Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-12
MY FIRST AND LASTLOyE.
BY MISS NARY G.. VAUGHAN

der Ihere was rush and scramble to see
If my letter had been formed upon the floor.
and shouts that il was an L. and shouts that IL
was not, but, instead, almost every other letter
in the alphabet.
All tho time l sat feeling extremely sby and
awkward, and not at all relieved when the
point under discussion was decided in favor OF
the l., although | had chosen that letter be-
cause, so far as L knew, it did not form the
initial Of any one of the young men present
But L 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 T. see the L upon the
floor
Somebody was coming toward me- Somebody
laid, Miss Betty-Mr Holms" A tall figure
bent before me, and sat down silently by my
side. All this L saw dimly under eyelids that
were cast down in real, not affected shyness
How grateful L was not to find myself pulled
into the centre of the room and kissed bolster
ously' "a happened TO many of the girls present
that evening, and who under the inhicti0n only
flushed little and Uttered good deal
This was my second country party I had
suffered tortures at the first and expected to
suHsr tOrtures at this. | felt that had es-
eaPed happily, if 1 might but be allowed to sit
quietly in the corner had chosen. Even the
very silent person at my side did not partieu-
larry annoy me so long as the noisy group in the
centre OF the room would allow me to be quiet
L had been reared from early childhood in
the house OF a wealthy, chiidless uncle, in the
city. L Was very young, and had no idea of
society, except what | had gained from being a
lOOker-On at my aunts semi-annual. stiff and
formal parties, where the company were very
decOrous and excessively stupid
My uncle had died very suddenly, without
will. and his heir-at-law had taken possession
Of his property, leaving my aunt with q com
parauyely small income, while l, 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 a poor man
with many children, and a slatternly, scolding
wife, who was not my mother. My own mother
had died In my infancy, and it was said nv
father had never been himself since. He had
become dissipated, lost his habits of business
which were fast bringing him wealth, and at
last quitting business entirely had gone to live
on a little farm IN the interior of the State
had married, snd was now surrounded by
large, disOrderly, boisterous family
Into this uncongenial house 1 was suddenly
thrust from the refnements Of my life in the
house Of a wealthy citizen. l was Shy and un-
happy. l had never been accustomed to the
eOmpaniOnship of children. but I soon found
dirty, noisy crew around me, gave offence TO
the mother, and, through her representations
70 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
tound all the influences Of home arrayed
against me and my wishes .....t
had shrank, through shyness, from attend
ing the hrst party, but had gone because
could not resist my mothers sneers and nv
fathers commands. And 80 much had been
terrified by the good -natured boisterousness of
the young people assembled that | mentally
resolved never to go again. Notwithstanding.
l found myself once more in the same circle
alter very trying scene at home, and in my
dread OF the thirty pairs Of eyes fixed upon
me had been drawn into their games
bad not yet glanced at the face of the
young man at my side, nor had word been
lnterehangsd, when the noisy group in the CEN
tire Of the room broke up. They came crowd
Ing around me, uttering broad but good -hu-
lnored Jests that felt sent the blood flushing
and burning into my face. My companion
must have felt me trembling, too, for he sud-
denly leaned forward and whispered
DO not be afraid. Miss Kate. they do not
intend any harm, and l will see that they do
not much annoy you"
gave him one grateful glance, for was too
near crying 70 dare TO trust my voice and met
a pair Of brilliant dark eyes, fixed full upon
my face, very mirthful, yet good deal COM
passionate In expression. Suddenly he rose
up, and drawing my arm within his turned to
the bantering group
" Mise Kate has chosen me this evening, and
take her under my protection. shall be
very yrant, and not one of you must speak to
her without my permission.
DO saying, he led me away to an opposite
corner Of the room. There, seeing that, be-
tween snyness and the annoyaDces just passed,
was still unable to control my voice or fea-
lures, he stood before NE speaking calmly and
quietly OF some unimPOrtant subject. His
peasant voice and quiet manner soon helped
me 70 control my agitation, and then he sat
down beside me. was amazed at myself talk
ing gaiy with this stranger and still moro
amazed TO find myself happy for several hours
Of the evening to which had looked forward
with so much dread, and which had commenced
- inauspiciUusly.
And when he brought several of the bright
ruddy-loOking girls 10 speak TO me in the course
of the evening, l found what foolish shyness
bad prevented me from learning before that
they were amiable, warm hearted creatures, In
spite Of their lack Of refinement 80 on the
whole, the evening passed pleasantly, and
was never afraid 10 90 again, especially as,
when they found l was not too proud to join in
their sports they never attempted to drag me
into any which I did not like
But ehlef among the pleasant memories OF
that evening was the kindness of Leander
Holme- pair Of dark eyes haunted my
thoughts for many u day. and ! never forgot
the soothing impression Of his calm voice and
pleasant manner.
Leander HOlme the the son Of the only
rich man in the neighbOrhOod. He had been
well educated aud that alone would have rem
dersd him infinitely superior to those around
him. even IL his winning manner had not been
"A ne oct ont len -raAp paI
and manly.
VI course, no one will wonder that became
deeply IN love with Leander IIOlme His de-
VOtIon had never wavered from the FIRST. and
long before the first winter in my futher home
Was passed, / had promised TO become his wife.
II would have been u dreary and miserable
winter indeed without his presence and his love,
bat with it,-ah, even now that long years have
passed, think Of that, only recurring TO that
ume and never Of the discomfOrts that had, in
the fullness Of my happiness, ceased to make
me miserable