Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-19

singing, and then walked slowly away. In q
few seconds, the lady of the house, bringing
him up to me, introduced Mr. Lawton. This
was done, l know, by special request, since
the worthy hostess had several marriageabIe
| daughters, and was never known TO neglect
! their interests for the momentary qualification
| OF guest and | was sufficiently we'll acuuaint-
ed with her to read chagrin in her eyes as she
presented him. This proof of admiration, con-
pied to the one he had already given me, soft
ened somewhat my determination to treat him
coldly and, had these failed, his address must
have diSarmed me. His voice, when address
ing lady, was ever soft and low-an excel
lent thing, in man as well as woman: and his
manner on this occasion respectful almost to
timidty.
He stood by me for short time, making
remarks and replying to mine with distant gra
witty, until rather lively observation from me
caused him to turn his eyes to my face will
smile, at the same time responding in gayer
tone. The ice was now broken he soon drew
a chair to my side and moved no more during
the remainder of the evening If had been
pleased with his appearance and manner, |
was charmed with the insight which his con
yerSation gave me to his mind. | have al
chtchat with which others of the sex are wont
to regale US. | had rather be fed all my life
upon syabnbs and whipt creams Lawton's first
approach to this interesting compound was
checked by remark similar to this but couch
ed, dareSay, in more elegant terms, for in
those days | prided myself upon what | con-
ceIved to he the perfect proprlety of my Ian
guage He took the hint, and at once led the
conversation into other channels, touching
highly upon different topics, until his quick eye
assured him that he had found one o@e peculiar
" interesting to me. lie spoke of music, and
from this, by most natural translation we wan
dered 10 poetry, from poetry to romance and
works of graver nature | was now com
plctely in my element. From my earliest child
hood | had been an indefatigabe book worm
devOuring everything that came within my
reach my brain was filled with a mass OF hete.
rogencus lore, crowded in without order but
| could generally find u little knowledge of
almost any subject.
Ny love Of poetry amounted almost to
passion, and gave a tcne to my whole charac-
ter / was not in the habit of displaying my
treasures te these whom | considered cold and
prosiac, sordid and heartleSs bat | had now
met with one who could appreciate me With
great tact he drew me, as it We're, out Of my
self, and was not aware how completely en-
gagged | had been until a movement Of dcpar
ture throughout the room warned me of the
latenesS of the hour ! arose.
'You are not going yet surely ~ said my
companion in a tone Of surprise. 1T is very
early"
81 held up mywatch he effected great Won
dcrment. and begged to be allowed the pleas.
ure Of attending me home.
Z" Do You know" said |, as he assisted me
to put on my cloak, " that if our conversation
of the last hour has been overheard, we have
lost, irretrevably lost our reputation as tOi
lowers of the bon ton ? | am alone to blame
as you are q comparative stranger ! yet
thought you had resided here long enough to
know that it is high treason in gentleman to
sneak of literature to a lady. 1t is regarded
as an insinuation that there are things i'll the
world worthy of attention besides herself Do
not think me iIlnatured. | only say this to
show that my fault was not one of ignorance
of established rules, which is, in such a case, a
more henouS sin than wilful transgreSSiOn.'
" am hot so ignorant as you imagine, he
answered i hatter myself that | am area-
| DIV an fat to the court rules of B. This
| | speedily discovered to be one of the most i'm
perative, and have met with no temptation to
break it until tonight. AT least, he contnu'
! ed, | shall have companion in misfortune ;
! for if am convicted in pedantry, you will not
! escape the title of blue
/ {" did not rest we'll that night my dreams
were troubled by the picture OF stern school
master whose every third word was Greek or
| Latin, and myself seated by his side, in solemn
! state, with an immense black letter tome in my
/ lap, and my feet covered with pair OF indigo
! stockings. But then voice murmured, AT
! least | have companion in misfortune ! and
| turned to meet the laughing glance of my
new acquaintance.
He made his first call day or two after
wards and from that time was a constant vSl-
tor. | was, remember, very young, and new
to the world, my knowledge of which was
drawn from romanccs, all of which assured me
that lie without love was nought. | had long
treasured in my secret soul an ideal being,
whom | endowed with every grace an virtue,
and now found myself repeating
But from that first hour met thee,
All caught real life from YOU
The more thought of it, the more firmly con,
yinced was that this extraordinary windfali,
dropped as it were at my very feet, was de-
signed by my good genius for my especial ben,
eft. | can truly say that / made no effort to
attract him. | looked with contemptuous am
usement upon the manoeuvres and lures of my
young companions never feeling jealous of any
attention which they might extort, well know
ing that, although he might nger with them
for while, he would ere long, be found again
by my side l even delighted to appear per
fectly indifferent when in their presence, and
I have since thought that be was himself de-
ceived by my manner and piqued in an at
tempt to inspire other feelings.
Time few on, and the gossips of the town
; bagon to wander if we were engaged, and, il