Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-31
ALEAP FOR A WIFE.
by PREDBRICK HARDMAN.


girls that I ever looked upon, and little
wonder was it that / should have fallen in
Hove with her at first When first saw
her it was among the White Mountains of
New Hampshire, where had gone upon
sketching excursion. With her brother,
Boston merchant, had been long ac-
: auainted, but this was the first time l had
seen his charming sister. LIZA
But for the rough mountain pony, with
its clumsy side saddle on which she was
mounted, instead of the Spanish jennet or
we'll bred palfrey that would best have
suited so fair an equestrian, l could with
out any great exertion of fancy have
dreamed myself to the days of the Nc
Gregor, and fancied that it was Di Vernon
riding up the mountain side, gaily chat
ting as she went with the handsome cav
alier who walked by her stirrup, and who
might have been Frank Osbaldistone, only
that he was too manly looking for Scott's
somewhat effeminate hero. How beauti-
fully moulded was the form that her dark
green habit set off to such an advantage !;
how fairy like the foot that pressed the
clumsy stirrup; how slender the fingers
that grasped the reins! She has discard
ed the heavy riding-habit and the sense
less bennett, those graceless inventions of
some cunning milliner and had adopted
some new style head-dress. This was a
fiat cap, knitted by herself, of snow white
wool, and surmounted by crimson tas-
sci spread open at the top. From be-
meath this elegant cobie,u' her dark eyes
flashed and sparkled, while her luxuriant
chestnut curls fell down her neck, the ala
bastcr fairness of which made her head
dress appear tawny Either because the
air was fresh upon the mountain, or else
because she was pretty and woman, and
therefore not sorry to show herself to the
best advantage, she had twisted around
her waist long cashmere shawl, previ-
ously passing it over one shoulder in the
manner of sword belt, the ends hanging
down nearly to her stirrup; and this gave
something particularly picturesque, almost
fantastical, to her whole appearance.
Upon the second day of my arrival at
the Crawford. l had fallen in with my
friend, Jack Narrower, who was taking
his sister on a summer tour. Her health
had been delicate, the doctors had recon.
mcnded the excursion, and Jack, who
doated on his only sister, had dragged her
away from the city. He had snug for
tune besides his business, and his sister
had 100000 in her own right. But as
yet she was unengaged. | had been alb
sent to Europe for nearly two years, and
although / had heard much of Miss Har.
rover, l had never seen her until hel
brother introduced her to me at the Craw.
ford House. i had not known her an
hour, however, before my heart was cap
tured. Before had been two days in hel
society, my doom was sealed-I had ceased
to belong to myself was her slave, the
slave Of her sunny smiles and bright eyes
A fortnight had passed, and we were
still at the mountains. During that time
the spell that bound me had been each
day gaining strength. AS an intimate
friend of her brother, l was already on thu
footing of an old acquaintance; she seemed
well pleased enough with my society
chatted with me willingly and familiarly
but in vain did watch for some slight
indication whence to derive hope. None
such were perceptible. We once or twice
fell in with some acquaintance of hers OIL
her brothers, and with them she had JUS
the same frank, friendly manner as will
me. So | patiently waited in hope.
Things were in this state, when, on
morning, whilst taking an early walk t
the Notch, | ran up against New Yorl
friend, Philip Ashley. He was an excel
lent fellow not q fine gentleman, but
proficient in all manly exercises. He shot
rode, walked and danced to perfection
He was nearly six feet in his boots, an,
strongly and we'll built. He had blu