New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-04-01

AT seventeen years of age ] was more Of q man
than | have ever been since. | wore a long
tailed coat and boots Ito which the appurtenance
Of spurs was generally added moustache was
quite visible on my upper lip. and conscious
ness of ripe maturity never left my mind. Twas
studying for the legal profession, but at the
time OF which l write, was spending my yaca-
tion at my fathers house in the country.
Though so manly, almost soldier like, as | |
fancied, in my appearance, my inner was by no
means as stern as my outer man. | loved my |
mother with childish tenderness, and sooner |
than pain her pious heart, | unmurmuringly |
accompanied her every Sunday to the village
church, to listen to long sermons of which could
not hear word, for the tremulous accents of
the very aged minister, who conducted the SER
vices, were so faint as to be inaudible where We
sat. Though melted by love and duty to sub
ject myself to this week of penance, (well de-
served by my weekly sins,) my conscience yet
did not prevent Inc from Willing away the time
by such amusement as lay at hand-that, name
ly. Of observing and speculating on the coun
tenances of my neighbors, an occupation of
which | was fond.
The physiognomy which interested me more
than all others, was that of young girl who
sat not far from us, and who was accompanied
by an aged lady, probably her grandmother-
the object of her ever watchful care. This girls
face from first elciting my careless observation,
Is
very beautiful, but apart from that it possessed
the greatest possible interest for me. Never had
l seen countenance which denoted so much
sensibility; each motion of her mind was plainly
Written upon it, by its quick, delicate changes.
nothing was wanted but the key of a cores
ponding degree in the beholder to read her ten
der, innocent soul, like an open book. For
hours gazed and speculated on that fair face
I thought how sad would be the lot of SO SEN
sitive being should fate unite her to one
who would not know how to read Alright what
was so delcately written--to whom the varying
expression of that sweet countenance would be
but blank-who would be able to see in it only
its coarser part-beauty Of feature. There was
no end to the reveries into which those swift
coming bushes led me.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object of my
busy fancies would catch my eye, or, without
looking at Inc, seem to know feel that l was
gazing at her, and wickedly delighted in no.
ting the blush which deepened on her cheek till
l withdrew my eyes.
One Sunday, / happened in coming out of the
church, to be close to my lovely neighbor-
Immediately behind her my hand actually
, touched her unconscious garments. l felt al
irresistible desire to force her in some way t,
: notice me, to speak to me, to occasion o
those charming blushes, any thing, | knew no
# what. In short, like an impertinent coxcoml
as was, stopped forward, and with an insult
+ ferable insolence, which l blush now to remem
ber whispered in her ear,
g You are very pretty"
Never was | more surprised than when she
calmly replied,
81 know it!"
was absolutely startled. had expected {
silent conscious blush, an indignant glance, any
thing rather than this cold '' l know it,
was puzzled but l had plenty of time t.
turn the matter in my mind for in a few days
returned to college | can truly say it was thu
main problem, which throughout the term gav
:, me the most trouble to solve and cost me mos
thought.
Another year elapsed ere | returned home
d and again sat in the little village church. NJ,
i personal appearance was, meanwhile, some
5 what altered. | still wore my moustache, j
t. is true, but my coat tails were not, nor di
not seem, quite so long, and | had left off M
r spurs.
My mother and l were early seated in on
pew, and impatientiy awaited for the alriya
Of my lovely enigma tried to prepare mysel
= for disappointment. "I have been thinking
and dreaming about an ideal,'' said to mysel
Is doubtless when the young lady herself appear
S all my fine imaginings will vanish; there cal
re be no doubt my fancy has been playing trick
e. with me, investing Il mere country maiden wit
transcenlent graces and charms. While wa
reasoning thus with myself, the young lady ap
Worshiping an s'ideal,' indeed My mos
charmj7s- remembrance did not begin to d
Justice to tie beautiful reality. soul full {
tenderness and sensibility seemed to have foun
n fitting home in a person and face of pertec
lovcliness and grace,
She blushcd when looking round, she chance
to see me, and again the play Of expression o
= her features, which had so interested me fol
i. merly, charmed me.
Tha I St1l1inl har fo 20 tho
to see into the pure depths of her soul. cou
IN have staked my life on her noble purity
Tx thought and deed.
r r As we returned home, described my ia
= neighbor, and asked my mother who she was.
Her name, my mother said, sis Gra
Denny; and she is the loyeliest, the most sup
4 ror young woman have ever in my life IN
d. with. 1t is too soon to think of such thin
yet" she continued, smiling, 81 but some yea
IN hence, it would make me happy to see my de-
Ion Ion son married to just such woman
+ g Not quite so fast, mother,' said |. laughil
es, 1 a good deal to hide little boyish embarras
&, ment which was most anxious to conceal,
c. | found that Grace had become consta
II, ,ye visitor at my mothers and did not fail to IL
ose prove the opportunity of becoming better u
60 quainted with her.
She was indeed gifted creature, endow
s n with all natures best She sang she dance
she conversed with an indescribable grace, P
ped cuar to herself Though generally thought
yes and earnest in her demcanor, she had q vein
quiet humor, and her strokes of playful dro
use. cry charmed all the more from being unexpecte
,bs But more alluring to me than all her gifts a.
accomplishments, was the shrinking sensiblli
in. depicted on every feature of her sweet face.
soon found myself deeply, painfully interest
=. in her. l say painfully, for Grace received II
,tss assdous attentions with perfect coolness al
unconcern which gave me great uneasine
rom Sometimes | thought she remembered my eal
ions impertinence, and was disposed to punish
But there was Il rival, COUSIN of Grace's, W
:. always stood in my way, and from whom GrE
MSS received, as Il matter of course, numberless
Ring tie attentions, which dared not even offer.
is hated this ,nan was insutferably jealous,
st in in Grace seemed either perfectly unconscious
aud perfectly Indifferent to the by-play of animos
men en- VIII tch was carried on between us.
n,,, Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with all her chi
'O- like simplicity and sensitive womans hear
,.,, who could resist her: l could not--my VII
assss soul was hers. In vain had lstruggled-inv V
a,2' aai had I called upon my vanity, (of which
the plenty to invoke,l to save me from the north
ps psf, ton of loving without return. could not St
ires' nor control the passion which strong as mig
ct. whirlwind had seized me-
: One evening sat by the piano while Gr
hra sang to me, The cousin was not there, and d