The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1851-04-17

spected Senior, united with the pious, and FIRE
quently given homileties of my propriety
loving grand-dame, added to my eircumspec
ton and gravity at church. Certain it il
though, that from the time, I came int
possession of the intelligence, that the digni
fed looking parsonage fronting me in church
had daughter, who in few months woulc
take her place by his side, there could have
been found no young aspirant for clerical au
thority, more punctilious in demeanor, thar
Hal Hankins, was. All it is SO natural tc
deceive!
But to return to the lovely Sabbath, in
October. had seated myself; and with my
psalmody resting quietly in my left hand
while my right-the elbow placed on the top
of the front pew-supported my head, was
watching the entering throng, with an air OF
half-thought, and half-abstraction.
1t was not long before saw the Deacon,
accompanied by two ladies, one of whom, l
recognised as his worthy spouse, pass through
the vestibule, into the church A thick veil
shaded the face of the second lady, leaving
me nothing on which to predicate an opinion
Of her looks, farther than her form, which
was fawssei1 frail, but elastic-and one of
the sweetest boxing feet, that ever Knocked,
by its near approach, the skirt of dress.
How Il lonsed to remove that veil
Seating herself, she inclined her head for
ward as if engaged in silent devotion, allow
ing me no opportunity, tosteal, even SO much,
as glance, at her features. That mute ORR
son, she offered, could not have lasted more
than two minutes; yet to me, it seemed to
include as many hours, so impatient was l.
Raising her head, she elevated hand, one
finger of which, was ungloyed, and sweeping
the envied gauze to one side, revealed a face,
sosweet, SO earnest, and 50 sanity, as to make
me feel rebuked, for having profaned it, by
my gaze. Still, gazcd on; as who would
not have done? / was fascinated-charm-
-spell-bound. Ny eyes were tied on to
her face
From that memorable Sabbath in October,
to the succeeding August, I made Mildred 5
face my bible, prayer book, and shrine, each
coming Sabbath; while through the week, it
was an ever-present, living memory From
timidity, or fear of the Deacon, or combi-
nation of both, august came on, without my.
having made her acquaintance
That she was as deeply interested in the
study of my face, which to me, according to
the report of my looking glass docking glass
.es were truth-telling in those days. wore a
look decidedly loyeable, / never doubted, -
Had not caught her chances at me, nine
hundred s. ninety-nine times, (more or less,)
betraying her embarrassment? Beside, |
had ever. seen the swelling of her bodice,
times without number, as signs made their
escape from heart, that was full Of ne-as
I thought.
It was aclear case she was in love, and /
was the object Of her tender and Invaluable
regard was revealing in the most perfect
delirium of extacy--that which arose from a
conviction, that there was one discerning spir-
lit, who appreciated my worth, and who had
unsought, given to me, the warm fresh offer
+ ing of her virgin heart. It is no wonder
then, that / looked forward to vacation, with
q full sad heart:
The fifth day closed, and with it twenty
two graduates received theirfrst degree. The
President Of the college, as was usual with
him on such occasions, announced that his
doors would be open for the reception Of com
pany, that evening at o'clock. All that
my wardrobe could do, IN the way of fitting
out my person, 1of The levee, wagin demand.
I had lived through weeks of blissfulexcite.
ment, occasionally relieving my full heart,
by the preparation Of a few verses Of dog
Egerel, in the expectation Of meeting Mildred
that night, and with The resolution; Of telling
her all my love, and of hearing, as / doubted
not I should, "a full confession of hers.
The crowd had assembled. Some were in
the cabinet, conningits wonderso Of science
and others u the reception saloon, talking
snonsense, and slistenin gsto song
T arranged i 50 asto be introduced to Nil
dred upon her arrival, and to exchange Will
her, The usual nothing sof the eYenin con
STRUNG her uneasiness, for hewas uneasy,
when with me, to the.depth and strength d
her attachment.
The night Waned and some Of the thlone
were leaving. had not declared myself
| Ny heart hadsoceupi 4 an apartment IL M
I throat, the entire evening: Stay there, j
would, in defiance Of a my efforts, 10 fore!
an election She certainly marked #
could not be mistaken Were not her eye
turned nonrnfulIy 81. me, almost without n
terruptions And yet she avoided me =!
Strange thought a I Hal thou vert
qnadruped il brains and only wanted til
4 length of cars, to declare 70 Others, thy e
lationship
sGarriage IS read llF dangh bkoke =
4