Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-09
Srlttt Tale.
MY FIRST AND LAST LOVE.

81 love my love with an L." said /, and
away went the long apple pearng over my
shoulder, There was rush and scramble
to see if my letter bad been formed upon the
floor, aud shouts that it was an l.. and shouts
that it was not, but, instead, almost every
other letter in the alphabet.
All the time l sat feeling extremely shy
and awkward, and not at all relieved when
the point under discussion was decided in
favor of the l., although ] had chosen that
letter because, so for as | 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 forfets Of the game. How |
trembled, then, when heard the shouts:
"Here is the L. Leander Holme, Miss
Kate has chosen you Look ! see the l.
upon the floor"
Somebody was coming toward me. Some
body said, Miss Betty-Mr. Holme."
| tall figure bent before me, and sat down
silently by my side. All this / saw dimly
under eyelids that were cast down in real,
not affected, shyness. How grateful l was
not to fud myself pulled into the centre of
the room and kissed boisterously as hap
pened to many of the girls present that
blushed little and Uttered good deal.
This was my second country party. ! had
suffered tortures at the first, and expected to
suffer tortures at this. ] felt that | had es
capped happily, if might but be allowed to
sit quietly in the corner had chosen. Even
the very silent person at my side did not
particularly annoy me so long as the noisy
group in the centre of the room would allow
me to be quiet.
had been reared from early childhood in
the house of wealthy. childless uncle, in the
city. l was very young and had no idea of
society, except what l had gained from being
a looker-on at my aunt's semi.annual, stiff
and formal parties. where the company was
very decorous and excessively stupid.
My uncle had died very suddenly, without
q will, and his heir-at-law had taken posses
sion OF his property leaving my aunt with
comparatively small income, while |, after
having been reared until the age of sixteen
in the midst of wealth aud luxury, was left
entirely unprovided for.
! My auat went to live in lodgings, and !
was sent back 70 my father, who was poor
man with many children, and satternly,
scolding wife, who was rot my mother. My
own mother had died in my infancy and it
was said my father had never been himself
since. He had become dssipated lost his
| habits of business, which were fast bringing
him wealth, and at last quitting business
entirely had gone to live on little farm in
the interior of the State, had married, and
was now surrounded by large, disordery,
boisterous family.
Into this uncongenal house was suddenly
thrust from the refnements of my life in the
house OF q wealthy citizen. | was shy and
unhappy. j had never been accustomed to
the companonship of children, but | soon
found that whenever i sbrank inyoluntarily
! from the dirty, noisy crew around me, ! gave
| offence to the mother, and, through her rep
reservations, to my father, who seemed COM
pletely under her influence.
Every instructive indulgence in the tastes
and habits in which | had been reared, was
looked upon as an evidence Of pride, aud
soon found all the influences of home arrayed
against me and my wishes.
had shrank, through shyness, from at
tending the first party, but had gone because
| could not resis! my mothers sneers and my
fathers commands. And so much had l been
terrified by the good-natured besterousness
Of the young people assembled that l men,
tally resolved never to go again. Notwith-
standing, found myself once more in the
same circle after very trying scene at home,
and in my dread of the thirty pairs Of eyes
liked upon me had been drawn into their
games.
1 had not yet glanced at the face Of the
young, man at my side. nor had word been
interchanged, when the noisy group in the
centre oil the room broke up. They came
erowdlng around me, uttering broad, but
good humored jests that felt sent the blood
flushing and burning into my face My con-
panlon must have felt me trembling, too, for
he suddenly leaned forward and whispered
do not be afraid, Miss X ate, they do moi
intend any HARM and will see that they dc
not much annoy you"
too near crying to dare to trust my voice
and met pair Of brilliant, dark eyes, fxet
full upon my face, very mirthfu, yet goot