The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-07-08

have known me so intimately and understood
me so thoroughly, it will possess more than
an ordinary degree of interest. To you,
therefore, ] dedicate the sad record of strange
infatuation.
This mild October day have been out in
the woods, and the old.tmc feeling has come
over me again, and awakened a thousand sad
but pleasant memories. | love this season of
the year more than any other. The hazt
atmosphere always seems mtlowcr, and the
streams mulmur more musically, than at any
other time, and can gaze for hours upon
the gorgeous Tain-bows woven by the fingers
of the Frost King through the tree tops, and
watch with an Undesirable rapture the
scarlet leaves whirling down from the lofty
bouehs From my earliest boyhood have
loved the Autumn ii ne; but more than ever
for the last few years. For it was in the
Autumn that shc-thc ideal have so devoted
" cherished whom | have loved as |
fear Inc | can never love again, came and
nestled herself away in the untcnan,ed cham
Der of my heart.
But TO proceed with my story.
As carly as | can remember, | was of a
quiet and rcnsive disposition, and my friends
gave nc the appclation of "singuIar," be-
cause | preferred stealing off to some quiet
spot and enjoying my own thoughts and fan
cicS, to joining the s;ddy crowd, and taking
share in the amlscmcnts Of the social circle.
Why it is never had any taste for those pur-
suits which constitute what are called the
pleasures of society, know not. 1t may
have been owing to some defect in my organ
ization, or ii may have been because | never
INDUCED in them enough to obtain relish
therefor. 1t is said we can become accustom-
ed to anything, and that usage bcgcts within
us a love for that which is at first rcpulsivc
Such, perhaps may be the case; but never
could be induced to minglc enough in society
to ascertain whether or no | should form a
liking for it; on the contrary grew more and
more fond of being alonc-of perusing in sol
itudcmy t;vortc authors, and of weaving into
HHapc my wv pIlSht uilalll5 anu CURIOUS
imaginings.
Many an hour have | lay on messy bank,
and watched the yellow sunshine playing
"bo-pecp' through the branches of the trees
and the shadows of the ncocy clouds fitting
over the landscape, and thought had attain
ed to the acme of earthly happiness.
But "change came over the spirit Of my
dream" One aftcrnoon-one of Octohcr's
sunnicst and most delicious, while in one Of
my peculiar moods, lchcld pair of large,
ustrous eyes gazing full upon me. Previous
to that time had never felt more than a
transient and ordinary interest in any woman
had never felt that indclinablc longing for
know not what, which the greater part of
lis experience in our earlier years, when We
meet some fair face that phases and makes an
impression, which, want ola more express
sive phrase, We call love.
had often conurcd up such a one as !
(anccd could love, and had even felt my
sympathics 60 out in quest of the imaginary
being, but like the wandering dove, they soon
returned from whence they went. But the
moment | bcheld those eloquent eyes, and
that transcendantly beautiful face, surround
cd with auburn tresscs, from which they peer
cd, knew my doom was irrcvocably sealed.
Such gaze had never met mine before. The
face was strange, yet perfectly familiar, and
| instantly recognized it as one had seen in
some spirit-spherc. or at least in one Of my
summer noon revcrics.
1t remained but moment, and then, while
a celestial smile played over every feature,
vanished gradually away. In that moment,
however, | felt its image impressed, and
standing out in bold relief on the tablets of
my heart,
do not use this language in the scnsc in
which it is used by sentimental rhymcsters;
but when say felt the image of the mystic
rious vistant impressed upon my heart, /
mean it. 1t seemed to be engravcn there so
that every feature was as pcrccptiblc to the
touch as to the mental vision; and thousands
of times since have found myself unwtting-
ly placing my hand to my heart, to ascertain
whether or no that ccstatc thrill which fol-
lows touch of the actual flesh and blood
would be produced thereby.
The night succeeding the interview, sleep
rested not upon my eyelids. | was fcvcrish
and agitatcd, and was continually stretching
out my arms to clasp the angelic form, and
pillow her head upon my bosom. Such a
desolatc, lonely feeling had never before ex-
pcricnccd. 1t seemed as though the atmos-
phcre was sitting and oppressive, and was
literally crushing me with its density. But
the heavy hours wore slowly on, and when
the morning at length dawncd, arose with
flushed face and futtcring heart to endure
all the aggravation and agonies of an unre-
Quilted, but increasing love.
Experience has led me to the belief that
love in its early stages can be overcome by
strong effort of tho will. But when cherish
ed, it, or any other passion, so inwcavcs it.
self with our nature as to become essential to,
in fact, part ofour existence. by brooding
long upon one subject, we incline all the fac
ulties of both mind and body in that particu-
lar direction and render the attempt 10 turn