Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-07-18
BY REQUEST.
THE REJECTED.

BY REQUEST.
THE REJECTED.
The little grey Gothic church lay in the
broad light of the moon, with its thick clus-
ters of ivy and creepers mantling the diamond
paned windows. The soft autmnal haze rose
thin and sparkling in the moonbeams, and
seemed like a silver veil which Nature had
coquettishly thrown over the charms that she
had not hidden from the gaInish light of day.
In the green lane, there was soft, cooling
sound from the woodpigeons, not yet wholly
at rest, and on the downs thousand sheep,
as yet not folded, gave forth their gentle
breathing, quiet and tranquil as their keeper,
who had wrapt his blanket around him, and
lay on the hill side, with young lamb close
TO his heart and ready 10 start at the first
sonnd of his dog.
Close to the gateway of the church stood
Two persons,and in the hushed silence one
could have distinguished fent sound of
weeping. Whatever it was, ii proceeded not
from the smallest of the two; but from the
tall and strong man who stood beside her.
The white floating robe showed one to be
woman and the moonbeams resting on her
face told that she was beautiful, in the pure
style OF English beauty. Perhaps she looked
paler than was her wont, by moonlight !; but
there was scarcely any other trace of emotion
in her counteuance. Pride might have look
ed forth from those large blue eyes; but that
circumstances. Her soft faxen hair lay un-
stirred by even breath over her fair white
forehead, and hung down in long heavy curls,
a neck which, though closely covered,
showed its perfect shape, and betrayed at the
throat its whiteness and purity. Apparently
the young man made some passionate appeal
To her, which had failed to subdue some reso-
luton she had declared; for she paused in
her walk as if to collect all her firmness and
answered proudly, sit is impossible l have
given my word-my word which have never
yet broken; | never can be your wife,"
There Gas sob that seemed to come like
that which parts soul and body, from the
breast of the young man. The tall form bent
and swayed as if falling to the ground but
he supported himself against the gateway of
the church. a.
Farewell, then, Margaret Seaton farewell
tor ever. shall net remain here to witness
your scorn or trouble your peace. Life i'm
England would be TO ME living death. To-
morrow l sail for America. If winds and
waves prove as treacherous as womans's love,
shall probably find peace beneath the waves.
Ii SO, do not ask the tears which you refuse
TO my deep misery in life. Once more fare
well!''
lie turned away from her, as he spoke, and
took another path than that which led to her
home. Had he heard the passionate cry which
burst iroEl her lips moment after, he might
blind III his agony. ssWilliam William 20
sounded on the air, and reached the ear of the
sleeping shepherd on the hillside, but not that
OF him who had left her. The next day Mar
garet Seaton saw the announcement of the
sailing of u ship to.America, and among the
passengers was the name of civilian John
son."
In of the most beautiful spots in the
delightful valley of the Mohawk, Johnson
Castle reared its head. Surrounded by tall
groves and rich Strawberries, almost oriental
in their profusion, and kept by its owner, a
young man of free and frank department, as
place of almost feudal magnitcence, it was
no wonderithat its popularity was beyond that
OF any other mansion in America. To this
house, not only the great and learned among
the American residents and European tourists
alike resorted, but it was equally open to the
crowds of Indians, who, attracted by the hearty
cordiality of its master, laid aside their
usual reserve, and focked to the hospitable
board of William johnson.
From afar, Margaret Seaton heard of this
sylvan abode, and wondered if its occupant
ever thought Of her whose GOODNESS had driven
him to its deep shades. Drawn from him for
awhile by the prospect of a more intellectual
lover than the boy of nineteen, as William
johnson was when she parted from him, she
too mad experienced disappointment as keen
and severe as lovers revenge could wish to
infiict. Retribution for her broken faith to
William Johnson had overtaken her. and now,
disgusted with the vain show in which she
lived, and the heartless desertion of the lover
tor whom she had sacrificed true and faithful
heart, she formed the mad project of going to
America, and witnessing the new life which
her former lover was said to lead.
Circumstances were favorable to this idea.
Her parents were no more ,Gnd the wealth they
mad left was at her disposal alone. She knew
that, since the night on which the TWO stood
al tie little Gothic church, boy and girl in
me nrst hush of youth, that she, ,at least, must
nave altered. The soft curls hung as loving
~ around the neck, but the fair brow had
-shade OF care, and the blue eyes were faded
from their first brlliance. Night and day she
mourned over the decision of that night, and
~ nad left shadow upon her beauty like a
onght upon the lilly. She embarked for A.
merica under an assumed name, arriving at
'the very height of the luxuriant American
summer.
johnson Castle was deserted when the I'M
known lady arrived in its neighborhood and
another residence on the banks of the river
where most siDgularly beautiful location had
attracted the notice of the muniicent owner
of the land, had risen in beauty that threw
the castle into comparative omeliness Ont
SIDE OF the ample and beautiful domain sur
rounding this favored spot, was an English
settlement, composed mainly of artisans or
workmen whom the masters liberality had in
dnced to remain. In one of these habitations
the proud English maiden found home and
ventured to ramble over the very grounds of
her old lover, trusting to her altered looks to