young farmer, at
the school pic-ric She knew that
the presentation had first been sug-
gested by him, and, though she met
his courteous, gentlemanly advances
with quiet, easy dignity, at heart
she was repulsing him all the while
Perhaps he was concious of this,
for he was more than usually winning
and pleasing in his addresses, even
when he saw in what bitter, satari-
cal way she cut down his finest and
most polished sentiment, quietly ma
king them the food of her merriment.
That was not all, either. 1t was not
enough that Kate should have all the
enjoyments of the day spoiled for her,
but she must work herself up into such
a passion as to lay awake half that
night, in order to sob it away from
her naughty, perverse little heart
Poor Kate And that was not ALL
either. On st. Valentines Day, some
one had annoyed her by sending, fol
acceptance, one Of the prettiest, dainti-
est little rings immaginable, within