Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-15
EV VENING STAR,
81 X NOW 1T. 4"
By 4. DEVICE.

m0ustache was quite visible on my upper hp,
and consciousness of ripe maturity never
left my mind 1 was studying for the legal
| profession, but ut the time Of which L write
was spending my summer vacation at my
| fathers house in the country.
Though so manly almost sOldier-hke, as
| fancied,) in my appearance, my inner was by
| no means so stern as my outer man. [ loved
my mother with childish tenderness, and
sooner than pain her pious heart L Hnmurmur-
| ingIy accompanied her every Sunday to the
village church, to listen TO long sermons OF
which L could not hear a word, for the tremu-
| lous accents of the very aged minister who
conducted the services were so faint as to be
| inaudible where l sat Though melted by
| love and duty to subject myself TO the weekly
| penance, (well deserved by my weekly sins, }
my conscience yet did not prevent me from
| Willing away my time by such amusements
as lay at hand-that of observing and specu-
lating on the countenances of my neighbors,
| an occupation of which 1 was fond
The physiognOmy which interested me more
than that of all Others was that of young girl
who sat not far from US, and who was accom-
panied by an aged woman, probably her
| grandmother-the object of her watchful care.
| The girls face, from the first eliciting my
| careless admiration, gradually absorbed my
whole attention. 1t was very beautiful, but
| apart from that it possessed the greatest pos
elDIe lUltTtSl lOr u6. never QdQ l. seen q
cOuntenance which denoted so much sensibili-
| ty in the beholder to read her innocent soul
| like an open book.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object Of my
busy fancies would catch my eye, or without
looking at me, seemed to know or feel that
| was gazing at her, and l wickedly delighted
in noticing the blush which deepened on her
cheek till withdrew my eyes.
One Sunday L happened, in coming out of
l,ahy - IL IL
| mediately behind her, my hand actually
touching her unconscious garment 1 felt an
irresistible desire to force her in some way to
notice me-to speak to her-to occasion one of
those charming bushes anything l knew
not what. In short, like an impertinent cox.
| comb as l was, stopped forward, and with an
| insufferable insolence, which I blush now to
| remember whispered in her ear
You are very pretty"
Never was L more surprised than when she
camly replied
Il know it..
was absolutely startled. / had expected
| silent, conscious blush, an indignant glance,
anything but this cool " know it.
Twas puzzled, but had plenty Of time to
turn the matter over in my mind, for in a few
days l returned to college 1 can truly say
it was the one problem which, throughout the
term, gave me the most thought
Another year elapsed ere | returned home
and again sat in the village church. Ny per-
sonal appearance was, meanwhile, somewhat
altered. L still wore my mOustache, it is true,
but my ceat tails were not, or did not seem
quite so long, and left eff nv spurs
My mother and | were early seated in our
pew, aud lmpatiently waited for the arrival
OF my lovely enigma. L tried to prepare N.Y.
self for disappointment. 81 have been think
ing and dreaming about an IDEAL said 1 to
myself; doubtless when the young lady ap-
pears, all my imaginings will vanish-there
can be no doubt my fancy has been playing
tricks with me, investing a mere country
maiden With transcendent graoes and charms" "
While was reasoning thus with myself, the
young lady appeared, leading her old relative
with tender care.
WOrshipping an " ideal, !" indeed my most
charming remembrance did not begin to do
justice to the beautiful reality. A soul full Of
tenderness and sensibiity seemed to have
found a fitting home in person and face of
perfect lovehness and grace.
She blushed, when looking round che
ohanced to see me, and again the play of ex-
preston on her features, which had so inter
ested me formerly, charmed nae.
As mother aud L returned home, described
my fair neighbor, and asked mother who she
was.
Her name," my mother said, "is Grace
Denny, and she is the lOyeliest, the most su-
perior 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 8 woman"
" Not quite so fast, mother said /, laugh
ing away little embarrassment which was
most anxious to conceal.
/ found that Grace had become a constant
visitor at my mothers, and did not fail to
improve the opportunity of becoming ac-
quainted with her.
She wa. indeed gifted creature, endowed
with all "nature's best" She sang, she
danced, she conversed with an indescribable
grace peculiar to herself. Though generally
thoughtful and earnest in her manner, she
had 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 sensibility depicted on every
feature of her sweet face. I soon found my
self painfully interested in her. l say pain
fully, for Grace received my assiduOus at
tentlOns with perfect coOlness and uncon-
Germ that gave mo great uneasiness. Some
times l thought she remembered my early
impertinence, and was disposed to punish me-
But there was a rival, cousin Of Grace's,
who always stood In my way, and from whom
Grace received, as matter Of course, number
less little attentions which L dared not even
offer. L hated this man; l was insufferabIy
jealous but Grace seemed either perfectly
unconscious or perfectly Indifferent to the by
play Of animosity which was carried on be-
tween US two.
Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with her child
like simplicity and sensitive woman'S heart
who could resist her L could not my whole
soul was hers. In vain had l called upon my
vanity, of which l had plenty to invoke, to
save me from the modification of loving with
out return. l could not stem or control the
passion which, strong as a mighty whirlwind,
had seized 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 vanity. 1 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 L was beside myself with JOY at |
the idea L was as if in blissful dream,
sweet delirium, a rapture of love. As Grace
unable longer TO repress the one thought that
filed my heart, and exclaimed fervently-
Al