tales for fifteen-第13节

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out　one　minute　after　night〃so　saying；　he　urged　his
horses　to　a　fast　trot；　and　was　quite　us　good　as　his
word。　How　delicate　in　his　attentions；　and　yet　how
artfully　has　he　concealed　his　anxiety　on　my　account
under　a　feigned　desire　for　sleep；　thought　Julia。

If　any　thing　had　been　wanting　either　to　convince
Julia　of　the　truth　of　her　conjecture；　or　to　secure　the
conquest　of　Antonio；　our　heroine　felt　that　this　short
ride　had　abundantly　supplied　it。



CHAPTER　VI。

THE　following　day　our　travellers　were　on　the　road
before　the　sun；　and　busily　pursued　their　route
through　the　delightful　valley　of　the　Mohawk。　It　was
now　that　Julia；　in　some　measure　accustomed　to　her
proximity　to　her　hero；　began　to　enjoy　the　beauties
of　the　scenery；　her　eye　dwelt　with　rapture　on　each
opening　glimpse　that　they　caught　of　the　river；　and
took　in　its　gaze　meadows　of　never…failing　verdure；
which　were　beautifully　interspersed　with　elms　that
seemed　coeval　with　the　country　itself。　Occasionally
she　would　draw　the　attention　of　her　aunt　to　some
view　of　particular　interest；　and　if　her　eager　voice
caught　the　attention　of　Antonio；　and　he　turned　to
gaze；　to　ponder；　and　to　admirethen　Julia　felt
happy　indeed；　for　then　it　was　that　she　felt　the
indescribable　bliss　of　sharing　our　pleasures　with
those　we　love。　What　heart　of　sensibility　has　stood
and　coldly　gazed　on　a　scene　over　which　the　eye；
that　it　loves　to　admire；　is　roving　with　delight？　Who
is　there　that　has　yet　to　learn；　that　if　the　strongest
bond　to　love　is　propinquity；　so　is　its　tenderest　tie；
sympathy？　In　this　manner　did　our　lovely　heroine
pass　a　day　of　hitherto　untasted　bliss。　Antonio
would　frequently　stop　his　horses　on　the　summit　of
a　hill；　and　Julia　understood　the　motive；　turning　her
looks　in　the　direction　in　which　she　saw　the　eye　of
her　lover　bent；　she　would　sit　in　silent　and　secret
communion　with　his　feelings。　In　vain　Charles
endeavoured　to　catch　her　attentionhis　remarks
were　unnoticed；　and　his　simple　efforts　to　please
disregarded。　At　length；　as　they　advanced　towards
the　close　of　their　day's　ride；　Charles；　observing　a
mountain　obtruding　itself　directly　across　their　path；
and　meeting　the　river；　which　swept　with　great
velocity　around　its　base；　cried　aloud　with　a　laugh

〃Anthony；　I　wish　you　would　remove　your　nose！〃

〃Charles！〃　exclaimed　Julia；　shocked　at　his　rude
familiarities　with　a　man　of　Antonio's　elevated
character。

〃Poh！〃　said　the　young　man；　in　an　under　tone；
conceiving　her　surprise　to　be　occasioned　by　his
lowering　himself　to　joke　with　an　inferior；　〃he　is　a
good；　honest　fellow；　and　don't　mind　a　joke　at　all；　I
assure　you。〃

Charles　was　right；　for　Antonio；　moving　his　face；
with　a　laugh　cried　in　his　turn〃There；　sir；　my　nose
is　moved；　but　you　can't　see　no　better；　after　all。〃

