The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-10-17

and familiar object. The houses, the
fences were Wondering away. I met
the companions of my youth, who wei
coined me back with smiles that seem.
ed the distorted mockery of the smiles
that lit up their happy faces in my
boyhood's days. They were growing
old.
Yet some seemed apparently no OIL
der than l had seen them eight years
before
did not meet Miss Hayne, nor did
/ even inquire about her. She had
probably gone away, or what was
quite as probable, her father might
have become SO wealthy that she no
longer moved in the village society. =
Perhaps she was married and was liv-
ing in some other place. What was
she to me that | should spend tho't
in speculation as to her invisibility :?
And yet | could not efface her image
from my mind. If ever in distant
lands | had succeeded in banishing her
from my memory, / could not do SO
now. The associations of home and
familiar scenes, brought back the rec
election Of happy days-and her
name, her form, just as she appeared
to me then, was indispensably neces-
sary to complete the picture that fan
cy painted me.
There was social gathering at a
friends, but she was not there. Why
should | look so anxiously about, no.
ping, and yet fearing to encounter her
beautiful face !? Why could I not for
get her at once and forever.
Some one mentioned her name, "Thy
was she not there 2"
She does not go down since their
misfortune"
What pity Poor Hayne !
They say that she supports him by
teaching a female school"
eyes, she is engaged in the district
just beyond the village. 1t will be a
very severe and humiliating lesson to
her she was very proud "
I must confess I was interested, and
desired to know more, much more, but
I asked no questions. / could not
forget the past.
Not long after this, I learned that
the Hayne estate, which had passed
Into the hands of some Eastern specu-
lator, was again for sale. purchased
it, having no definite object in view,
unless it was the thought that it would
make a comfortable residence for my
father in his declining years, since his
own cottage was fast going to decay.
| at once set about repairing the large
mansion on the Hayne farm, for that
too had felt the Wondering touch of
time, and for that purpose [ frequent
ly drove out to watch and direct the
operations of the labororS.
was one day driving leisurely
along, when | espied at some distance
before me an old man, bent with age
and grouping his tedious way along
the road. Presently he sat down by
the roadside to rest, and when | came
up | offered him seat in the buggy.
"Neyer mind" said he, its only
a little way I have to go, just to yon-
der hilltop. I go there sometimes
when the days are pleasant like this,
to meet my daughter and accompany
her from school. She is teaching you
know"
| disregarded his refusal Of my offer
and sprung out of the carriage, extern
ding him my hand to assist him to
a seat, as though it were matter of
course that he should ride.
Well, well, since you wish it Twill
go with you. There are not many
that are kind 20 the old now, I am
not as / was six years ago. I was a
rich man then, = but speculation
did the mischief. See yonder house,
just beyond the school, it was mine
All it was q happy home, but it can
never be mine again"
And thus he babbled on, for the in
frmitie5 of age, prematurely induced
by his misfortunes, had rendered him
garrulous. lie was indeed changed,
for among all I mad seen since my re-
turn home, not one had grown SO ole
as be, He did not recognize me, and
as / Grove slowly along, very slowly
fer he said many things that were in.
teresting to me, I learned more of BIZ
circumstances, and of the sacrifices
concessions, efforts and filial affection
for his daughter Isabel-the name af
fected me more than had previously
ascertained. | had often passed tn,
school house, as it was directly on m,
way to the farm, but had never caugh
sight of the fair teacher. AS we nov
approached, we observed the scholar
rushing from the door of the schoo
room, and before we drove up, she
herself emerged and stood before us.
1 "Ah, Isabel, this kind gentlemaI
urged me to ride in his carriage, AM
l want you to thank him in n y behalf
because You don't know how it ha
! -