Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-19
OWANDA:
,,,rsAan alurniup, 2ugnst 10. 1858.
A LOVE GT0BY~
carving Through Prudential Motives
BY MARY VALE.

.ur dear Mrs. Elmer" said l, taking my
Ny ~ her feet. as her visitor, sentimental
g, ody of the first water, left the room,
al % lot hear you express disbelefin first
- srsnect it was the name of favorite au-
" l., that attracted your attention, rather
!. any remark of mine. | merely read the
.a'r;nr w. extract from one of his letters
A. is>pre Yourself that scarce one person
oftUqntv marres his first love and scarce
~ an, Of twenty of the remainder has cause
,.;,i,q at having done so. What we love
.asa early DAYS is generally rather q fanci-
H .raotion of our own than reality. We
ri m statues of snow, and weep when they
n.l
In nv opinion, this consummate reader Of
# -m,p nature never penned truer paragraph
srtbis"
II do not understand you," said |, puzzled
+. most vouag ladies', had formed Il grand
rr of first. Interchangeable, eternal love,
-riaj no. quite relish its destruction.
..rs that many, after being disappointed in
.- Affection marry through prudential mo-
.,., bu; | cannot believe that such unions
On Pc harr."
Yen disnlav a romantic contempt for pru-
..raI rotircS.' | should he sorry were you
n4-~ with any other. hope that they
ne Influenced ne"
Nv asten<hrent Increased tenfold | had
rlyS regarded Mrs Elmer as a pattern of
arsl affection, and had nwardly resolved
IT, ever married, | tcuId strive to select
I>land who shoaId resemble hers in manly
.l,.gn. goodness, and intelligence only he
aid be FIR haudsomer. My mind instantly
I'd upon this want of beauty as the cause
cl. at the time of her marriage, had pre-
tared love from mingliug with the metiVes
ch had Induced her to accept him"
You are 5ewlldcred, see" she said, with
b amused look at my face have shocked
var refined notions of matrimony most ter
r, and, to get myself into favor again, shall
lye to tell You a real love Story-Of first love-
1 When | was about your age-and, if
ol will excuse me, | will add, in some res
ert> quite as nonSausical, even more, perhaps,
uco was an only and pcttcd child resid
Film a small town ia the interior of the State
l.e society of B was better and more
or., than IS generally to be found in so re-
'ri d place and although at a distance
from the metropolis, tri weekly stage, which
eg-at Us the newspapers and the magazines
nae month, kept us from falling entirely be-
@i the times and the fashions. The entry
the ma.lcoach was, as it always is in Il vii
70, an event Of great Importance, even if it
r."e empty but one day the interest of the
l..l. was raised to the highest pitch by the
P2rauce Of a passenger, who alighted at
e hotel, and ordered his baggage to be re
a1el la the course of half an hours con
'e,,atjon with the landlord, he announced his
lrntIons TO Lecome a citizen of B. He
-l just been admitted to the bar, and had
lari that there was It good opening there for
..l an one, the principal lawyer Of the place
--1og died a short time before.
For several days nothing was talked Of
D, the late arrival. Lawton'S punS were quo
I'd by the young man, his opinion Of trade by
'@ ppas, his respectful and deferentiai de-
asanor praised by the mammas while the
-a-Aters exhausted their stock of superIativcs
y describing his bright eyes. sweet smiles, and
~clantmg whjskerS In short, Mr. Lawton
-,ame al once the great men of our little
la,a and like most other lions, paid dearly
'of dS honors by lending patient ear to all
@'FeIS, domestic and public and, no mat
s' bow pressing his business engagements
45At be, holding himself in readiness to play
''. part OF chief guest at every pleasure party
.DI merry making. 1t was at enc of these
'>, that first met him. | had half made up
U! mind to dislike him. had pictured him
q t'aceIted and fOppish, and was resolved to
~lF the good people Of B, that they
-' been making fools of themselves only t.
,.'aly his 5cf-love He should see, too, that
,4s Oh them at least was not to be blinded by
"sl lown speeches and outside show. Ac
"0agiy, did not look towards the end ol
I'd" room where | knew he was stationed fol
."I! an hour after ! entered. | had beer
. for week or two previous, anC
.lFe'ore 4. had never met him even at church
a. length | was led to the piano, by one who
I'l been our AdonS until recently, and whom
1o" treated with more afflbility than | had
'sF before shown. had played several pie
..> ana had sung divers songs, which were
!. @'1ta by the company there was pause il
wy 1emand, and | took advantage oft to sins
'''oHle, and what intend should be the las
.,,' ,'Fe quitting the musical-stool. 1t wa
Moore Farewell" In the thoughts lnSpr
~ U! the exquisite mournful words aad music
, "ad almost forgotten the presence of Others
."'a' CHANGING to raise my eyes, | encounter
- gaze which sarted and confused me
,y1a ~ not tell why. Standing at one corner O
". -' ul'>'rnment almost facing me, and bending
o4uy forward as if to drink in every note
Young man, stranger, aud handSom
". ly,'uSh to satisfy even your fastIdiouS taste
-0l IKE portraits, and | will describe him a
'"ea appeared to me- He was tall, with
''u'e OF the most graceful proportions, walk
rt a, "Ad moving as if he had been the monarc
r.. .le universe raven hair, not curling, bu
,.','aS around fine, thoughtful brow eye
d.. a' mashed aud glowed at times, until hardl
i. ,'ed look at them, and anon seemed meltin
rS3, tenderness perfect teeth, and a smi
''n even now | must acknowledge was sill