Julia　was　amused　with　his　condescension；　which
she　thought　augured　perfect　good…nature　and
affability。　After　all；　thought　Julia；　if　noble　and
commanding　qualities　are　necessary　to　excite
admiration　or　to　command　respect；　familiar　virtues
induce　us　to　love　more　tenderly；　and　good　temper
is　absolutely　necessary　to　contribute　to　our
comfort。　On　the　whole；　she　was　rather　pleased　than
otherwise；　that　Antonio　could　receive　and　return
what　was　evidently　intended　for　a　witticism；
although　as　yet　she　did　not　comprehend　it。　But
Charles　did　not　leave　her　long　in　doubt。　On　the
north　side　of　the　Mohawk；　and　at　about　fifty　miles
from　its　mouth；　is　a　mountain　which；　as　we　have
already　said；　juts；　in　a　nearly　perpendicular
promontory；　into　the　bed　of　the　river；　its　inclination
is　sufficient　to　admit　of　its　receiving　the　name　of　a
nose。　Without　the　least　intention　of　alluding　to　our
hero；　the　early　settlers　had　affixed　the　name　of　St。
Anthony；　who　appears　to　have　been　a　kind　of　Dutch
deity　in　this　state；　and　to　have　monopolized　all　the
natural　noses　within　her　boundaries　to　himself。　The
vulgar　idiom　made　the　pronunciation　an…TONY's
noseand　all　this　Charles　briefly　explained　to　Miss
Emmerson　and　her　niece　by　way　of　giving　point　to
his　own　wit。　He　had　hardly　made　them　comprehend
the　full　brilliancy　and　beauty　of　his　application　of
the　mountain　to　their　driver；　when　they　reached　the
pass　itself。　The　road　was　barely　sufficient　to　suffer
two　carriages　to　move　by　each　other　without
touching；　being　from　necessity　dug　out　of　the　base
of　the　mountain；　a　precipice　of　many　feet　led　to　the
river；　which　was　high　and　turbulent　at　the　time；
there　was　no　railing　nor　any　protection　on　the　side
next　the　waterand　in　endeavouring　to　avoid　the
unprotected　side　of　the　road；　two　wagons　had　met
a　short　time　before；　and　one　of　them　lost　a　wheel
in　the　encounterits　owner　had　gone　to　a　distance
for　assistance；　leaving　the　vehicle　where　it　had
fallen。　The　horses　of　Antonio；　unaccustomed　to
such　a　sight；　were　with　some　difficulty　driven　by
the　loaded　wagon；　and　when　nearly　past　the　object；
took　a　sudden　fright　at　its　top；　which　was　flapping
in　the　wind。　All　the　skill　and　exertions　of　Antonio　to
prevent　their　backing　was　useless；　and　carriage　and
horses　would　inevitably　have　gone　off　the　bank
together；　had　not　Charles；　with　admirable　presence
of　mind；　opened　a　door；　and　springing　out；　placed　a
billet　of　wood；　which　had　been　used　as　a　base　for　a
lever　in　lifting　the　broken　wagon；　under　one　of　the
wheels。　This　checked　the　horses　until　Antonio　had
time　to　rally　them；　and；　by　using　the　whip　with
energy；　bring　them　into　the　road　again。　He　certainly
showed　great　dexterity　as　a　coachman。　But；
unhappily；　the　movement　of　Charles　had　been
misunderstood　by　Julia；　and；　throwing　open　the
door；　with　the　blindness　of　fear；　she　sprang　from
the　carriage　also：　it　was　on　the　side　next　the
water；　and　her　first　leap　was　over　the　bank；　the　hill
was　not　perpendicular；　but　too　steep　for　Julia　to
recover　her　balanceand　partly　running；　and　partly
falling；　the　unfortunate　girl　was　plunged　into　the
rapid　river。　Charles　heard　the　screams　of　Miss
Emmerson；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　dress　of
Julia　as　she　sprang　from　the　carriage。　He　ran　to　the
bank　just　in　time　to　see　her　fall　into　the　water。

｛St。　Anthony's　Nose　=　this　incident　probably
occurred　at　a　place　on　the　Mohawk　River　called
today　The　Noses；　between　Fonda　and　Palatine
Bridge；　there　is　another　St。　Anthony's　Nose　on　the
Hudson　River｝

