North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-02-04

F"' 'i-o GRANT, ana now long
would play the slave was leading me. would
you have risked SO much to gain so little
had loved John Hamilton dearly. trusted
him entirely, and now-it was all over. A
woman utterly destitute of heart or soul, a
beautiful incarnation Of coquetry and deceit
had won, without an effort, a love that was
nothing to her, but more than my life tn me
Even when felt more secure in the possess
ION OF 1t, and triumphantly thought, "You
may take him how, but you cannot keep him
he values my little finger more than a thous
ana ike you-and even then his heart was
suffering itself to be drawn away from me-
Aud then thought, if she were only noble,
and good-worthy the love of such man. |
could bear it better; but I-who had count
ed myself of SO little worth in his eyes. and
wondered, knowing that no rareness of beau
" could ever enchain him, what good he
had seen in me TO love-I felt myself to be.
In all womanly attributes, imeasurably her
superior.
Gradually my excited mood wore off, and
more peaceful thoughts took possession of nv
mind. was weary enough to be glad to sit
still, and calm enough to watch, with some
little pleasure, the snowy clouds chasing each
other over the blue vault abova, and their re-
hectlon crossing and recrossing the placid
stream winding through the valley at my
feet. My reveries were interrupted by the
tramp OF approaching horses A bend in the
road concealed them from my view, but the
soft rumblng of the carriage, and the even.
concerted footballs of the horses sounded un-
pleasantly familiar. 1t was too late to re-
treat further back among the tress; could
not conceal myself behind the slender trunk
OF the one on whose roots | sat and then
it might not be Jonn.
As | feared, it was John with flush on
his forehead, and light in his eve, whose
meaning could not guess. He sprsng from
the carriage and carne up to me, whip in hand,
and with a resolute air.
Magg e. said he, {" are you ready to 90
home with me think YOU have admired
this charming landscape long enough not.
you shall come again tomorrow. PERHAPS
you have been skeiching ? No? Well. East
man saw you here two hours ago, and report-
ed your safety TO your mother. and also To
your humble servant, who, with disheveled d
halr and streaming eyes, had vainIy sought
for you in every confectionery shop, fancy
store, and dry goods emporium in town.
Come, Maggie, Your mother was really alarm
ed about you, and charged me not to return
without you"
Thank you very kindly, certainly will
20 with you," replied, somewhat haughtly ;
and then added, Dear mother she is one
of the few people in the world who are not
always thinking Of themselves
l would not permit him to fold my shawl
around me when arose-an evidence Of i'll
feeling toward himself which he noticed bv
most provoking little shrug of the shoul,
ders. In our peaceful days, it had been one
Of my greatest pleasures to allow him to do
many things for me, which | could do a
great 6eal better for myself, and this was
one. Like many another awkward man, he
could not wrap the lightest ofshawls around
me, without pulling my hair down to one
side or the other, and pushing my collar up
against my face But what were collar dis
arranged, and struggling hair, to the delight
ofbeing served by such man, in such a
gentle way?
John" said 7, after we were adjusted in
the carriage sufficiently far apart to accord
with my new p-acqured idea Of propriety
{" | should not 60 back with you if mamma
had not sent for me. | regret very much
that she should have asked you to perform
such disagreeabe task said this with
all the dignity the occasion seemed to me tC
demand, and had the satisfaction of hearing
John laugh at it most heartily.
Your mother did not exactly send me
that is, heard Eastman say you were here
and asked if might come for you. 1t de
pends entirely upon yourself whether OF not
it prove disagreea5le task. Let me look
in your eyes and can very soon tell" peer.
ing around in my averted face. " Great
pleasure" he uttered in a proyokingly sar-
castle way.
"Jobn," said I, with an irrepressabe burst
of grief, why do you wish to make me any
more miserable ? You know you don't love
me %
"My dear little Maggie, have not sad
that did love you! But do, though, sens
IDLY and visbly love you; better than my
pet meershaum, better than-every thing ii
the world except Brave. The only reason
that love you less than Brave, is, because
he does not get angry and rush off to the pl
ny fortressess Of Sunmit View, when speal
to another dog"
" He would if he had heart like mine,
1 replied. between cry and laugh.
L" Yes, no doubt, but he has not, for which