Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-31


in his day, was each the same sweet young
lady on each visit. In Eve, there was per-
petual growth. There was gently-hardy
perceptibly-a new dignity, new grace, a
new truthfulness, loveliness, intelligence in
her each time he saw her. The other ladies
read nothing, stitched, visited, made pickles
read, thought, observed, treasured up expert
ences, and SO grew, unfolded, became more
and more lovely each day. Solid esteem be-
gan to give eternal life to Dudley's love-un-
| til-before he knew it-he loved the fair wom-
an with all his mind as well as with all his
heart. There was always dignity-not re-
pelling, yet aweing-which banished from
her lovers heart all disposition to laugh and
trife with her as with others. On the night
we speak of, Dudley had visited Eve, as he
often did. 1t lacked but few nights of be-
ing the last of the year, and the conversation
had become more serious as they conversed of
the flight Of time-of the past, of the future.
1t was then that Dudley imperceptibly was
borne on TO avow his love, and to implore
return. She answered him gently, but firmly
and distinctly as if she had somewhat antici-
pated his :vowal, and was prepared She
must have thought much and deeply upon the
subject-and she must have loved Dudley so
to think upon the subject How she spoke as
she had never spoken before-as she did not
herself know she could speak. She did not
say it all at once-in regular order; vet,
when Dudley had returned to his office, had
seated himself before the fire, the whole of
what she said or ntimated was before his
mind with more distinctness than had it been
written out with legal dstnctness and in le-
gal round hand upon parchment, and that
parchment stretched in clear light before his
eyes.
Eve had told him, had somewhere made
him TO see for the first time, his whole and
exact situation as an idle young lawyer in a
lazy little village. He saw himself-his per-
son, his habits, his daily life, his future, as If
In mirror. Eve had intlmated, gently, de-
cidedly, that she could never marry such
man as Dudley Stuart. She had done more
she had made Dudley to see that no noble
hearted woman could love Dudley Stuart as he
was-a mere generous triier, a purposeess
clever fellow. As he sat and thought, Dud-
ley loved Eve immeasurably more than ever.
She had rallied and called together about his
heart, too, all his better feelings, his aspira-
tions, his determinations. He did not grieve
he rejoiced. He did not walk his room
peevishly-he sat and thought lie was slow
ly passing the crisis of his destiny. All his
floating excellencies were silently crystaliz-
ing into solid form. He did not clearly see
how or wherein TO change his course and
himselEbut he had within him new pur-
pose, actually thing was that purpose
alive impelling within him, as was his heart
thing beating within him.
AT last he slowly drew of his vest before
retiring TO rest AS he did so, letter fell
out of its breast pocket which he had taken
oui fthe post-office that night on his way to
Col. Lemons. He recognized the direction
on the back as the writing of an old and init
mate friend in another profession now settled
in Texas. The closest, warmest friendship
subsisted between them-and it was the only
letter he would have read that night. Break
ing the seal, his eye ran hastily over the first
lines until half way down the page, it lighted
up with interest as he read
"And SO, my dear fellow, you consider
yourself settled in your village Bah sset-
tled,' yes, as spoilt child is settled, in the
lap OF its mother, with stick of candy in one
hand, and silver rattle in the other, and
plenty of cake in the sideboard. You know
you are not, never will be man so long as
you live where you have ever lived since you
were a boy. You are only big boy now
It's Dudley in your family, and Dudley
along the streets, and Dudley among the
girls. You occupy no more an Independent
position now as man than you did years ago
there. Acknowledge you don't depend on
your own single self-your own ability as
lawyer-you lie at full length all your sum-
mer life upon your family inauence-and there
on your back, you puff segars and read nov
els forever. Stand on your own feet Be
man You cannot be, where you are. Come
to Texas. You know take common sense
view of things. Look thus, my eyes, mo-
ment. You see before YOU this vast State,
some ten times as large as the State you are
in, fertile, stored with mineral wealth, eleven
navigable rivers, glorious climate, steady EN-.
igration. Come out of your dandy boudoir
you have mlscalled office Ride over Tex
as, select some favorable point, settle there,
open real Office there; study hard at men
and books, be patient, ready, popular. In
five years you will have made yourself po-
sition in society, will be tenfold more of a
man for your work in making it. There will
be flush in your heart and in your cheek, a
sinewy something in your arm-you will be a
hearty, healthy man, strong to walk whatever
way opens before you. Come out of your
nicely glazed greenhouse into this free and
rough air. Poetry, fiction, art, association
with intelligent and lovely females, are agree