〃Oh；　God！〃　he　cried；　〃Julia！my　Julia！〃and；　without
seeming　to　touch　the　earth；　he　flew　down　the　bank；
and　threw　himself　headlong　into　the　stream。　His
great　exertions　and　nervous　arms　soon　brought　him
alongside　of　Julia；　and；　happily　for　them　both；　an
eddy　in　the　waters　drew　them　to　the　land。　With
some　difficulty　Charles　was　enabled　to　reach　the
shore　with　his　burthen。

Julia　was　not　insensible；　nor　in　the　least　injured。
Her　aunt　was　soon　by　her　side；　and　folding　her　in
her　arms；　poured　out　her　feelings　in　a　torrent　of
tears。　Charles　would　not；　however；　suffer　any　delay；
or　expressions　of　gratitudebut；　forcing　both　aunt
and　niece　into　the　carriage；　bid　Anthony　drive
rapidly　to　a　tavern　known　to　be　at　no　great
distance。

On　their　arrival；　both　Julia　and　Charles　immediately
clad　themselves　in　dry　clotheswhen　Miss
Emmerson　commanded　the　presence　of　the　young
man　in　her　own　room。　On　entering；　Charles　found
Julia　sitting　by　a　fire；　a　thousand　times　handsomer；
if　possible；　than　ever。　Her　eyes　were　beaming　with
gratitude；　and　her　countenance　was　glowing　with
the　excitement　produced　by　the　danger　that　she
had　encountered。

〃Ah！　Charles；　my　dear　cousin；〃　cried　Julia；　rising　and
meeting　him　with　both　hands　extended；　〃I　owe　my
life　to　your　bravery　and　presence　of　mind。〃

〃And　mine　too；　Charles。〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　〃but
for　you；　we　should　have　all　gone　off　the　hill
together。〃

〃Yes；　if　Anthony　had　not　managed　the　horses
admirably；　you　might　have　gone　indeed；〃　said
Charles；　with　a　modest　wish　to　get　rid　of　their
praise。　But　this　was　an　unlucky　speech　for　Charles：
he　had；　unconsciously　presented　the　image　of　a
rival；　at　the　moment　that　he　hoped　he　filled　all　the
thoughts　of　Julia。

〃Ah；　Antonio！〃　she　cried；　〃poor　Antonio！and　where
is　he？Why　do　you　not　send　for　him；　dear　aunt？〃

〃What；　my　love；　into　my　bed…chamber！〃　said　Miss
Emmerson；　in　surprise；　〃fear　has　made　the　girl
crazy！But；　Charles；　where　is　Anthony？〃

〃In　the　stable；　with　the　horses；　I　believe；〃　said　the
youth〃no；　here　he　is；　under　the　window；　leading
them　to　the　pump。〃

〃Give　him　this　money；〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　〃and
tell　him　it　is　for　his　admirable　skill　in　saving　my
life。〃

Julia　saw　the　danger　of　an　exposure　if　she
interfered；　yet　she　had　the　curiosity　to　go　to　the
window；　and　see　how　Antonio　would　conduct　in　the
mortifying　dilemma。

〃Here；　Anthony；〃　said　Charles；　〃Miss　Emmerson　has
sent　you　ten　dollars；　for　driving　so　well；　and　saving
the　carriage。〃

〃Ah！　sir；　it　is　no　matterI　can　ask　nothing　for　that；
I'm　sure。〃

But　Charles；　accustomed　to　the　backwardness　of
the　common　Americans　to　receive　more　than　the
price　stipulated；　still　extended　his　hand　towards
the　man。　Julia　saw　his　embarrassment；　and
knowing　of　no　other　expedient　by　which　to　relieve
him；　said；　in　a　voice　of　persuasion

〃Take　it　for　my　sake；　Antonioif　it　be　unworthy　of
you；　still；　take　it；　to　oblige　me。〃

The　man　no　l