The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-11-10

swinging, and green leaves rustling in the
fresh breeze, seemed to wave ma kindly
welcome with their long arms as II beckon.
ing me forward. saaN Z"
I needed little persuasion, another moment
and had elamhered over the low ratings
and was IN the park, half terrified at my own
temerity. did not choose the direction Of
the grand house, both because, In that direc-
ton, | was likely TO meet with Lendor or
some other of the household, aud because
should probably be observed by my
mother whose window looked out in that
direction. Esiisvs i2
| choose the opposite way and hastened
stealthly away towards the nearest clump Of
trees, behind whose friendly shade thought
/ should be most likely to escape observa-
tion. reached ii aud then felt safer could
now afford 10 lock around me with less Of
that thick beating Of the heart, and those
quick frightened glances I had cast around
me nt first.
As saw no one still, any where around
| began to breathe freer, my spirits rose, and
gave myself up 70 the thorough enjoyment
Of my sscspads. With what q dslirhtful
sense Of exultant freedom did I wander on
through the noble groves Of oak and beech
with which the park was studded, crossing
now the snnny glsam Of the green sward,
and now through the dense cool shadows Of
the waving, whispering trees, on towards a
bright, binding, sheeny glitter now and
then visible, as | mounted q swelling un-
dulation OF broad sheet Of water IN the
distance. fy e4,
seemed running over with wild spirits
and exultAnt happiness as ! bounded mer
rily along, now stopping 10 admire q herd of
graceful deer, as they went springing down
one Of the woodland glsdes, now stopping to
gather the bright colored wild flowers that
bioolned at my feet. Now pausing to listen
to the song Of bird, and now to moisten
my lips little tinkliug riil that poured
It's thread Of silver down toward the lake,
half hidden in the grass and flowers.
| wandered on thus for what must have
been hours, for the sun was at its zenith be-
fore | stopped to consi'ler how fer had
gone & 'h
I seemed to have lost all count Of time,
and, as for the FIRST time, il occurred to me
how long had been gone, and | rememb bered
that my mother was not azrare Of nv ab-
senee and would feel uneasy and alarmed
if she could not find me in the garden, with
q feeling Of some self-reproach at the idea
Of her distress turned, conscience stricken,
and was about to retraee my steps towards
the cottage, when strange, unaccustomed
sound suddenly met my ear. listened and
could presently distinguish the deep bay Of
bounds upon the track of game Louder and
more distinct il grew, coming nearer and
nearer to me every minute.
Hardly knowing what is meant, / drew
back behind one of the thick clunps Of Low
underground, and waited. On came the
sound, and presently . nvble stag came full
in NEW dAshing up one of the gladee be-
fore me, it came b0uading on ut its utmost
speed, pessinA me 70 close that l could
almost have put out my hand and touched it.
lie laboring breath, large tiiIatsd, blood
shot eyes, open mouth, hanging tongue and
the white spots Of foam that Aecked its
glossy HAnk, showed how hard it had been
driven.
Scarcely fifty yards behi,d, came the
hounds in fall cry, every nerve and muscle
strained TO reach the aying quarry, every
eye-bau glowing with fierce brute eagerness
TO be the Hrst &C tear it down.
. Aad. .Row, flashing pssxssa IL trees. eame
the brigbt gleam Of scarlet and green, with
. confused vision Of flying skirts, tossing
feathers, and gslloping horses. Hsrdly had
caught . glimpss Of them, before the whole
eortsgs swept by--none Of them even MOTTO
ing my little figure as I slonk back from
observation behind the THICK mass Of bush
and thlcket. ga sa 1
A noble sight indeed il was. First came
some seven or eight gentlemen dressed in
full hunting costume-some abreast, others
coming on in string behind, and each
straining every nerye to get the lead, then a
knot Of ladies with tteir long skirts flying
far behind them, accompanied by several
other gentlemen.
Amongst these, with a sudden recognition
which thrilled through me like an electric
fash, recognized my fsther,s face. He was
riding by the side of q lady Of whose face
caught too hasty glimpse to see anything
long flowing golden hair.
He was leaning .ewards her with his hand
upon the bride Of her horse which seemed
unruly, and seemed to be addressing her.
could just catch the expression Of the bright
smiling face with which she heard him.
hated her from that moment
Il was q mere glimpse, like fyidg vision
and the whole party had passed by, as
swiftly ~ il hsd come, leaving me gazing
after 'thsm with feeling - IL IL had been
only dream. ! stood until the last of the
psRly had disappeared behind another clump
Of trees, and then turned to 70 homeward,
but with proud swelling or the heart and
q sensation of choking in the threat.
Tcould hardly. believe il possible thai my
father should have passed 50 close without
even noticing me He could look with such
eager devotion into her face, but did not
even glance in'my direction, snd besides, how
dare he look % at her when my mother---but
4 was too young to give my thoughts any,
debate form, bnt felt sense Of wrong and
injustice, although I could scarcely say in
what. 'se tiis7ra III. n ea- 4 ~ -'ssaT
Z l had not made many steps towards che
cottage when agsin heard the sound of
gallOping boots from the direction in which
the party had disappeared. supposed they
were returning, but this time made no at
tempt to hide myself stood firmly In the
open ground, with o feeling Of hatred and
defiance 10 than, all, toe strong to let me
shrink frc9 their approach again.
Twas resolved he should sse me this time
ct least.
A the sound came nearer, could r.,
however, chat ID wD only the gull GO
single berse, although BY the rapid soands,
IL seemed to be at the. top Of its speed
Preseatly, could see, through the tees, a
flying skirt, awaving plume and long ringiets
streaming beneath Ia the wind like cataract
Of gold. Il Was the lady again, returning
alone, but - ahs came closer could see that
is was not by her own free will. she had
evidently lost Ill control over her horse.
magnificent bsys with ears viciousl vi -
bach, and red eys-baIls, glaringlik bslIs. ef
Gre. Nearsr and nearer she came, Her
face was white q marble and a. rigid, her
large dilated' blue eyes were Sled with wild
terror, and. although hsr Aands still grsspesl
the reins, is wss only nsehanically. vsea.
Right in the course Of the furiogs, nm
manageable beast, was stream OF moderate
breadth, perhaps not more than twenty feet,
but whoas. ssssp bsnEs rose hirh And rocEy
on the opposits side, % 8 70 make 1 leap
npoA IL bsfslsnly ldsspsfkts; and 4it was