Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-01-26

play would be one of peculiar embarrass-
ment.
At last the evening came. We had
never shrunk from going alone into any
company before. But now we felt that it
was necessary to be sustained from with
out; and such sustentation we sought in
the company Of the good-natured, selfcom-
posed bachelor Of the village, who went
anywhere and everywhere freely and with
out apparent emotion
YOU'RE going to Amy Willing's quilt
ing ? said we to L, on the day before
the party.
Certainly was his reply.
'NllI you wait until we call for you q
'Oh yes was as good-naturedly an
swered.
SO much gained thought we, when
alone.
In the shadow of his presence we would
be able to make our debut with little en-
barrassment. What would we not have
then given for LIS self-possession and
easy confidence!
W hen the time came we called, as had
been arranged, upon L. To our sur
prise we found no less than four others. as
bashlul as we, waiting his convoy. L.
very good-hum0redly-he never did an
lll-natured thing in his life-assumed
the escort and we all set off for the cottage
of Mrs. illing. How the rest felt, we
know not, but as for our own heart it
throbbed slower and heavier at each step.
until by the time the cottage was reached,
the pulses in our ears were beating audi
bly,. We could not understand this. 1t
had never been so before.
The sun still fingered above the horizon
when we came in sight of the cottage
fashionable hours were earlier then than
now. On arriving at the door, L
entered first, as a matter of course, and we
all followed close in his rear, in order to
secure the benefit his countenance. The
room was full of girls, who were busy in
binding Amy's quilt, which was already
out OF the frame, and getting ready for
the evenings sport. There was no equal
to = for taking the wire edge from off
the feelings of a promiscuous company,
and giving free and easy tone to the So
clal intercourse, that would otherwise have
been constrained and awkward. In lit
tie while the different parties who had en-
tered under his protection, began to feel at
home among the merry girls. 1t was not
long before another and another came in
until the old fashioned parlor, with It's old
fashioned furniture, was filled, and the but
halt-bOund quilt was forcibly taken from
the hands of the laughing seamstresses, and
put out of sight and out of mind.
The bright, particular star of the even
ing was Amy Willing-gentle, quiet, loving
Amy Willing, There was a warmer glow
upon her cheeks, and a deeper tenderness
in her beautiful eyes than they had ever
worn before. In gazing upon her, how
the heart moved from It's verv depths -
No long time passed before we were by
the side of Amy, and our eyes resting on
hers with an earnestness of expression that
caused them TO drop to the floor. When
the time for redeeming pawns came. and il
was our turn to call out from the circle of
beauty a fair partner, the name of Amy
fell from our lips, which were soon pressed,
glowing, upon those of the blushing maiden.
1t was the first warm kiss of love. How
1t thrilled eXquisitely to the very heart
Our lips had often met before, kissing was
then fashionable amusementl but never
as at this time. Soon it became Amv's
place TO take the floor. She must kiss
the one she loved best What a moment
of suspense! StealthiIy her eve wandered
around the room and then her long dark
lashes lay quiyering on her beautiful cheeks.
Kiss the one you love best was re-
peated by the holder of the pawns.
The iringed lids were again raised.
and again her eyes went searching around
the room. We could see that her bosom
was rising and falling more rapidly than
before. Our name at length came, in an
under tone from her smiling lips. What a
happy moment The envied kiss was
ours, and we led the maiden in triumph
from the floor.
And, to us, the whole evening was
series of triumphs. Somehow or other
Amy was by our side, and Amy's hand in
ours oitenest of any. We did not talk
much-dehcious feeling sealed our lips. 1t
was our first sweet dream Of love. But
we knew little then of human nature. and
less of woman's nature and but little of
all this knew certain young man, who
was present, and who, more sober and
silent than any, joined in the sports of the
evening with no apparent zest. Amy never
called him out when she was on the floor;
nor did he mention her name when the
privilege of touching some maiden's lips
with his own was assigned him.
He was first TO retire; and then we no.
ticed change in Amy. Her voice was
lower, her manner more subdueS and there
was a thoughtful, absent expression in her
face.
A few weeks later. and this was all ex-
planned. Edward Martin was announced
IN the village as Amy's accepted lover
We did MOI. we cnnld nnt We ,,rn,,ld M.