Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-11-28

Twas warm corner in my heart for al
who sought my friendship. I think ]
could have clasped all Gods creatures
in one embrace, if my arms would have
held them all. The young ladies with
whom I mingled in society were SC
many dear sisters, their brothers were
my brothers, and l rode, talked and
danced with all who sought my compa-
ny, never questioning their motives Of
considering the probability Of any
among them becoming suitors for my
hand, so long as they never spoke Of
love and l was greatly amused when
I first heard myself accused Of coquet-
ting with those l had never suspectep
guilty Of harboring any sentiment for
me warmer than friendship.
"My first serious annoyance was a
Mr.. Kinney, who came to spend a few
days with some cousins in the village,
and, for some inexplicable reason, en-
listed at once into my service-though
l would gladly have dispensed with the
honor, for l had never seen any one l
disliked so much. Others called him
witty, fne-looking, gentlemanly and
agreeable, but was blind to his attrac-
tons, and he seemed equally oblivious
to my dislike; and though 1 constantly
declined his civilities, he persisted in
following me from place to place, pay
ing me the most marked attention
wherever I went, and praising me in
the most extravagant terms when l was
absent.
eff I shrunk away from him, and
became silent and reserved when he ap-
preached, he was delighted with such
modest Indifference in one so beautiful
and if l treated him with cold disdain,
he was astonished at queenly dignity in
one so young.
COZ course his cousins, Kitty and
Mary Barton, did all in their power to
add to my discomfort by repeating his
compliments to me and as he prolong-
ed his stay week after week, and called
as often as he could find a pretext for
doing so, I became almost desperate
under the infection.
"But all things earthly have an end,
and he at last announced his determi-
nation Of leaving and came to bid me
goodbye. received him more cordi-
ally than l had ever been able to do be-
fore, for I was very happy at the pros
pect Of parting with him /; and though
his visit was drawn out to an unconsid-
cradle length, the certainty Of its being
the last enabled me to bear it with equa-
nimity, and when he offered his hand at
parting, and asked if I would not think
Of him some times when he was gone, l
really gave the required promise, for l
was sure I should never be able to for
get him.
GA few weeks later I received let
ter from him containing bombastic
and passionate avowal of undying af-
fiction, unbounded admiration, and
idolatrous love, and begging me to be
his wife. I was petrifed with astonish-
ment and blinded with rage, for it sud
denly occurred to me that his inefable
self-conceit had led him to attribute my
avoidance of him to the coyness Of love.
But I think he must have been convin
ce Of his mistake when he received my
answer by next mail.
81 saw him once, long time after
wards, and triel to avoid recogni-
ton, but some one officiously introdu-
ced him, and he believed he had once
had the honor of Miss Keith's acquaint-
ance.' When next I heard Of him he
had committed matrimony instead Of
suicide, as you pleasantly suggested
disappointed SWANS were apt to do.
GA few months after Mr.. Kinney's
case was disposed of became acquainted
with Charley Fielding, and soon learn
ed to like one as much as l had dis
liked the other. He was less handsome
than some others Of my acquaintance,
but he had such a genial joyous-heart-
edness, mingled with so much Of manly
sincerity, and such true, noble soul
looked out from his eyes that he was
deservedly favorite with all who knew
him. He came several times to see me,
and l began to watch impatiently for his
coming, though I never told him I was
glad to see him or asked him to call
again, for I thought he only came to
pass an idle hour, and would gladly
have concealed even from myself the
secret Of my growing preference, till
one day he startled me by an abrupt
acknowledgment of affection. What
he said I scarcely knew, for soon as he
commenced speaking had an intuitive
knowledge Of what was coming, and
became too much confused to hear dis
tinctly, but / comprehended that he
cherished deeper regard for me than
l had ever dared to hope, and wished to
know my feelings in return.
/" But it was SO sudden, SO unlocked
for, that had my life depended on it l
could not have articulated syllable /;
but stood silent and trembling beneath
the anxious inquiring eyes that sought
my own. He must have construed my
silence into annoyance or displeasure /;
for when, after the lapse Of several Sec
onds that seemed to me so many hours,
I ventured to raise my eyes, he extend
ed his hand aud said, SO coldly and so
proudly, Goodbye, Miss Keith, we
may never meet again : and in another
moment he was gone. HOPED he would
return, but he did not !; and as l would
not inquire for him, it was some weeks
before l knew that he had gone to the
West Indies with an invalid. relative,
Al