Newbern weekly progress., 1862-05-10
CHAPTER III.

| t'AAuo uay puCCeeulnS tno eVeuta TS-
corded IN our last chapter, was one of
those peculiar days of Autumn, that
succeed some Of the pleasantest days
Of the year. AZ yesterday had been
bright and pleasant, to-day it seems
as though the skies were again opened
preparstory to another deluge. The
iWnlds came in from the eastward, dri-
wing the rain fiercely before It, as if
they both had combined to destroy all
that came in their way, either by
floods or tempests. The winds tore
the ripe apples from the trees and
hurled them to tho ground, where q
miniature lake received them, and
they lay on the water with their rcd
cheeks just above the surface, moving
hithsr and thther, as the tiny waves
sent them bouncing about, till perhaJs
at last they found an outlet, and went
dashing down the steep hill at furi-
ous pace, tumbling over many cas-
cades, and at lat went into the
meadow brook, where they found
w. 5.~-., o---i---.r--..sl>4 >4.ar antl than
run away from tile harvest field and
the husbandman, to seek its fortune
out on the broad river, where soon
they all found themselves after reach.
ling The mouth of Meadow Brook.
| The old trees around Thornton
4 House, cracked and grcaned beneath
the violence VI the storm, as If they
Z were complaining Of its rough usage,
and scolding it for coming against
4 them thus unprovoked. The crscpers
and columbine threw themselves flat
On the root, and lay with out-stretchcd
| fingers, as if litrless, and in their fee
blel,ess reproa,hing the storm for thus
dislodging them but they must have
been playing 'possum, for the mex
/ day but one, when tire sun had come
. put in it's glory, they were all righ
again and as bright us ever. =.
This morning Ralph stood in hi
chamber, looking out on the violenc
! of the storm. lie was thinking OF til
| tile white cottage under the hill, AM
] lis inmates, anu wondering il tn
storm would abate so That he coul
= visit them in the course OF the day
G At breakiasi, he told The Judge ths
:: he wished 10 consult him on a matte
: OF importance and the old gentle
Fl, man told hm tina, he should be ,
, leisure after ten. 1he hour was no
come, and with some mlrgivings h
!. turned from the window and wei
II down to the Library, where he fonl'
d the Judge sitting un"ccupied, beiol
T. tho bright wood fire that burned
10 the open CRATE. =,
i Now l;alphl' said the old gentl
n man, with u pleasant smile, drawn
,e ND \ chair close to his, and moiionll
g, tic young man to occupyit. la
H. ready now to hear what you have
ne SAY, so 20 on without any reserve
Is, 'ihe blood rushed holly over Ralpl
he face, for it was delicate subject
. converse about to a person who W
N, perfectly ignorant OF the relation I'll
i'll existed between Alice Gray and HI
sst self; but at last, he crowded down
ITO bashfulness and commenced. Tic t.
rk him Of his first meeting with Alit
jw how he had saved her life when bu
child, by rescuing her from the de
an brook into whicn she had fallen; u
the how, as years went on, their love /
- strengthened with the passing hot
no until now they were betrothed to e'
he other.
t /, {. lie described her goodness and
hat beauty with impassioned langn!a
cot. and then asked the consent OF
on Judge to make her his wife, when
the law studies were completed: lhe'
> raised his eyes to his fathers face
dee an affirmative answer, which he &c
, 10 " hoped he should read there.
,era =" Never, Ralph Thornton nev'
ish. broke from the pale lips Of the
ons Judge, as Ralph concluded his app
and springing to his feet, he q
ph; down On bis adopted son in s0we