The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-04-24
B. B. BLACKWELL. EDITOR.

tOfCo tue FCiJ EAcuno oHO 'O"hNo -
Listen, Mary, | was led to speak
this on account of what / witnesse
Yesterday. When the people wer
coming out of Church, Charles hast
ened to her side, but she, with cole
salute passed on and joined some o
her companions 1t grieVed me. tt
see the expression of pain that reste'
on his countenance. Seeing my eye:
upon him, he tried to look Indifferent
but it was easy to see that the arrow
Of disappointment had entered biz
heart. He soon after took his leave
without casting look at"
Maud, Maud, what has hap
pened ?" burst simultaneously from
the lips of Mary and Reuben, as Maud
entered, accompanied by stranger
while the garments of both bore evil
dence of having recently been in the
water.
Maud fastened TO relieve her pa
rents anxiety by explaining the cause
Of her present appearance Return
ing from Old Lucy's. and lingering on
the banks of the stream, at some dis
lance from the mill, she had reached
for flower, fell in and would inevita-
bly, have been drowned, but for the
stranger, who plunged in and saved
her.
Reuben grasped the young man by
the hand, telling him to consider him
as his best friend and henceforth
there was not a more welcome guest
at farmer Browns than William How
ard. Tall, dark, with eyes of deep
blue, which had an expression so full
of generous feeling, that he instinct
lively won the confidence of all, while
! his graceful manners made a most
pleasing impression on the grateful
hearts of the parents.
"Dame Nature never intended you
for farmer boy" said Reuben Brown
who had been noticing the white and
delicate hands of William Howard, as
some evenings subsequently, he was
assisting Maud to tie up the broken
trellis-work of her arbor.
I am an artist" he smilingly re-
turned. " My art led me to visit the
beautiful scenes of this favored coun-
| try"
"You admire tbs part of the coun-
try then ?" interrupted Reuben, evil
IDENTIFY much pleased at Williams
preference.
Many were the praises that the
young painter bestowed on the scenery
of Shropshire, but of it the surround
ing neighborhood pleased him most,
and with the accuracy of one who had
been brought up in the village, he des-
cribed each charming landscape.
"On my word, you know the place
better than I 90 myself. Have you
never been here before !" inquired
Reuben.
| William said that he had been stay
ing in the village for several weeks
taking sketches.
Didn't you ever see my girl before
the evening when you so nobly res
cued her p
It was not without a motive tina
farmer Brown asked this question
while Maud bent her head over tn,
tangled flowers, and her cheek wore {
brighter red than the sweet rosebud
which was unconsciously picked t.
pieces.
4 William replied somewhat evasivel.
that few would visit Il neighbor
hood without the desire of seeing it
fairest flower.
Weeks wore on. William, VIII
had not yet completed his sketches
was q daily, but not an unwelcom
visitant at farmer Browns, if we ex
. cept the worthy host himself Fl
now perceived the cause of Maud'
, indifference to Charles Frost, her aft
anced husband, dating this change i
her sentiments to the first appearance
of the young painter in the village
Yet he would not deny the hospitalit
q of his house to one who had been in
! strumental in saving the life Of h
child.
All this time Charles had not al
! preached the cottage. 1t piqued tn
pride of the father that the youn
, lover should appear so unmindful
, the charmes of his beautiful daughter
E while he waited in daily expectatio
f of seeing him coming to make ovel
lures for reconciliation.
Charles Frost was his own maste
. and the richest farmer in the neigbol
: hood. There was not a maiden in til
parish who would not be beside hel
! self if he had bestowed on her the low
! that thrilled no responsive chord
+ the heart of the village beauty.
n Betrothed to Charles when mel
S child, Maud had mistaken slsterl