The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-19

est in her demeanor. she had vein of
quiet humor, and strokes ofplayful droll-
cry charmed all the more from being un-
expected. But more almring to me than
all her gifts and accomplishments. was
the shrinking sensibility depicted on eve
ry feature of her sweet face | soon
found myself deeply, painfully interested
in her I say painfully, for Grace receiy
ed my assiduous attentions with Il per-
feet GOODNESS and unconcern which gave me
great uneasnoss Sometimes ! thought
She remembered my early impertinence
and was disposed to punish it But there
was rival, cousin of Grace's, who al
ways stood in my way, and from whom
Grace received, as a matter Of course,
numberless little attentions. which | dar-
ed not even offer. | hated this man;
was insufIerably jealous, but Grace seem
ed either perfectly unconscious or per-
fectly Indifferent to the by-play animosi-
ty which was carried ON between us.
Grace, sweet. noble Grace, with all her
child.likc simplicity and sensitive wo-
mans hcart-who could resist herr |
could not-my whole soul was hers In
vain had | strugglcd-in vain had / call
ed upon my vanity, (of which | had plen-
ty to invoke.) to save me from the NOR
tiication of loving without return. |
could not stem nor control the passion
which, strong as a mighty whirlwind, had
seized me-
One evening | sat by the piano while
Grace sung to me The cousin was not
there, and dear Gracc's very color and
glistening eyes suggested sweet hopes to
my vanity fancicd saw love in those
bright dewy eyes. and on those soft
music-brcathing lips
1t was the last evening ofmy vacation.
and surely, read a gentle farewell thought
in Graces face | was beside myself
with joy at the idea-I was as if in a
blissful drcam-a sweet delirium-a rap
ture of love As Grace rose to leave
the piano | caught her hand, and unable
longer to repress the one thought that
filed my heart, | exclaimed tcryently
Grace. dear Grace, with all my soul
love you n
She lifted her large, soft eyes. and said
slowly, while mischieyous smile stole
over her face
Il know it'
She was gone before I had time to
prevent it, or to recover from my sur
prise.
The next day I returned to college
expecting to complete my studies in an
other year. \ year how long a time to
be absent from the beloved being who
was to me. felt. henceforth and forever.
whether she returned my love or not.
the nucleus round which all my thoughts
would reyolve need not say how often
her strange, unsatisfactory answer tor
montcd me. / precciye in her repetition
Of the same words her remembrance of
the time she had used them before. and
this was the just punishment for my in
science. | tortured myself by bringing
the whole scene again and again to my
memory, my passionate declaration of
love- and her provoking reply, IL know
it. ~" The deuce you do' thought [. some
times, - | would had possessed the wit
to have left you little more uncertain -
often wonder that / was able to study
at all. all this time, for Grace was never ab-
sent from my thoughts she had become
the dream of my life, the object of all
the love sonnets, which had till now been
scattered on various rival beauties |
did study. however, and study hard. and
at the end of the term passed examina-
ton with high honor, much to my dear
mothers pride and joy.
determined to be wiser when / saw
Grace again, to discover beyond doubt
if were indeed beloved. before | com
mittcd myself IS had done by foolish
speeches
In order to satisfy myself on this
point, and perhaps also to crafty little
pique, when | returned home, did not
60 Immediately to see Grace as my feel
ings dictated, but waited till, at my
mothers summons, she spent an evening
with us Even then, though my heart
was full of tenderness for her, had made
up my mind to play part, and suffer as
| might | would act it out. There was
a young lady staying with my mother at
this time who dearly loved TO flirt. and |
was quite ready to contribute to her
amusement | devoted myself to her
the whole evening, and felt the sweetest
pain | ever experienced when ! saw, by
Gracc's dear, changing, sensitive face,
that she was deeply panied and wound
ed
When this foolery had been carried
to its height perceived Grace suddenly
rise, and step through the open window
out on the piazza In a few minutes |
followed her She had retired to lit
tie distance from the railing, weeping
Stealing softly behind her, whisper
ed,
"Ah, dearest Grace, do not deny it
You love me ln
There was little pauso--then laugh
ing, yet half crying, Grace turned aside
her head and said,
Alas know it,
Habits to be avoided in the Presence