The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-18
M1sfflIanp
THE OVERSEES DAUGHTER.
4 q OF THE soUrR.
BY LAURA CURTIS BULLARD.

1t was the close of a lovely day in June
The sun was sinking slowly in the west its
parting beams, tinting the feeey clouds with
every hue, from the palest gold to the deepest
crimson, formed the background to a picture
unsurpassed in quiet beauty by any in the sun
ny South.
large white house, surrounded by trees and
ashrubbery, and whose pillared gallery was half
hidden by clustering roses, stood on an elevated
table-land.
A fine grove Of magnolias, from which the
place took IFS name, grew on the right-their
deep green leave, contrasting finely with the
large, white, tulipshaped flowers that covered
them, filling the air with rich fragrance. On
the left, at a short distance from the house,
stood the dwelling of the overseer and a lit
tie. farther on, the whitewashed negro cabins
were TO- be seen arranged in a row, the roof of
each extending over, so as to form a sort of
rude piazza, while trees planted all along af-
(forded a delightful shade.
The cool breeze, which springs up every
evening, was eequeting with the vines, and
dancing through the trees, and all nature SEEM
ed refreshed after the sultry day. The birds,
who had been silent during the MONDAY heat,
now poured forth a tide of melody, and the
ehirp of the. cricket, The hum of the grasshop-
per, locust and bee, mingled in that monoton-
Gus yet musical sound, which, like the rustling
Of the leaves, falls SO soothingly on the ear, it
hardly seems to break the silence.
But, beautiful as was the scene, it failed to
attract the attention of the only two persons
who were to be seen on the gallery.
One, a tall and stately lady, who paced rest
iessly up and down, pausing now and then to
lean against a pillar and gaze, net admiringly,
but impatieRtly, at the settiHg sun then look
ing anxiously down the winding read which,
bordered with trees, swept off to the right.
She was a woman past the prince of life, but
her form was as stately and elegant as in her
palmiest days her raven hair was only here
and there streaked with silver, and her black,
flashing eyes had lost nothing of their youthful
fire. Her features were regular, and it was ev-
ident that she had been in her youth surpass-
ingly beautiful
She was even now a superb and queenly-
looking woman, though her beauty was marred
by the cold and naughty expression which
lurked arc lnd her ~exquisitely formed mouth,
and'hashed from her deep, piercing eyes.
Just behind her stood q slight mIlatto> boy
whose tasteful dress betokened him a favcrite
servant. He, too, was locking fxedly down
the road, glancing occasionally at his mistress
whose agitation seemed to increase every mo
ment. At last he spoke,
xxi, missus! Young mass done come now
Xii don't he make the dust fyW
'.Thank Heaven he is safe" calculated Mrs
malItanO, as SAe IuIneU anu Wdiheu sIOMIy lHL
the parlor. "Tell Betsy to bring in supper,
she added, as she threw herself languidly int
an easy-chair-
The boy vanished, but returned in season't
take the reins which the young man, who ha,
come up to the door at headlong speed, fun
70 him as ne sprang from his spirited horse.
"Old miss done look for you this last hou1
Mass Waldo" said the boy in a low tone.
'She gotrimpatient, then, did she ?" said til
young man, laughing. "Imagined all sorts c
horrors which might have befallen me, hey
Well, Byron" he continued, stepping briskl
forward "como and brush some of this dus
off mo-" AndSthe boy, giving up the horse t
another servant, followed his master to hisroon
In a few moments Waldo entered the parlol
where sat his mother by an~epen window. Sh
did not, apparently, notice his entrance, an
when he drew near, and, raising her hanc
pressed it to his lips, she did not even turn tx
ward him, but merely saying, "Ah, Waldo
GOOD evening !" relapsed again into silence,
IOne who had seen her restless imPatieno
for his coming, would have been surprised I,
ihis seotreeePtipH, bptghe did not appear I