Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-11-15
4aiIg empire.
THE OLD MILL.
GooScLUpEp.1

Tor tho urbt uMo IN my NV hetluuniJ NhVubnt !
of the idea OF choosing y companion TO with |
me admire the romance of nature. |
"Yes," said |, ''she could not have come
here unless tempted by the same fancy, and Il
the germ budding 40 young has been caltivat
ed, she must be all could immagine, both
in body and soul"
But the whole world spread out before me,
and with il vista of uncounted years, while
how many times might the fancied "a. d.
have become A, ANY Of the twenty-six
letters OF the alphabet, yea, and the u be-
aides. And was no longer q resident ofthS
country, and ahs might be abroad.
The meditation was well nigh distracting,
and the moments Of sleep that night were
but snAtehes.ofi Wild song and fairy nymphS
Just sluding my gaze and grasp by the foam
ing spray. To free myself Of the effect the
mad ness had Produced quickened my de-
parture to contemplated tour among the
northern hills and lakes The long absence
from these scenes had new charu TO me, or
else the interruption OF my peace OF mind had
suddenly made me moro appreciatiye, l pass
ed a week at fine hotel which had grown
up on the shores of Willoughby Lake, which
was now favorite ressrt
NV unsettled fancy led me 10 long Wander
ings among the forest shores and by the new
found pastures, in search of n wild flower or
strawberry One afternoon l came upon q
party of ladies' wreAthing gArauds for
couple Of bright little glrls, the very ems
bodiment of lovliness and health, aud
placing them upon their summer hats, the
party strolled down 10 the lake 70 watch the
white -lringsd waves ns they layed the shin-
ing sand .,
I had not needed the ladies', none could be
beautiful nor charming TO me but "a. b. but
a sudden remark caught my ear, "How sim
suIar itis, Annie, thatwe never had trace
OF your loat hat"
i i hardly understood tho words at first nor
did catch the reply, but looked up, startled
with a pang Of despair, as had no doubt from
1.-The appearance of the group that one lady was
1.-The mother of the children, and the other an
aunt or grandmother / however caught a
lhasty glance at the features OF the mother
and beheld all my fancy ideal with but a
bearing Of still greater loveliness and grace
than my lowered inauguration ever had PIC
tured.
"Counfound the fortune calculated, and
turned away 10 the hotel to consnlt the record,
But nothing satisfactory was gained. Mr..
and Mra. Bigelow were there, and numerous
other B'h, but no "a. h., although ! wRe
satisfied that "Annie" was the real "A. B.
p | cared not to learn further OF my fate, and
came near quitting on tho early stage for the
Queens dominions, when the landlord accosi
ed me and asked # l would not make party
upon the lake; another gentleman was wanted
and tho ladies had proposed you. | consent
c ed, WAS presented to the good nRtured com
pany, but forgot tho name in my thoughtleas.
p ness uutil every indication Of attention on heI
part, aud frequent rsllery OF my melancholy
nrovod TO my satisfaction that she Sas not th,
mother Of the two lovely children had seer
her in company with.
The boating party returned, and with II mi
drooping spirits, while the acquaintance beguI
ripensd into admiration. The rambles wer'
frequent and the wreaths of wild flowers ofte,
4 suggested subject which could not sum
e mon courage enough TO touch upon On
day wheu her nat received . lew howers o
my culling, /, while stopping TO pluck
) aower and with my face turned away, muster
> ed sufficient courage 10 say that heard he
once remark thR. she had lost q bat decke'
with aowerA ao.13
UYes,", she replied, ~ lost my traveliu
4. ba, once when was little girl, and woul
Give INV heart TO know who found it"
"Whyl' suggaated !, muslng, and learne
that thers was some mystery which she con
cealed with plAyfulness
az lound the hat said | as We sat dow
upon q knoll, shaded by an over>hanga
maple. "And | will take the heart"
lyon, Mr.. SMITH said she, 10 AuFpris'
/. you found my hat by that beautiful water
fall3'
Tdis, Miss Aunis, and lost ny h'Ar;"
There followed no surprise nor eIelAmAtio
Al NV lnst remark, but her hand unconscious 81
dropped upon mine save both at the sam
moment asked how Il came abouR As
OWNED, she had thong htlessly atrHyed ava
from the spot where the hat WAS left until TO
a, near night and too far away 10 return for I
Uron RETURNING with . companion the neI
morning, the hat was not to be found, b'
instead the inscription As / had made IT, Sh
added the playful suggestion, and rsIurns
harboring the same curiosity a. had don
The hat had been carefully kept As bache
or relic, slowed in my garrsl, but 1t has ain'
Of been pulled ont and embOdies 20 two hapE
hearts bright page Of childhood. We hay
both since visited the fall and the mill ruin
where somebody has added 10 the former II
q acription;
~@~4---
AL Rents have gone up ieArfully in Nashvill
Tannesaee. HouAes formerly let for three Al
four hundred dollars have increased 10
many Thousands. Dwellings OF every kin
're which eau be purchased at roasonable rate
u. bring the most exorbitAnt rents, store-hous
,rs on the principal streets rival the prices pa
on broadway, New York and Chestnut stree
.Ie se Philadelphia. On the other hand, we nol''
that rents In Richmond have gone down
o. rapidly "a they rose, Az an instance, Il
mentioned that the rent OF the Spottswo,
Uonsa Laa hean reduced from &c 900 TO u