The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-01-16

passing before the minds eye, and
gentle, loving influences at work in
the restless heart, only half hour ago
just ready to burst with vexation and
sorrow At length the young head
sunk down, the red cheeks pressed the
green moss pillow, the blue veined
lids closed over the dreamy eyes, and
wearied out with weeping, Laurette
slept
1t was moonlight when she awoke,
and few stars were family shining
in the blue patches of sky, visible be-
tween the tree-tops. A strange clasp
ing was about her, a cheek rougher
than the green moss was pressed to
hers, and breath warmer than that
of the zephyrs tanning the sleeping
wild buds, played over her upturned
face. Struggling to free herself from
the close embrace, she would have
screamed, but pressing her still closer,
Brantly exclaimed in an agitated voice,
Don't struggle so, darling. Give
me this one reward, just once to feel
your little loving heart beating close
to mine; just once to press this pre-
cious, priceless little figure to my bo-
som, and have the sweet joy Of know
ing that have saved it from so terri
BILE fate. See here, darling, thank
God / have saved you but l shudder
even now to think. what your fate
would have been, if l had found you
moment later. Look mp precious one,
the danger is over now, you need not
fear"
Still struggling and bewiIdered
Laurette raised her head from his bo-
som sufficiently to see in the clear
moonlight the still qnivering form of
huge panther. stretched on the green
sward not dozen fee5 from the place
where she had been sleeping, and then
sunk back, white and cold and motion
less into the arms of her deliverer.-
Raising her lightly, Brantly carried
her to the cabin, and leaving her in
the care of the old nurse Bessie, re-
turned with Rovineau to scour the
woods in every direction, to see wheth-
er there might possibly be other beasts
of prey lurking in the vicinity, but
everything was quiet, and having sat-
ished themselves that there was moth
ing more to fear, they retraced their
steps. The women had retired to
their own little adjoining apartment
when the weary men regained the
cabin, and stretching themselves at
full length on the cool mating, they
were soon in sound slumber
Laurette's colorless cheeks and the
helpless manner in which she leaned
upon the old woman when summoned
to breakfast, the next morning, showed
that she had been more than triAe
affected by the nights adventure, but
when Rovileau took her lovingly TOD
his bosom, and kissing her tremnlous
lips, asked how she had slept, she
smiled cheerfully, and answered.
Well, dear father Mark, I can
hardly tell you how l slept, the latter
part of the night, for | was too much
frightened to remember; but I am
quite sure | must have slept pretty
soundly in the evening. "Oh," she
added, shuddering, 81 shall never
dare go to the brook any more, at
least shall be pretty careful how. I
am caught mapping again"
" But what took you there so late,
child Haven't / desired you not to
go out at evening unless some one was
with you to protect you ? Don't say
you went to wash your face or dress
your hair, or any such woman's rea-
son for / know you didn't do it
Come, tell the truth now"
ooh father Mark, if you insist up.
on knowing the exact purpose ! had,
and no prevarication viii answer,
believe / went down there TO scold the
brook little because you are going
to send William away, and / want
him to stay here to amuse me, when
you are busy, and old Betty has the
sulks," and Laurette hid her Burning
face in the kind friends bosom as she
finished her frank confession
"Well, pet, and whas did the brook
say? Did it promise to make you ac-
quainted with your good mother, a
fairy, all-wise and all-powerfal as the
story books read, if you would only
let it sing you to sleep; or did the
naughty brook murmur so much loud
er than you could, that you cried
yourself to sleep from very vexation?
Come, confess"
q declare, father Mark, you are
too bad. | won't stay by you another
minute" and with cheek all rose and
an eye all fire, the offended girl threw
herself on the cushioned settee at the