The weekly ledger., 1857-05-09
MARY MOORE.
BY MARY W. STANLEY GIBSON.

CHAPTER I.
All my life long had known Mary Moore.
All my life long, too, had known l loved
her.
Our mothers were old playmates, and first
cousins. My first recollection is of young
gentleman in turkey-red frock and morocco
Shoes rocking cradle in which reposed a
sunny-haired, blue-eyed baby, not quite year
old. That young gentleman was |, myself,
Harry Church-that blue-eyed baby was
Mary Moore.
Later still, see myself at the little red
school house, drawing my little painted sled
up to the door, and arranging my overcoat
upon it, that Mary might ride home. Many
a black eye have gained on such occasions;
for other boys liked her beside me, and she, /
am afraid, was something of firt, even in
her pianafors. How daintily she came trip
ping down the steps, when called her name .
how sweet her blue eyes looked up to me from
the enyious folds of her winter hood! How
gaily her merry laugh rang out when, by dint
of superhuman exertions, l kept her sled be-
fore the rest and let her stand on the steps
exultingly to see them all go by That fairy
taught No one but Mary could ever let her
heart lie so upon her lips! / followed that
laugh up from the days of my childhood till
grew an awkward, blushing youth-I fol-
lowed it through the heated noon of man
hood, and now, when the frosts of age are
silvering my hair, and many children climb
my knee and call me Father" | find that
the memories of youth are strong, and that
grey hairs and all, | am following its music
still.
When was fifteen, the first great sorrow
of my life came upon me. was sent away
to western school, and was obliged to part
with Mary. We were not to see each other
for three long years! This, to me, was like
q sentence Of death, for Mary was like life
itself to me-
But hearts are tough things after all.
left College in all the flush and vigor of
my nineteenth year. was no longer awk-
ward and embarrassed | was grown into a
tall, slender STRIPPING, with a very good opin-
ion of myself in general and particular. If
| thought of Mary Moore, it was to wonder
how I would dazzle and bewlder her with my
good looks and wonderful attainments-
thinking that she might dazzle and bewilder
me still more. l was sad puppy, know !;
but as youth and good looks have fed, trust
| may be believed when l say that self
conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made to
me at this time, and, accepting it, gave up
all ideas OF profession and prepared to go
to the Indies. In my hurried visit home, of
two days, saw nothing of Mary Moore
She had gone to boarding school in Mas
sachusetts, and was not expected home till
the next fall gave one sigh to thememory
of my little blue-eyed playmate, and then
called myself "a man again"
"In year." / thought, as the stage whirl-
ed away from our door again, "in year, or
three years at the very most, l will return,
and If Mary is as pretty as she used to be
why, then, perhaps may marry her"
stroked my budding mustache with great
complacency, while settled the future of a
young lady had not seen for four years. l
never dreamed of the possibility of her refu-
sing me-never dreamed that she would not
stoop with grateful tears, to pick up the hand
kerchief whenever | might choose to throw
it at her feet
But now know that had Mary met me
then, she would have despsed me. She was
as far above me as the heavens are above the
earth. 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, save regret that | should
make such an unlimited donkey Of myself
know her better now.
India was my salvation, not merely because
of the plentiful share of gold laid up, but
hooapeo NV earnest labor cOunteracted the
evil in my nature, and made me better man.
And when at the end of three years pre-
pared to return home, | wrote nothing to the
dear ones / was about to meet, Of the refor-
nation which knew had taken place,