Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-07-10

tered. I still wore my mousta che, il
is true, but my coat.iails were not, or
did not seem quite so long, and | had
left off my spurs.
Ny mother and l were early seated
in our pew, and | impaticntly waited
for the arrival Of my early enigma. l
tried to prepare myself for disappoint'
mcnt. "I have been thinking and
dreaming about an ideal,' (said | tc
myself,) "doubtless when the young
lady herself lappears all my fine imng
inings will vanish; there can be nc
doubt my fancy has been playing
tricks with me, investing mere
country maiden with transcenden'
graces and charms" While | was
reasoning thus with myself the young
lady appeared leading her old rela-
tive with tender care.
Worshipping an "idcal," indeed
my most charming remembrance did
not begin to do justice to the hcauti'
fnl reality. A soul full of tenderness
and scnsihility seemed to have found a
fitting home in person and face OF
perfect lovcincss and grace.
She blnshcd when, looking round,
sho chancca to see me, and agnin the
play of expression on her features
which had so interested me formerly,
charmed inc.
The more | studied her face the
more seemed to see into the pure
depths Of her soul. could have
stakcd my life on her noble purity OF
thought and decd.
As VIC returned home, | described
my fairncighbor and asked my moth
or who she was.
"Hcr name," my mother said. "is
Grace Denny; and she is The lovelicSt
the most snprinr young woman have
ever, in my whole life, met with. II
istoo soon to think ofsuch things yet"
she continued smiling, 'but some years
hence it would make me happy 10 sec
my dear son married to just such Il
woman.
"Not quito so f.st, mother" said l.
Laughing asgood sdealto-hido- little
boyish embarrassment which | was
most anxious to conceal.
found that Grace had become Il
constant visilcr at my mothers, and
did not full to improve the opportuni
ty of becoming better acquainted with
her.
She was indeed gifted creature
endowed with all "naturcs best. =
She sung, she danced, she c"nvcrscd
with an indescribablc grace peculiar
to herself. Though gcncrallyihonsh''
ful and earnest in her demeanor, she
had a vein of quiet hum"r, and hel
strokes of playful drollcry charmed
all the more from being unexpected
But more alluring to me than all hei
gifts and accomplishments was the
shrinking scnsibiliiy depicted on every
feature of her sweet face. sool
found myself decply-paiufully in
terested in her. say painfully, fol
Grace received my assiduous attcn
tions with IL perfect coolncss and un'
concern which gave great uneasincss
Sometimes thought she remembered
my early impcriincncc, and was dis
posed 10 punish it. But there was a
rival, a cousin of Grace's, who al.
ways stood in my way, and from whom
Grace received, as Il matter of course
numbcrlcss little attentions which
lmcd not even offer. | hated this
man; was insuIierably jealous; bu'
Grace seemed either perfectly uncou
scious, or perfectly indifferent to the
by play of animosity which was car
ried on between us.
Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with
her childliko simplicity and sensitive
woman's heart who could resist her
| could not; my whole soul was hers
In vain had | struggled; in vain hat
| called upon my vanity, (of which
plenty to invoke) to save me from
modification Of loving without re
d. | could not stem or control the