The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-28
North River, with fair wind, glidcd
hoo ,,f f.r1lr- fo~rnvl A.


North River, with fair wind, glide
beautifully out toward the bay.
On the quarterback of the yacl
5 were grouped in picturesque and mi
tually agreeable attitudes about twer
, ty young ladies and gentlemen, whil
, in the bows charming band mad
the air melodious; and amidships
! heterogeneous gathering of win,
hampers of provisions, and boxes q
cigars promised even more than 'feas
of reason and o flow of soul :" an
seated on an afghan, and leaning owe
the side of the yacht in friendlies
communion, were Mr.. John Rutledg
and that wickcdest of young coquette
Mise Lille Gordon.
| 1t is not the design of the presen
writer to c0nd0ne Miss Lilies faul
in thus comforting herself during tn
absence of her lover from her side
but we may privately state that tina
young lady had been seriously dis
pleased at the GOODNESS of Mr.. Hart
ley's manner in the matter of break
ing engagements ON several occasions
and had chosen this method designed
ly with the hope of bringing him t.
book, and indicating to him path fo
his future pursuit more congenial t.
her own feelings. Add to this tn,
fact, known to this writer, that Mr.
John Rutledge had by his good con
duct, taken position in Miss Lillie'
esteem of no trifing Importance, al
though she herself was hardly aware
of it, and there are but few of oul
young lady readers who will not bt
able to find excuse for her-particu
larly when they have read the re
mainder of this story.
The day was full of the beauty ofear
lyautumn. The clear blue sky framed
in the feecy cloud pictures the soft
and tender sunlight cleaned silvery
and bright upon the pure white sails
the great city, with it's hundred stee.
pies, faded away in the distance
Staten Island and its pleasant home.
stcads delighted the eye; and sc
down the Kills the "Fairy" fioatcd
swiftly and gracefully toward the
spot which was to be the scene oi
their afternoon merry y-makfng.
A couple of hours sail brought the
yacht in front of dense grove of old
forest trees; and there, hauling in to
the bank, the anchor was thrown
over, the sails came Gathering down
on the deck, and the party disem-
barkcd, full of glee, and making the
ancient grove rcsOund with laughter
and with song. Seated under the
brave trees, while the fresh western
wind trembled musically among the
branches, and the many-hued leaves
came fluttering down into their laps,
they discussed wine and viands, drank
toasts and sang songs, and were as
merry and happy as could be reason
ably expected. John Rutledge gave
himself up with dear delight to the
generous pleasure of the passing mo-
ments; and if ut times the black WIS.,
ion of their flcctingncss came to dis
turb him, he put it aside, and dwelt
only on the blissful present, consider
ing not that this must doubtless be
the last occasion when he could thus
TRANQUILITY enjoy to its fullncss the
charm that the graceful girl so subtIy
threw about him.
A loud whistle, apparently pro-
cccding from a locomotive, at length
startled the air, and caused one of fhe
young ladies to ask what it was. The
answer was simple enOugh-that it
was the eugine on a railroad only q
mile back of the grove.
"And does that road 90 10 the
city?' asked the inqdisitive young
lady aforesaid. ~
at goes to Jersey City" was the
reply.
And conversation and song and
laughter went on, none dreaming of
how much importance to two of the
party were those simple questions and
answers.
After while the party separated
into couples as is the custom for such
occasions made and provided; and
John and Lille, like the rest, strolled
away by themselves.
Now whether it was Lilies re-
markable good spirit, or the Juice of
the grape that completely DESTROYED
Mr.. Rutledge's self-possessiOn, it is
difficult to say; but certain it is that
that young man took advantage of
the occasion, and the comparative Sc
clusiOn afforded them in their stroll,
to make, in the most unmistakable and
unwarrantable mann er, a declaration
of love to lis fair companion and as
if his passion, which had been SO long
bottled up, rejOiced at its escape from
bondage, he poured forth the widest
rhapsodies OH his love for her, COM
pletcly ignoring the existence and
prior claims of the absent one-a
course of conduct which could not
fail to impress unfavorably the we'll
regulated mind of the one to whom
his words were addressed. a
AT first, unable to stem the torrent
of his passionate language, Lille stood
silent and amazed, or apparently SO !;
but at length, when he paused to take
breath, and for moment gave her an
opportunity, she did not hesitate in
her reception of this unexpected on
slaught. Stamping her pretty foot
upon the dead leaves beneath her, she
said passionately:
"Mr. Rutlegc, am ashame / of you,
to take advantage of my kindness to
you, when you know that | am ell
gagged to another! would not have
believed it of you. Now, sir, you
can so back to the party, and say
am going home by the train. Ill not
Rcak to you again-never.'
And SO saying, she turned from his
side, and hurried off in the direction
of whence she had heard the sound of
the whistle. Rutledge ran after her
few steps, called to her, begging her
to forgive him, and then, as she con-
tinued rapidly on her course, returned
to the yacht, intending to tell their
friends that Miss Gordon had con-
cludcd to return by the train, and
that he should accompany her. And
with that design we will leave him
for the present.
Lille hurried on prccipitately, lit
tic needing the nature nf the course
she was following, or the many OBJ
stacles of root, rock, and dead limb
that obstructcd her way, SO fully was
her mind absorbed with the occur
renee of the preceding moments.
While her face burned, and varie-
ty of sensations, Occasioned by the
mad advances of poor Jchn Rutledge,
troubled her mind, she thought little
of her surroundings, and was only re-
called to hcrsclf-tO lose herself more
completely at the same time-by sud-
denly tripping over tangled root
au6 heiuU nlunOed hcod fOromost into