Smyrna times., 1871-08-09
MiSceIIu2 n e o us.
Maud.
A MINERS MEMORY.

that morning, and looking up into my face q
with her sweet blue eyes, her cheeks lust ting |
ed with the hue of the rose, and her hair es- q
Gaping from her straw hat, to fall in golden 7
shower around her shoulders!
Before us lay the wide meadow, spangled t
here and there with groups of many-colOred
flowers, fragrant as well as beautiful, for the
light spring breeze that crept over them came
to US heavy with perfume. In the distance,
the blue river bounded the view and from the
elm tree that stood near at hand, though just
outside the gate, we could hear the merry
warbIing of birds, or see them outlined against
the blue sky, as they circled through the air
above our heads.
All had almost forgotten that seventeen
years have passed away since that morning
that ain sitting alone in this rude cabin, list
eDing to the roaring of the wind among
the pines on the ridge, and watching the white |
lines Of snow-fakes drifting in through the |
crevices of the door; and had nearly fancied |
that was still young as on that tated morning. |
with all the bright visions OF hope and love
still floating before me!
! We wandered on towards the river, gather |
| ing the wild flowers that stood in our path,
and whispering the cOmmonplaces which be-
| come so tull of strange delight when uttered
| by the lips OF lovers. AS we neared the river,
Maud grasped my arm, and felt her shudder
" Look there!' she exclaimed, pointing in
the direction Of the stream, there is Gerald y
Gerald Vane was my unsuccessful rival. He
was dark, handsome young man, concerning
whose origin many stories were circulating Ill
the neighborhood. 1t was generally thought
that he had Spanish blood in his veins; but
his father was at all events an Englishman,
WI had settled in the vicinity, and acquired
a large property, which he left at his death to
Gerald who was consequently very rich.
} Gerald had fallen deeply in love with Maud,
, and tor a time followed her like a shadow.
She had never manifested any feeling for him
other than that of aversion, but he persevercd
in his suit, notwithstanding his frequent re-
pulses. 1t was not until she had plighted her
faith to me, and the fact became generally
know, that he ceased to perSecute her with
his addresses. OF late he had avoided US
!, both, and it was frequently remarked that, al
though naturally Of sullen, morose tempera-
: ment he was growing more aud more so every
day.
> Maud had always feared him, even before
!, our engagement and since that event this
feeling had evidently gained in strength. She
l. feared him, not for herself but for me, think
>, ing from her knowledge of his gloomy, vindic-
:, tive disposition that he would certainly at
tempt to be revenged upon the one he might
a consider had thwarted his hopes.
T. pressed her arm encouragingly, and looked
:, in her eyes with smile of tenderness mingled
|. fears. Gerald looked up at our approach will
in "a remarkable thing for him-a smile upoI
Of his face.
as Good morning, Werner! Are you anC
Maud of for row on the river this beautiful
., day2y'
81 "Well, [ shall see you again, l suppose,
D. he rejolnd, leaping into his boat and Showing
IF. off. AS he did so we saw that he had his fow
oil in
of sport among the woods on the opposite ban
of the river
nd We were soon launched in another boat an
=" gliding over the clear stream. For nearly a
hour we passed the time in happy silence, no
pulling against the slow, smooth current, an
now drifting IDLY with its impulse along th
banks carpeted with flowers of various hue
SO and shaded by venerable oaks that in place
Ter hung their knotty arms low in the water.
''' | thought had never seen Maud lookin
nm more lovely than at that moment, but theI
A was a sadness upon her face which all n
efforts were vain to dispel. Some presentme
of evil seemed to have taken possession of h
mind, and was reflected in her face. Well hf
,m. it been for US, had we yielded to the myst
her rious influences which seemed prompting us
lor return, and forego for that day at least o.
lhn customary amusement!
mu a'a Awakening from a reverie into which '
am had mutually fallen, we found that we hi
and been drifting with the current so long as
yer have neared insensibly a spot known to all
pc the neighborhood as the Falls. There Il
ors' stream, which, though wide and apparent
ali deep, had no great volume of water, fell ov
i've perpendicular wall Of rock, from height
I'd nearly twenty feet spreading out below into
for wide, smooth and very deep pool.
u 10 1t was tavorlte amusement, with those d
posed to be venturesome among the you
> people, when boating on the river, to let th'
lbfs boats drift down with the stream to the c
,ore treme point on the verge of the Falls frC
ldy which it was possible to return in safe
:, or There was not SO much peril in this as mig
ark; lave been supposed, as the current ran vt
anu anu slowly and perfectly unbroken, to within f
a0d feet of the point of descent, and skiful bo
man had but little difficulty in returning ev
from the very verge.
Maud was little disposed for such an und
taking, and Heaven knows | should have be
,um more careful with my precious freight /
IN | anticipated no danger, and thought the
the citement might have a wholesome effect
vOus eleyating our heretofore strangely depres
lnGl- Sn spirits.
:, In Pulling the boat into the centre of
fleet stream, l allowed it to drift, in the usual IN
q no ner. toward the Falls.
Up to this time we had seen nothing
from Gerald. As before said, he had landed on
,,oo, wooded side of the river, and had probably,
ioos, this time, wandered some distance in search
the game His boat lay moored among the re
ng at at distance of only a few yards, but no 81
of life were visible.
3 sys: In silence we drifted toward the Fa
CO 20 Twice urged the boat, with few power
tamp strokes, away from Vlclnl!y Whch was
York coming dangerous, and third time return
The last time, disregarding Mauds evid
terror, | ventured further than before.
coo know not what strange perversity of mood
d sell 49, tLorsondfold dearor 70 me tIon INV n
Gov Tne e o 80 ~ tbot ,noront on ;navnIo.
ouoS' ",unS fascination in thus trifing with immn
CO. danger. While Maud's eyes were fixed on
impIoringly, her hands clasped, and ey