The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-02
ny MISS AMANDA n. HALE.


of her, aud then come home, and
spend an hour in her society and I'm
as great a fool as ever. She's so
sweet, so good
THE poor fellow stopped.
$50 she is, cried my Barbara
is as good as gold, and no man shall
have her unless he be worthy Of her,
though he were princes son. Take
heart, Rich9rd Love can wait
so / eomforted him. But | had
small hope. | didn't see the light
in Barbara's eyes for nothing. her
cheeks did not glow so for a slight
cause. The girl was tasting the de-
light of loves young dream.
Well, the days went, and the pic
mic came of, and Barbara was the
beauty AID the belle, and the Saxous
made much of her, and Harry Dart
mouth followed her about as if he
was bewitched.
Did 1 tell you anything about
this young man, sir? 1t was little
tSat l knew, only that nc was friend
Of the Saxons. Mr.. Saxon was the
great mill owner, aud the owner Ct
half the land along the river.
This Dartmouth was young Eng
lishman, who had something to do
with putting IN the machinery of the
great new mill Mr.. Saxon had lately
built. Mr.. Dartmouth used to ride
about the country on smart, black
horse, and indeed, sir, be did look
like q knight of the old time, with
his tail, splenGid figure, and his easy
seat aud noble bearing. don't
wonder my poor childs eyes we're
dazzled. l never blamed her even
NWH,k
is q girl TO do when a strong will
holds her. aud her senses are capti-
waited, and her soul mastered, and her
conqueror is her lover?
Pretty soon Mr.. Dartmouth got
in the way Of calling as he went by,
and he used 10 ask me for flower
for his button-hole with the air of a
prince suing for favor, and he was
always so debonair and gallant that
/ was won in spite Of myself. Bar
ha.a would stand By blushing and
dimpling, and If said a word in bis
praise after lie was gone. she would
beam all over with delight.
"By-and-by Mr.. Dartmouth came
oftener and staid longer. Richard
kept out of the way. All, it was
sore time for me! One of my child
rem must be mistaken, and | must
look on and see it'll, who would
almost have died to save either Of
them pain.
At last father woke up to It. He
is a good tempered man, Mr.. Paul,
but you know your good tempered
people are often fearful when reused.
/ told him DO man would dare come
near our innocent Barbara with any
thought of harm, bat father sgore he
would ask young Dartmouth out aud
out, and see what his intentions we're,
and he did.
"tW We're poor. plain folks, but
we're honest folks, said he, and my
little girl is the apple of my eye. I'll
have no man coming here who doesn't
mean her fair, if he were an emperor's
son.
"Mr. Dartmouth colored up an
grily, and think would have made
some sharp answer if he hadn't hap
pened to look around and meet Bar
bara's eyes. The poor grl was all
bushes and tears. tie softened
down and said he should be brute
indeed to mean her any harm, and
that he should think himself happy
man indeed if he could have for
wife such girl as our Barbara.
Twas an artlul speech, thought
then, but father was satisfied, aud l
was ashamed of my suspicious.
well, Mr.. Dartmouth. said
father, did hope to keep Barbara
at home, but / wont grudge her to
any honest man ii she loves him.
And so they shook hands, and
the black looks cleared away from
Mr.. Dartmouth's face, aud Barbara
shone out like the sun through mists,
and we all grew merry again, only his
mother heart was heavy for Richard.
But God has his ways, you know,
sir I'd seen my plans come to
naught too many times to rebel now,
and tried to be content.
Sc the summer went aud Barbara
was wonderfully happy. She grew
so beautiful, too, and as the Autumn
duws came on a new change came.
had always thought l could sec way
down 40 her soul, but now she shut
it up from me, and / could not SC
much as guess what was there. She
would sit IN reverie for hours with
the look Of heaven on her face. L
was sweet, it was beautiful, but | die
not understand it. D, it is strange
to see these young souls striking GU
alone and living where we canno
follow them. / said nothing, but sh,
know | watched her wistfully, anC
sometimes she would rise suddenly
and come and throw her arms around
nv neck, and press her cheek L
mine in a passion of tenderness, anC
| would hold her to my heart and crl
over her bright, young head.
"One evening late In October, w
were sitting around the kitchen fire
Mr.. Dartmouth was gone away for {
week on business, an Barbara sa
thinking of him, am sure, for sh
often went to the window and looked
out into the wet night and once sh
said:
II do hope Harry isn't out in tn
storm
lily, you worry as if you was his wife
Worrying isn't for girls, dearie.
When Barbara came back to tn
fire l noticed that her cheeks wer
crimson.
Just then there was rap at til
back door. Father took candle an
went to it.
=. Let YOU IN l heard him say
presently. TO be sure we will. w
don't turn anybody away from thes
doors on such a night at this.
Something dark stepped into tn
doorway and got up curlously.
&C Come right up to the ire, san
father.
II looked and saw that it was
woman wrapped in long black cloal
aud as she came up and let the gal