The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-02-29

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man than have ever been since. | wore a
long tailed coat and boots, Ito which the ap-
purtcnances Of spurs was generally added, J
ruoustache was quite visible on nv upper
I lip, and consciousness Of ripe maturity never
\ left nv mind | was studying for the legal
/ profession, bat at the time Of which write,
/ | was spending my summer vacation Ut my
fathers house In the country.
Though - manly, (almost soldier like, as
I | fanced,) in my appearance, my inner was
/ BIZ no means as stern rs my outer man.
4 loved nv mother with childish tenderness,
and sooner than pain her pious heart, | un-
marmurngly accompanied her every Sunday
u tile village church to listen TO long ser
mons Of which could not hear word, for
the trcmulOu- accents Of the very aged min
ster, who conducted the services, were so
faint a. ID be inaudible where sat Though
melted by love and duty to subject myself to
this weekly penance, (well deserved hy my
weekly sins, my conscience did not prevent
me from whiting away my time By such
amasements as my at hand that, namely
/ ot observing and specializing on the counte-
nanees Of ms ncighbors, an occupation Of
which | was fond.
The physoenomY which interested me more
than MI the others, was that If young girl
(
+ bg an aged woman. probably her grand
m3ther-the object of ter ever watehful care.
4 This girls face, from first elicitng my care
less admiration, gradually absorbed my
whole attention. II was very beautiful, but
apart from that it possessed the greatest pos
sihle interest 10 me. Never had seen Il
/ countenance which denoted so much seusibii-
tY; each emotion Of her mind was written
upon il BY its quick, delicate changes; Moth
ing was wanting bat the key Of a correspond
ing degree of sensbihty in the beholder, 10
read her inmost soul like an open book.
Sometimes, BY chance, the fair object of
my busy fancies would catch my eve, or with
out looking al me, seem to know or feel that
was gazing at her, and | wickedly delighted
in noticing the blush which deepened on her
check till | withdrew nv eyes.
One Sunday happened, in coming out Of
church, 10 be close to my lovely neighbor-
Immediately behind henry hand touching
her unconscious garments. felt an irrcsist-
bile desire to force her IN some wav 10 mo-
tice me--to speak to her-to occasion one Of
those charming bushes, anything, knew
not what. In short, like an impairment cox
comb, as was, stopped forward, and with
iusnfferable insoence, which blush to re-
member, whispered in her ear:
You are very pretty
Never was more surprised than when she
calmly replied
. know it,
| was absolutely startled. had expected
q silent, conscious blush-an indignant
glance--anything, rather than this cool s. |
know it,
| was puzzled, but had plenty Of time to
turn the matter in my mind, for in a few days
! returned TO college. | can truly say it was
the one problem, which throughout the term,
gave me the most thought.
Another year elapsed ere | returned, and
ag4in sat in the village church. Ny home,
personal appearance, was somewhat altered.
| still..wore my moastache, il is true, but my
coat tails were not, or did not seem, quite SO
long, aud left off my spurs.
My mother and | were seated in our pew,
and impatientlv waited the arrival of my
lovely enigma. tried to prepare myself for
disappointment. 81 have been thinking and
dreaming of an ldeal,o | said TO myself
sdoubtless when the young lady appears, all
my imaginings will vanlsh--there can be nc
doubt but that my fancy has been playing
tricks with me, investing a mare country
mad with transeendent graces and charms
While was reasoning thus with myself tht
! young lady appeared, leading her old rela-
TIVE with tender care.
Worshiping IN ssideal, ? indeed Ny most
charming remembrance did not begin to Ok
justice to the beautiful reality. A soul fall OF
! tenderness and sensibility seemed to have
} found fitting home In q person and face o.
perfect loyehncss and grace.
, She blushed, when looking around, She
Glanced to see me, and again the playful ex
preston on her features, which had 40 inter
ested me formerly, charmed me.
, Az mother and retured home, | described
, ny fair neighbor, and asked my mother who
, she was.
. Her name," said my mother, ~ Grac,
Denny, and she is the loveliest-the most su
perlor young woman have ever IN my whol'
; life net. II is too soon TO think Of such
things yet" she continued, smiling, "but