The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-03-24

fair nelghbor, and asked my mother who
she was.
"Her name" my mother said, sis Grace
3 Denny; and she is the lovest-the most
superior young woman have ever in my
whole life met with. 1t is too soon 10 think
ofsuch things yet" she continued, smiling,
"but some years hence it will make me
, happy to see my dear son married to just
such woman.
mot quite so last, mother" said !
. laughing good deal TO hide little boy
ish embarrassment, which was most anx-
ious 10 conceal. g.,
(, found that Grace had become con.
: slant visitor at my mothers, and did not
fail TO improve the opportunity Of becom-
ing better acquainted with her.
} She was indeed gifted creature, en-.
dowed with all "nature's best" She sang,
she danced, she conversed with an indis-
cribable grace peculiar to herself Though
generally thoughtful and earnest in her
demeanor, she had vein of quiet humor
and her strokes OF playful drollery charm
ed all the more from being unexpected.
But more nlluring to me than all her gifts
and accomplishments, was the shrinking
sensibiliiy depicted on every feature of her
sweet face. soon found myself deeply
painfully interested in her. | say pain
fully, for Grace received my assduous at
tenlions with q perfect GOODNESS and un-
concern which gave me great uneasiness.
Sometimes thought she remembered my
early impertinence, and was disposed to
punish it. But there was a rival, cousin
OF Grace's, who always stood in my way,
I and from whom Grace received, as mat
ter Of course, numberiess little attentions
which dared not even offer. hated this
man; was insufferably jealous, but Grace
seemed either perfectly unconscious, or
perfectly Indifferent to the by-play of ami
mostly which was carried OH between US.
Grace, sweet. noble Grace, with her
chiltklke simplicity and sensitive woman's
hear-who could resist her? could not
j. my whole soul was hers. In vain had
strugglcd-in vain had | called upon my
vanity. (of which had plenty to invoke)
TO save me from the.mortficaton Of loving
without return. could not stem or con-
troll the passion which, strong as mighty
whrlwind, had seized me.
One evening sat by the piaho while
Grace sang to me. The cousin was not
there, and dear Grace's varying color and
gistening eyes suggested sweet hopes to
my vanity fancied | saw love in those
bright. dewy eyes, and Oh those soft music
breathing lips.
1t was the last evening of my vacation,
and surely read gentle farewell thought
in Grace's face. | was beside myself with
Joy at the idea-l was as if in blissful
dream-a sweet delirium-a rapture of
love. AS Grace rose to leave the piano
caught one hand, and, unable longer to
repress the one thought that filled my heart,
4 | exclaimed fervently:
"Grace-dear Grace, with all my soul |
love you!"
She lifted her large. soft eyes, and said
slowly, while mischisvous smile played
over her face.
81 know it."
She was gone before | had time to pre-.
vent it, or to recover from my surprise.
The next day | returned to College, ex-
pecting to complete my studies in another
year. A year! how long time to be alb
sent from the beloved being who was me,
| felt, henceforth and forever, whether she
returned my love or not, the nucleus round
which all my thoughts would revolve. |
need not say how often her strange and
unsatisfactory answer tormented me. |
perceived 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 insolence. |
tortured myself by bringing the whole
again and again to memory-my passion
ate declaration OF love. and her provoking
reply, .'Iknowit." "The deuce you do"
thought l. sometimes. 81 wouldI had pos
sessed the wit to leave you little more
uncertain"
often wonder that was able to study
at all this time; for Grace, beautiful, grace
fM Grace, was never absent from my
thoughts had become the dream of
my life--the object Of all the love sonnets,
which had till now been scattered on va
rious rival beauties. Ibid study, however,
and study hard, and.at the end Of the term
passed examination with high honor
much to my dear mothers pride and joy.
\ n determined 10 be wiser when ! saw
{ Grace again-to discover beyond a doubt
lifI were indeed beloved, before ! com
, mitted myself as i had done BY foolish
. speeches. sss",'.. SO # VS. ~
4 I'm orderto satisfy myself on this point,
and perhaps also TO crafty a little pique,
[ whenI returned home i did NOT 60 imme-
ldiaielyto see Grace as my feelings dicta-
|. Itch, hit waited till, at my mothers sum
\ rnSDs. she spent an evening with u.s. Even
7 sEfhen, thoughny heart wasfull Of tender
/ [nesstollef,i effected GOODNESS, thad made
|uBamy mind 10 play a5part and suffer as |
!, might aIa wpula act Il out. i There was a
fIy6uag lady staying witlimy mother at this
/, lima xhS tIearly loved 10 flirt. Twas quite