Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-05-06
A LOVE sT0RY-MARY MOORE
cHApTER I

Our mothers were old playinates and first
cousins Ny FIRST recollection Is of q boy,
in red frock and morocco shoes, rocking a
cradle, in which reposed a sunny-taired,
blue eyed baby, mot quite a year old. That
boy was myself--Harry Church; that blue
eyed baby was Mary Moore
Later stilt i see myself at the little school
house drawing my little chaise up to the
door. that Mary might ride home. Many a
beating have gained ON such occasions for
other BOYS besides me liked her, and she, ]
fear. was something Of firt, even in her
pinafores. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps, when l called her name !
how sweetly her blue eyes looked up at me !!
how gaily rang out her merry laugh that
fairy laugh! No one but Mary could ever
bring her heart so soon to her lips! fol-
lowed that laugh from my days Of childhood
till grew an awkward, blushing YOUTH
followed it through the heated noon of man
h0od--and now, when the trosts Of age are
si!vering my hair, and many children climb
KY knee and call me father" ! find that
the memories OF youth are strong, and that
even in gray hairs, am following its music
still
When Twas fifteen the first great sorrow
Of my life came upon my heart l was sent
10 school and was Obliged to part with Mary.
We were not to see each other for three long
wears, This, to me, was like q sentence oil
death, for Mary was like life itself to me.
But hearts are tough things after nll.
left college in all the flush and vigor of
my nineteenth year. was no longer awk-
ward and embarrassed ! had grown into n
tall, slender STRIPPING with very good
opinion Of myself, both in general and par
ticular lf l thought of Mary Moore, it was
to imagine how would dazzle and bewilder
her with my good looks and wonderful at.
tainments--never thinking that she might
dazzle and bewilder me still more was a
coxcomb, know but, as youth and good
looks have fed, trust / may be believed
when say that selfconccit has left me also
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at this time, and, accepting it, gave up all
idea of n profession, and prepared to 90 to
the Indies In my hurried visit home, Of two
days, | saw nothing of Mary Moore She
had gone to boarding school at some dis
lance, and was not expected home till the
following May uttered one sigh to the
memo of my little bluc-eyed playmate, and
then called myself "a man again.
"ln year" thought, as the vehicle
whrlcd away from our door" in year, or
three years at the very most, will return
and if Mary is as pretty as she used to be,
why then perhaps | may marry her.
And thus settled the future of young
lady whom had not seen for four years /
never thought of the possibility of her refus
ing me--never dreamed that she would not
condescend to accept my offer
But now know that had Mary met me
then, she would have despised me Perhaps
in the scented and affected student she might
have found plenty of sport; but as for loving
me or feeling the slightest interest in me-
should have perhaps found was mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause my laborious industry had counter
acted the evil in my nature and made me
better man When, at the end Of three
years, prepared to return, said nothing of
the reformation in myself which knew had
taken place
They loved me as was" murmured to
myself, "and they shall find out for them
selves whether am better worth loving than
formerly,
packed up many token, from that land
of romance and gold, for the friends hoped
to meet The gift for Mary Moore | selected
with beatin. heart, TWAS ring of rough,
virgin gold with my name and hers engraved
inside that was all and yet the sight of the
little toy strangely thrilled me, as balanced
it upon the tip of my finger.
10 the eyes of others, it was but small
plain circlet suggesting thoughts, perhaps
hv its elegance, of the beautiful white hand
that was to wear it. But to me how much
was embodied therel A loving smile on a
beautiful face-low words of Welcomed
future home, and sweet smiling face-a
group of merry children to climb my knee
all these delights were hidden within that
little ring Of gold!
CHAPTER IL
Tall, heared and sun bronzed, knocked
at the door of my father house The lights
in the parlor windows, and the hum Of con
versation and cheerful laughter showed me
that company were assembled there. l
hoped my sister Lizzie would come to the
door, and that might greet my family when
no strange eye was looking on.
But no--u servant answered my summons.
They were too merry in the parlor to heed
the long absent one, when he asked for adj
mittance, A hitter thought like this was
passing through my mind as | heard the
sounds from the parlor, and saw the half
suppressed smile upon the servants face,
myself known, or asked after the family,
And while stood silent strange apparition
grew up before me- From behind the SER
want peerea out small golden head-a tiny,
delicate form followed, and sweet, childish
face with blue eyes, was lifted up to mine
SO like to those of one who had Frightened
my boyhood, that started back with q sud.
den feeling of pain,
"What is your name, my little one?' l
askedg while the wondering servant held
the door.
She lifted up her hand as if to shade her
eyes 4 had seen that very attitude in an
other, i'll my boyhood, many and many
time) and answered in a sweet, bird-like
voice:
Mary Moore"
And what else?' asked quickly.
Mary Moore Chester i;sped the child,
Nv heart sank down like lead Here was
an end to all the bright dreams and hopes of
my youth and manhood Frank Chester,
my boyish rival who had often tried, and
tried in vain, to usGrp my place beside the
girl, had succeeded at last and had won her
away IRON me- This was his child-his
child and Mary's.
sank, body and soul, beneath this blow;
and, hiding my face in my hands leaned
against the door, while my heart wept tears
of blood. The little one gazed at me, grieyed
and amazed, and put up her pretty In as &c
about to cry, while the perplexcd servant
stepped to the parlor door and called nv sis.
ter out TO see who 1t could be that conducted
himself SO strangely
heard a light step, and pleasant voice
saving
Did you wish to see my father, sir2'
looked up There stood pretty, sweet
laced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister | had loved so we'll.
looked a. her for a moment. and then, still.
ing the tamul' of my heart, by a mighty
etort, iopened my arms and said
Lizzie, don't you know met
Harry OH my brother Harry she
cried, ana threw herself upon my breast
She weps as if her hear, would break
could not weep drew her gently into
the lighted parlor, and stood with her before
them all
Taere was rush and cry of joy, and then
my father AMI mother sprang towards me,
and welcomed me home WITH heartfelt tears
Oh, strange and passing sweet is such a
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