The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-04-18
Srleet Mliseellanp
w no IS s II E

"Mary Murray, you say-and pray, who is
she 2"
These words were addressed by one young
lady to another in reference to an acquaintance
to whom one Of them had just bowed.
"Who! The daughter o. Mrs. Murray, of
High street. A dear, sweet, anliable girl as
ever lived, IS Mary, too-you ought to know
her"
I'D rather not" said the first speaker, with
toss of the head. 'The daughter of a wo-
man who keeps petty milliners shop! Why,
the next thing will be to associate with ones
servant maids"
rank" replied the other. "Mary Murray is
more beautiful, more accomplished, and more
amiable, too, than half my former school 7fel-
lows"
.'Well, can tell you one thing, if you keep
up your acquaintance with her, you'll be cut
by all genteel people. Do yo think the Liv-
ingstons, Harrisons, and Lawrences will come
to your par'o' if they are to meet shop girls
there?" i T.. &
"They may do as they please" replied Kate
Willis, with spirit "But one thing is certain,
1 shall not give up Mary for them. as like
her for herself and not for her ancestors Be
sides, for a know, she may be as well-born
as they are I never thought to inquire"
just at this instant, handsome young man,
riding a beautiful horse, passed, and made
bow to the young ladies. The first speaker
was all bushes at tits public notice from one
of the richest and most sought-a after young
bachelors in Milltown.
"Dear me-" said she, "hOw glad am he
did not hear you speak to-tAat- Miss Murray
He would never have noticed either of US
again"
Kate Willis curled her pretty lips in scorn.
as she replied, MIR. Hastings is too sensible
to be affected by such thing, | fancy: But,
if he is not, he is only the more to be pitied. ]"
And warming with natural indignation, she
continued, ''It vexes me beyond patience, to
see people in this place talking of the gentili
ty of their families when out of a hundred
there is scarcely one that is not descended, and
at no great distance, from some honest me-
chanic or respectable farmer. Take rich
est families Half century ago they were
poor, honest working men, till the steam-en-
CINE helped to make them rich. We ought to
ask. not who persons ancestors were, but
what they are themselves"
A few days after, as Kate and her acquaint
ance were walking together, they met Miss
Murray, who, unconscious of any offense. stop
ped to converse with Kate. Emma was evil
IDENTIFY uneasy. the more so as her ken eyes de-
t'cted Frank Hastings pr"menading down the
street tpwarls them. Puliteness kept her sta
tionary for moment, but as he drew near
er, the disgrace of being seen with the daugh-
ter of shop keeper proved too strong for her
courtesy, and she abruptly broke sway, and
went INTO shop, pretending to wish to pur-
chase some ribbon.
Frank Hastings, meantime, came sauntering
idly down the street, and only perceiving Kate
when close upon her.
"Good morning." he said, bowling. his eye at
tracted by Miss Murrays pleasing face. 'tWill
you take pity on an idler, Miss Willis, and al
low me to accompany you in your walk p
Kate, who was already engaged. end tc a
friend of Franks, answered frankly, for she
and Hastings were almost as intimate as broth
er and sister.
81 shall be pleased if you will. Only you
must be very agreeable, for my friend and [
are used to having sense talked to US. and if
you don't acquit yourself creditably, we shall
blackball you, as you say at the club, the next
time you apply for admission to walk with u"
Frank, however. required no incentive to in
duce him to talk his best; for the sweet coun-
tenance of Mary, in which every motion of the
heart was reflected, was inspiration enough.
They stopped at last at Mrs. Murray's little
shop. Frank looked with some surprise at the
humble appearance of the dwelling; but this
did rot prevent his bow TO Mary being deeply
respectful as he walked off with he. friend
"And that charming girl he said. @assts
to support her mother by standing behind the
counter. What noble creature Do you
know. Kate I was half in love with her before. |
and now I am entirely SO? A wife such as
she would make is worth having ecanse she !
would be worth dozen of the foolish would be
votaries of fashion-gilded, conceited butter
flies like your friend Emma. Yon must take
me to Miss Murray's some evening and intro
duce me"
: Kate had known Frank too well to suppose
he would despise Mary because her mother had
been reduced TO comparative poverty; but she
had not dreamed for an instant of his falling in
love with her. But now she hastily thoug ght
over the good qualities of each. she clapped
her hands and cried. s.That will l. for you are
Just suited to each other. 'sWe willgo to-mor-
row night"
And they did go on the morrow night. And
again, and again. Frank went, and after the
first two interviews. always without Kate. He
was noble-hearted, intellectual. graceful, and
refined; and Mary could not long resist the
devoted suit he paid to her. Indeed, after
some maidenly struggles with her heart. she
yielded herself to loving him with all the
depth of her pure, yet ardent nature.
Frank was far too sensible to regard the
accessories of fortune. Perhaps, indeed, he
loved Mary the better for her poverty. He
could never have entertained an affection for