Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-05-07
MY FIRST AND LAST LOVE.

4 Il love my love with an L, said land ava,
/ went the long apple pearing over my shoulder
There was rush and a scramble to see if IN,
letter had been formed upon the floor and shout.
that it was an l., and shouts that it was not, but
instead, almost every other letter in the alpha
! bet
! All the time I sat feeling extremely shy ant
| awkward, and not at all relieved when the poin
! under discussion was decided in favor of the L
although had chosen that letter because, so fal
| as knew, II did not form the initial of any Of
the young men present. But / began to be
afraid that had not chosen wisely after all, and
that might be called upon yet for some of the
ridiculous forfeits of the game. How trembled
! then when heard the shouts:
/ Here is the l.. Leander Holme, Miss Kate
has chosen you Look see the l., upon the
| floor"
| Somebody was coming toward me. Somebody
said Miss Berry-Mr. Holme" A tall figure
bent before me, and sat silently by my side All
this saw dimly from under my eyelds that were
cast down in real not affected shyness. How
grateful | was not to find myself pulled into the
centre of the room and kissed boisterouslv, as
happened TO many of the girls present that even
| ing, and who under the intiction, only blushed
little and Uttered good deal.
This was my second country party. I had
suffered fortunes at the first, and expected to
suffer fortunes at this. | felt that / had escap-
ed happily if might but be allowed to sit quiet
~ IN the corner had chosen. Even the very
silent person at my side did not particularly an
noy ME so long the noisy group in the centre
OF the room would allow me to be quiet
had been reared from early childhood in the
house of a wealthy, childless uncle, in the city
was very young, and had no idea of society
except whatI had gained from being locker ON
at my aunts semiannual, stiffand formal parties
where the company were very decorous and ex-
cessively stupid.
Ny uncle had died very suddenly, without
will and his heir-at'law had taken possession of
his property, leaving my aunt with a compare
lively small income, while |, after having been
reared until the age of sixteen in the midst of
wealth and luxury, was left entirely unprovided
for
My aunt went to live in lodgings, and / was
sent back to my father who was poor man
with many children, and slatternly scolding
wife, who was not my mother My own mother
had died in my infancy, and it was said my faith
er had never been himself SINCE. He had be-
come dissipated, lost his habits of business,
which were fast bringing him wealth, and at
last quitting business entirely, had gene TO live
on little farm in the interior of the State, had
married and was now surrounded by large,
disorderly, boisterous family.
Into this uncongenial house | was suddenly
thrust from the refnements of nv life in the
u
happy. | had never been accustomed to the
comranionship of children, but soon found that
whenever / shrank from the dirty noisy crew
around me, gave offence to their mother and
through her representations, TO my father, who
seemed completely under her influence.
Every instructive indulgence in the tastes and
habits in which had been reared, was looked
upon as an evidence Of PRIDE and soon found
all the influence OF home arrayed against me and
nay wishes.
| had shrunk through shyness from attend
ing the first party, but had gone because could
not resist my mothers sneers and my fathers
commands. And so much had | been terrified
by the good-natured boisterousnes of the young
people assembled, that mentally resolved new
er to go again Notwithstanding, found my
self once more in the same circle, after a very
trying scene at home, and in my dread of the
thirty pairs of eyes fixed upon me, had been
drawn into their games.
l had nos yet glanced at the face of the young
man at my side, nor had word been interchang-
ed, when the noisy group in the centre of the
room broke up. They came crowding around
me, uttering broad but good humored iests that
felt sent the blood flushing and burning into
my face My companion must have felt me
trembling too, for he suddenly leaned forward
and whispered:
'Do not be afraid, Miss Kate, they do not in
tend any ham, and viii see that they do not
much annoy you"
gave him one grateful glance for / was too
near crying to trust my voice, and met pair of
brilliant, dark eyes, fixed full upon my face,
very mirthful, yet good deal compassionate in
expression. Suddenly he rose up, and drawing
my arm within his, turned to the bantering
group.
Miss Kate has chosen me this evening, and
take her under my protection. / shall be a
very tyrant, and not one of you must speak to
her without my permission"
So saying he led me away TO an opposite cor
ner of the room There, seeing that, between
shyness and the annoyanees Just passed, l was
still unable to control my voice or features, he
stood before me speaking calmly and quietly of
some unimportant subject. His pleasant voice
and quiet manner soon helped me to control my
agitation, and then he sat down beside me- /
was amazed at myself talking gaily with this
stranger, and still more amazed to find myself
happy for several hours of the evening TO which
/ had looked forward to with so much dread,
and which had commenced so inauspiciously.
And when he brought several Of the bright
ruddy-looking girls to speak to me in the
course of the evening, | found what foolish shy
ness had prevented me from learning before
that they were amiable, warm-hearted creatures,
in spite of their lack of refinement So on the
whole the evening passed pleasantly, and / was
never afraid to go again especially as, when they
found was not too proud to join in their sports
they never attempted to drag me into any which
did not like.
But chief among the pleasant memories of
that evening was the kindness of Leander
Holme. A pair of dark eyes haunted my
thoughts for many day, and | never forgot the
soothing impression of his calm voice aud pleas
ant manner.
Leander Holme was the son of the only rich
man IN the neighborhood He had been well
educated, and that alone would have rendered
him infinitely superior to those around him, even
if his winning manner had not been that of
gentleman-refned, courteous and manly.
OF course no one will wonder thai became
deeply in love with Leander Holme. His devo-
ton had not wayered from the first, and long
before that first Winter in my fathers home was
passed, / had promised to become his wife. 1t
would have been dreary and miserable Win
ter indeed without his presence and his love, but
with it-ah even now that long years have pas
sed, think of that, only recurring to that time
and never to the discomforts that had, in the
fullness Of my happiness, ceased TO make me
miserable.
My father and his wife were all smiles and ap-
proyal. But when, towards Spring, ourengage-
Inent came to the knowledge of LeanderS faith.
er, he at once announced his decided disappro-
baton. l heard that he asserted that he would
never consent that his son should marry the
daughter Of a lazy, dissipated man, and he said
tli'aA my CITY rearing WIS scarcely better prep
aration for the duties of mistress of Holme Place,
than should have received at the hands of that
Drawing, slatternly fathers wife.
Leander was firm, and talked Of the future
and patient waiting, But | felt that l had been
seorned, and my Indignation was unbounded.-
wrote TO my aunt, telling her all in measured
phrases, and begging her to send for me to live
with her If possible. Her answer was TO come
at once, and departed much TO the consterna-
ut fail md IA afadd
of his wife, who hated me more than ever since
she heard of Colonel Holmes remark.
LETT little note for Leander, who was alb
sent al the time, saying that the engagement had
better end, and releasing him fully and uncondi-
tionally. / wrote and sealed the note without
hesitation or faltering, though ii cost me severe
pang 10 do So
- mn. l-...- mil lad he.r, sattIed in my