Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-28
my FIRST LOVE.

come man than otherwise: in fact, whatever
may have been the opinion of certain of the
envious and malignant, had myself no doubt
whatever on the subject. / was not rich, If IS
true, but my family was as old as the con-
quast,my father baronet, and myself cor
net of dragons.
have no doubt that the generality of poo
pie would consider my position-excepling
the fact Of possessing an elder brother an
exceedingly enviable one. They are mistaken
A younger son with an estate strictly entailcd
is no such enviable parsonage after ALL as he
himself soon discovers.
Still was happy. 1t was Christmas time,
and Lady Maria Templeton was on a visit 10
my mother and sisters.
l never did and never shall again see such
beauty as hers 1t shed light as she walked.
She was daZzlingly fair in skin, and yet her
hair was black. She was tall, light and sylph
like, and yet no man could venture to call
her any other than naughty beauty But
her eyes! talk of eyes of most unholy-blue, of
sapphires beaming with gem-like sparkles.
know not what to compare hers TO.
There was my brother Tom, the heir TO the
baronetcy, Fanny and Mary, Lady Maria,
and myself. She was our cousin and an
heiress.
She had five thousand year. That l did
not know at the time, or possibly much that
followed might not have occurred. l was not
old enough to be a fortune bunter. while my
pride would have prevented the chance of my
falling in love under circumstances which
might have made me suspected. But l did
though, and up to my very ears.
Tom was hearty fellow, fond of his gun
and his dogs, his horses and bounds, and not
averse to indul gence in those Bacchic revels
which, even to this day, are not unpatrOnlzed
by some of the gentlemen of England. He
was. / have heard also. the terror of rural
swans and the admired of every lady within
ten miles of Courtney Chase. But even he
was struck by Lady Maria.
met her at eventide. We had met before
often but mere children, when we had quar-
rel1d and made it up, and been fast friends
and bitter enemies within an hour. But now
she was lovely woman and l a cornet of
dragoons.
never was so taken aback in my life.
Young as | was, l had put down the imper-
Thence of one or two older men, who thought
they had caught green hand. | had made
a decent figure at mess, and club, and Al
mack's, aud generally, in fact. was supposed
TO know thing or two
had stared a lady once out of counten-
ance at the opera, but when l stepped up to
Maria, to compliment her. everybody else
was doing, | blushed, stammered, and finally
it ended in my muttering something about
''Happy-next danc,?'
Certainly" said Lady Maria, in the most
unaffected manner in the world. taking my
arm as she spoke. Now dent look so very
woe begone, Mr.. Thomas, or l shall laugh.
SO Harry, you are in the army. Why don't
you come down in uniform, spurs and all?'
There was something so easy, so whimsical,
so bantering in her tone that could not help
flushing up 10 the eyes. Was that merry,
delightful laugh with me or al? For the life
of me | could not tell.
"YOu are aware, Lady Maria" l began in
a somewhat stately tone, that unless upon
state occasions, We dispense with our uniform
as much as possible"
"Oh, yes Mr. Cornet Harcourt," she re-
piled, - am fully aware of the etiquette of
the thing; but then / thought-you were so
new to it-that you might like to make SEN
sation for once.
For oncel /, the handsome man in ''ours,
to be talked to in this way, and by little
girl who year ago had been in panafOres! l
could not reply on the instant, and SO pre-
tended to pull my gloves on.
We danced. As we moved TO the soft ca
dence of the music, my h. art began TO beat
with unusual rapidity. In the dawn OF man
hood, while the feelings are fresh and virgin.
when everything on earth appears bright and
lovely. 10 find ones self supporting beautl-
full woman in ones arms, the air balmy with
fragrant odors, lights dazzling, and music IN
toXicating with its EFF inmate sounds, is TO
dwell awhile in paradise Of which We never
perhaps, again obtain so prfect vision.
And then to talk with her aft .rwards! She
was so full of animation and life. 50 really
kind with all her playful sarcasm, that soon
found myself at my ease, even answering
some of her bantering remarks.
| was no mere carpet soldier | longed for
some field on which to distinguish myself. l
burned for fame. for wide world renown.
Lady Maria soon found this out, and then her
bantering ceased all together, her voice sank
lower, her eyes sparkled. her bosom heaved,
as in whispered accents she wished me success
full fortune.
You are of the favored of the earth. Har-
ry," she said, drawing me on one side towards
the conservatory; poor us can do nothing.
but wish you men, good speed. oh, how
sometim long to be man, that |. too, might
be "A soldier, IA sailor, an orator. or a states
man. 1t seems to me so sad IA life to be born
in u station where one can be nothing"
"Oh, Maria ~ cried |, enthusiastically, ''tis
far better as il is: Ii we wish to be great as
soldiers. or sailors or statesmen, why Is 1t p
"Tcll me- she said smiling.
TO win the love of such as you. Rely
upon it, that is the prize man covets. 1t Is
the Consciousness that woman will smile
which imp, Is us to great eds"
Harry Harry" she said, with something
of "A sigh, "at your age believe some such
feeling does exist, but it soon fades away, and
man covets success for its own sake"
''Some few began.
Most men-there are those choice spirits
who do great deeds from sense of duty, but
with most men ambition is the sole guiding
impulse"
i looked at her with surprise. She spoke
warmly and yet with secret bitterness.
"A philosopher in petticoats!' l said, in
laughing tone.
II have lived more in the world than you
have, Harry" continued Maria, smiling; ''but
here comes your brother Tom to claim his
turn. We will continue our conversation by
and bye
1t was my brother Tom, and looking rather
surly, too ut our long tete tete A somew hat
vicious glance which he cast at me- convinced
me that he was deeply interested in my b-au
tiful companion. As l resigned her arm,
feeling of despair came over me. / knew l
was in love.
| retired behind some fragrant bushes, aud
reflected IN instant. Ii was quite cl ar to M
that Lady Maria was intended for the heir of
the baronetcy. He had, at all events, made
the selection. and what hope was there for
me? He had title, position, tome, aud
goodly income on his side while was a more
adventurer, younger son, an eucumorance
on the estatt.
And with the law Of primogeniture, and
the example il sets, people are found to won
der at the dearth Of early marriages, and at
the fact that so many never marry nj all.
ltisnot that they cannot afford To marry but
they cannot keep up the style they have beeu
accustomed To at home. A wealthy noble
mans second son, while at home, enjoys as
many luxuries as the heir. Ii is hard. then in
his ewes, to descend TO the plebian villa and
no carriage, even though happiness be the re-
suit.
The evil law often, and the agglomeration
of wealth In the hands of the few, Is the great
canse of modern Indifference TO marriage. Tue