The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-09-04


feet loveliness and grace.
She blushed when, looking round she
CHANGED to see me, and again the play
OF expression on her features which had
so interested me formerly, charmed me. .
The more studied her face the more
| seemed to see into the pure depths of
her soul. | could have staked life on
her noble purity of thought and deed.
As we returned home, | described my
fair neighbor and asked my mother
who she was.
Her name, my mother said, Us
Grace Denny; and she is the loveliest,
the most superior young woman have
ever in my whole life met with. 1t is
two soon to think of such things yet,'
she continued, smiling, but some years
hence it would make me happy to see
my dear son married to just such a wo-
man.
Not quite so fast, mother said |,
laughing a good deal to hide a little
boyish embarrassment which was not
anxious to conceal.
found that Grace had become a
constant visitor at my mothers and |
did not fail to improve the opportunity
of becoming better acquainted with her.
She was indeed gifted creature, en-
dowed with all natures best She
sung, she danced, she conversed with
an lndescrbable grace so peculiar her
self. Though generally thoughtful and
earnest in her demeanor, she had a Elm
OF quiet humor, and her strokes of play
full drollery charmed all the more from
being unexpected. But more alluring
to me than all her gifts and accomplish
ments was the shrinking sensbility de.
picted on every feature Of her sweet
face. | soon found myself deeply
painfully interested in her. say pain-
july, for Grace received my asslduous
attentions with a perfect GOODNESS and
unconcern which gave me great uneas-
ness.-SometInes thought she remem-
bered my early impertinence, and was
disposed to punish it. But there was a
rival, a cousin of Grace's who always
stood in my way, and from whom
Grace received, as matter Of course,
numberless little attentions which |
dared not even offer. hated this man
| was lnsulierably jealous; but Grace
seemed either perfectly unconscious, Or
perfectly Indifferent to the by play of
anlmoslty which was carried on be-
tween us.
Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with her
child-like simplicity and sensitive wo-
mans heart; who could resist her! In
vain had | struggled; in vain had call
ed upon my vanity, (of which had
plenty to invoke) to save me from
modification OF loving without return.
| could not stem or control the passions
which strong as mighty whirlwlnd
had seized me.
One evening | sat by the piano while
Grace sung to me. The cousin was
not there, and dear Garce's varying
color and glistenlng eyes suggested
sweet hope to my vanity. | fancied [
saw lore in those bright dewy eyes and
on those soft music breathing lips.
1t was the last evening of my vaca-
ton, and surely | read a gentle. fare
well thought in Grace's face; was be-
side myself with joy at the idea-I was
as if in blissful dream-a sweet deli
rium-a rapture of love. As Grace
rose to leave the piano caught her
hand, and unable longer to repress the
one thought that filled my heart, | ex-
claimed terventlv:
Grace; dear Grace, with all my
soul | love youn
She lifted her large soft eyes, and
said slowly, while a mischievous smile
stole over her face,
Il know it,
She was gone before | had time to
prevent it, or to recover from my sur
prise.
The next day | returned to college
expecting to complete my studies in
another year. A year how long time
to be absent from the beloved being
who was to me, felt, hencetorth and
forever, whether she returned my love
or not, the nucleus round which my
thoughts would revolve.-I need not
say how often her strange and unsats.
factory answer tormented me. | per-
ceived in her repetition of the same
words, her remembrance of the time
she had used them before; and this then,
was the just punishment for my inso-
lence. | tortured myself by bringing
the whole scene again and again to
memory; my passionate declaration of
love, and her provoking reply, Il know
it, 'The deuce you do' thought |,
i would | had possessed the
wit to have LETT you little more I'M
certain
often wondered that | was able to
study at this time, for Grace, beautiful,
graceful Grace was never absent from
Al .b, L. b.....,.. a. Il