Butte record., 1856-03-29
Il know it.'

1 CApCCtCu d SiiOitO, OohooiNe'' piuSII- an
indignant glance-auything rather
than this cool II know it,
l was puzzled, but | had plenty of
time to turn the matter in my mind,
for in a few days returned to college.
l can truly say it was the one problem
which, throughout the term, gave me
the most thought.
Another year elapsed ere Ireturncd
and again sat in the village church. -
My home, personal appearance. was
somewhat altered. Istill wore my
moustache, it is true, but my coat
tails were not or did not seem quite so
long, and left off my spurs.
My mother and | were seated in
our pew, and | impatiiently waited
for the arrival of my lovely enigma.
tried to prepare myself for disap-
pointment. Il have been thinking
and dreaming about an IDEAL" said
to myself, "doubtless when the young
lady appears, all my fancy has been
playing tricks with me, investing a
mere country maid with transcendent
graces and charms" While | was
reasoning thus with myself, the young
lady appeared, leading her old rela-
tive with tender care.
Worshipping an ''ideal," indeed! my
most charming romembrances did not
begin to do justice to the beautiful re-
ality. A soul full of tenderness and
sensibihty seemed to have found fit
ting home in person and face of
perfect lOveliness and grace.
She blushed, when, looking around,
she CHANGED to see me, and again the
playful expression on her features,
which had so interested me formerly,
charmed me.
/ As mother and I returned home, |
described my fair neighbor, and asked
my mother who she was.
"Her name,' my mother sad, ''is
Grace Denny, and she is the loyeliest
the most superior young woman |
have ever in my whole life met. 1t is
( too soon to think of such things yet" "
she continued, smiling, 'but some
years hence, it would make me happy
to see my dear son married to just
such a woman"
''Not quite SO fast, MOTHER" said !,
laughing away little embarrassment,
which | was most anxious to conceal.
| found that Grace had becomea con-
slant visitor at my mothers's, and |
did not fail to improve the opportunity
Of becoming acquainted with her.
She was indeed a gifted creature,
endowed with all natures best" She
sang, she danced, she conversed with
an indcscribable grace peculiar to her
self. Though generally thoughtful
and earnest in her manner, she had a
vein Of quiet humor, and her strokes Of
playful drollery charmed all the more
from being unexpected. But more
alluring to me than all her gifts and
accomplishments, was the shrinking
sensibilities depicted On every feature
Of her sweet face. | soon found my
self deeply painfully interested in her.
l say painfully, for Grace received my
assiduous attentions with perfect cool
ness and unconcern that gave me un-
easiness. Sometimes | thought she
remembered my impertinence and was
disposed to punish me. But there
was a rival, a cousin Of Grace's, who
always stood in my way, and from
whom Grace received as a matter of
course, numberless little attentions
which | dared not even offer. | hated
this man; | was insufferably jealous,
but Grace seemed perfectly mcon-
scious, or perfectly Indifferent to the
by-play Of animosity which was car
ried on between us.
Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with her
child-ike simplicity and sensitive wo-
mans heart-who, who could resist
her! | could not, my whole soul was
hers. In vain had | called upon my
vanity, Of which | had plenty to in
woke to save me from the modification
Of loving without return. | could
not smother or control the passion which
strong as mighty whirlwind had seiz-
ed me.
One evening | sat by the piano while
Grace sang to me. The cousin was
not there; and dear Grace's varying
color suggested sweet hopes to my vani-
ty. | fancied | saw love In those soft
music breathing lips.
1t was the last evening Of my vacation,
and surely read a gentle farewell
thought In Grace's face. | was be-
side myself with JOY at the idea
was as if in blissful dream, a sweet
delirium, raptue of love. As Grace
rose to leave the piano, | caught her
hand, unable longer to repress the one
thought that filled my heart, | ex-
claimed fervently:
'Grace-dear Grace-with all nv
ea,,I I lo,-o x-o,fs,