The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-15

ner, she suddenly faced me. and sait
"Now, sir, you will be pleased to te
me who you are, where you came fro n
and why you came here!"
Taking her hand in mine, and muI
muring, "I am your devoted slave, an
1 came all the way from New YorI
only to see you," 1 followed her int
the fruit garden, the iron gate closin!
slowly behind with dull, cruel sound
CHOW for the gooseberries," said tn
lady. 81 know the finest bushes, ant
if you are really my devoted slave yol
will not mind picking me some; but
for heavens SAKE" she added, with ,
sudden shiver, stake care and do no
prick yourself"
Now I cannot say 1 have ever fell
we'll disposed tcwards the gooseberry
Lconsider it vulgar fruit, and +xSne
of my associations connected with il
are of plcasurable description.
From my earliest infancy I was told
that my grandfather had played cold
gooseberry" with the family estates; an
interesting hoyden of thirteen more
than once informed me that my eyes
closely resembled that fruit when boil
ed; and 1 have never met my friend in
society, sailing under false colors in a
thin disguise of tin foil. wire, efferves.
cence, and ice, that have not said to
myself, in the words of Mr.. Whittier
ley to his wife when she was enjoying
the too exhausting society of the upper
ten:
'You will suffer for this to morrow"
Therefore do l loathe the gooseberry,
even when plucked and prepared on
the dining table; but, oh dear, 20 pick
them yourself by moonlight, to bend
your blck, to soil the knees of your
troSsers, prick your fingers with the
'venomous thorns, feel their sickly con.
tents bursting in the wrong place and
oozing out over your snowy wristbands!
this is an amount of downright misery
for which the fruit has no compensa-
ton. But for that violet eyed vision in
Grape and lilies, what would not. have
gone through So, drawing off my
gloves and taking a small pen knife
from my pocket, knelt down beside
the bushes and began picking the
plump ripe berries and giving them to
my fair enslaver, with much satisfac
ton.
l plucked and cut, she ate, the mo
notony of the proceedings being reliev
ed by some delicious pauses, in Which
our eyes and hands would meet, and
our hearts thrill with mutual sympathy
In my entranced state L forgot the
young iady's caution, and gathered the
fruit heedlessly enough.
"Deuce take the things !" exclaim
ed, as the sharpest of pointed blades
stuck deep into my finger; and thinking
we had had enough Of gooseberry pick
ing for the present rose from my la
bors and gave the last few L gathered
to my companion, who was standing
against small fruit tree by my side
In doing so, drop of blood fell from
my cut finger On the little white hand
held out to receive my offering.
The moon was shining more brightly
than ever, and lit up the whole scene
with the clearness of day. The glrl
cast her eyes to her hand, and marked
the crimson stain glistening there in
the mellow light.
Good God What is it? Why did
my blood suddenly freeze within me?
What was this awful terror which was
taking possession of me? Why did her
eyes change and her mouth loose its
lovely expression in those fierce, unnat-
ural lines !? Why is her small hand rig
id with rage as she points to the hate
full stain | know and feel nothing but
a frantic wish to run-to run from this
awful spectre, standirgin in the moonlight
by the dark green apple tree. l sec
the froth seething through the pale lips,
the wild roll of the fierce eyes, tie liv-
id pallor of the fair cheeks. l b ear her
shrill scream of triumph as she secs
ard seizes the small knife gliltering on
the ground, where 1 had dropped it,
and with superna' ural will lift my
feet, which seemed rooted to the earth,
and run-run for dear life. ] hear
still ringing on my ear that fearful
burst of unnatural, dreary !aug ghter,
bubb'ing from her lips the sharp hys-
terical animal like cry of ,'Blood !!
Blood ]" and the swift light steps
Of pursuit. ! know not which way
to turn, when I suddenly think of tbs
gate, and rush in that direction. /
hear her steps gaining rapidly upon me;
1 feel her hot breath upon my neck as
I turn the corner and see the gate at
the end of tie walk. 1 fly like the
wind. Shall l reach the gate in time?
1t nay be locked, l think. No, mercy!
it is ajar. I am just through when
with savage yell and cat-like spring
she is upon me.
1 feel her iron grasp upon my throat,
and my heart stands still with terror
A passing cloud had obscured the moon,
aud now felt more than saw the ghost
ly shimmering of her white dress, the
faint, distorted outlines of her terrible
face, and the convulsive strainin rs of
her frame. 1 think of the ,knife-nay,
feel its sharp point touching, wounding'
my cheek. With sudden, desperate eff
fort shook off the paralysis of terror
which is freezing my blood to ice, and
with all the strength 1 am master of,
wrench myself free from her murder
Gus grasp, and, seizing her wrists, fling
her violently. savagely from me. She
falls. 1t is no time for qualms and I
rush on, bleeding and breathless.
through the gate, up the walk, over
lawn and fower bed, straight to the
open window of the ball room. AS 1
reach the terrace [ hear the gate open
and my pursuer's rapid footsteps on the
gravel path. have only time to wrap
my handkerchief around my bleeding