The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-05-24

try to persuade. for when you say
thing you mean Il. But, by the By
what time DO you leave p 's-fl-,-s'-
I EARLY inlthe meraing.,, & ats
!, Wei, if that is the ease, I will tax
leave Of you no~. for ] have an en-
1gagemens With CumbeFton this even
ling. So4good Bye old boy. Tak,
good cate Of yourself and write often.
I The next morning bright and earl,
Dick Brent gathered his traps tegeth
/ er and was soon whirfing aHsy far be
tydnd the crowd and confasior, amon,
Igreen fields and dark woods, tina
lwere Lie here and thers by the brigh
Trays Of the sun that fell thfodgh th,
tthick foliage, and made fragrant b,
/ the many hued aowers shat dottet
the rnussy turf aud taking soat q CT
tgar, Dick Buenf lay back in his sea
and smoked, and enjoyed il all thor
oughly. ys. ,.-a
How natural said he, rs the car
rattled up In the little village of Ingle
side mot . thing changed. not ever
this little hotel said be . few hour,
later, ~ he ascended the marrow stair
way and entered his room. dove,
can almost imagine I am boy again
Would to heaven that were,' said he
softly to himself, as he sat down BY
the window and gazed out on tbs
moonlit street below. 'Ah, would
give 50 much could ] bnt retrace my
footsteps, and stand here M pttrs in
heart and principle rs / stood here by
my mothers side fifteen years ago.
How proud she was of me then, and
what good things 1 had laid out to do
for her In the future. All, am glad
she can never know what q wreck her
boy has made of himself .
And bowling his head on his hands
he felt as If he could have wept bitter
tears Of regret and remorsefor his vast
ed life. ..H .-- s~ ~
Was he q poor, dissipated wretch p
Not at all but an American after
our best types; handsome, wealthy
aud educated, while travel, and .ocie-
| ty had given him that polish and re-
fnement that only such things can
But he was idle, aimiess, without any
purpose in life, drifting along with
the common herd, partaking of their
vices, mingling in their scenes of de-
bauchefy, until his whole nature had
become weakened and distorted by it.
All, it is o bitter thing to stand thus
face to face with ones own soul and
know it to be worthy OF something so
much higher and better, and yet find
it merely o charnel mouse, filed With
the graves Of high asperations and
bright dreams of the long ago.
I say, Mr.. White said Dick Brent
to his host the next morning at break
fast, is game very abundant around
these parts !?
Yes, sir, very.
4 have a notion to take hunt to-
WELL. / think it would pay you.'
What direction would you advise
me to take?'
oh, I would. go out to Haley's
Woods. That's right east from here,
sir
Half an hour later, Dick Brent,
with gun over his shoulder, and q
dog by his side,- he started on his hunt
How grand = said he, as he entered
a small grove where the dew drops
hung glittering like diamonds on every
twig, while the air was jubilant with
the songs of birds. How grand 7 he
repeated again. One hour Of this is
worth fifty oe Saratoga. Hallol what
is this p said be rs ne sat down on q
log and picked up a small volume
bound in blue and gold. "A Bible, as
sure as ] live! And this q dainty
lace handkerchief, with faint odor Of
violets still lingering about it. But
my life these don't belong to any of
the country maidens. Bnt let's see |;
perhaps the owners nanpe is somewhere
about them. Yes, here 10 Edith, very
delicately embroidered in the corner Of
the handkerchief, and Edith written
on the fy leaf of the book. Well,
fair Edith, Il, shall keep them although
it isn't likely ! shall use either
So, putting them in his pocket, once
more he started on his way. Game
proved to be very plenty, and he re-
turned at night quite slated with his
success.
And do you like the country as
when ron were boy ? said Mr.. White
as Dick threw down his game in the
Kitchen.
i ike It 80 we'll that I have made
up my mind to stay with you for some
time to come
4 wish you would make up your
mind to marry a blooming country
girl, and settle down hero for life
'Oh, I should be quite dead in 81
year. The monotony, If nothing else,
would kill ME. Aud as for country
girls, never did like them. You see
I say wha: I think, but I mean no
harm. Don't get angry.
oh, no; we will not quarrel.
;'Confound it ? said Dick Brent, the
next morning. when he looked out of
the window, it's raining. and if there
is anything that do hate, it is q rainy
day in the country. I'd like to know
what fellow is going to do with him |
SELF .... . .... -
oh, don't look so dismal said his
host, as he came down the stairs; 4
Brent, If your face isn't q |
fac sinsi1e Of the sky, Come, cheer
up; We won't always have rain
Just give me something to help
pass away tbs time. ahd III cheer upf
lmmediately.'
That is just what I was thinking Of
There is a young lady friend of ours
visiting us, and she is from your own
. country girl, you see. So
Il you have no objections I will intro
3uce you. .- ... - /
None in the least said Dick.