The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-04-14

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and been fast friends and bitter enemies
within an hour. But now she was a
lovely woman and Ia cornet Of fdragoons.
never was so taken aback in al my
| life, Young as 7 was ] had put down
the importinenco Of one or two older
men, who thought they had caught q
green hand I had made a decent hg-
ure at mess. and club, and Almack's, and
generally, in fact, was supposed TO know
thing or two.
had stared q lady out Of counte-
nance at the opera, but when / stepped
up to Maria to compliment her, as ev-
eryhody else was doing, blushed,
stammered, and finally it ended in my
muttering something about Happy
next dancol"
"Cortainly," said Lady Maria, in the
most unaffected manner la the world,
taking my arm as she spoke "Now,
don't look so very woe-be-gone, Mr..
| Thomas, or I shall laugh. So, Harry,
you are in tho army Why don't you
come down in uniform, spurs and allt
There was something go easy, so
whimsical, so bantering in her tone, that
I could not help blushing up TO tho
eyes. Was that merry, delightfullaugh
with me or at me2 For the life Of mo
I could not tell
"You are aware, Lady Maria" /
began in q somewhat stately toRo,
"that, unless upon state occasions, We
dispense with our uniforms as much ns
possible"
ooh yes, Mr. Cornet Harcourt, she
replied, "T am fully aware Of the ett-
quette Of the thing, but then l thought
you were so new tO H--that you
might make a sensation FOR once.
For oncel I, the hondsomest man IN
tours, to be talked to in this way, and
by a little girl who year ago had been
In pinafores l could not reply on tho
instant, and so pretended to pull my
gloves on.
We danced. As we moved to tho
soft cadence of the music, my heart be-
gan to beat with unusual rapidity. In
the dawn of manhood, while the feelings
are fresh and virgin, when everything
on earth appears bright and lovely, TO-
find ones self supporting a beautiful
woman in ones arms, the air balmy with
fragrant odors, lights dazzling, and
music intoxicating with its efeminato
sounds, is to dwell awhile in paradise
Of which he never, perhaps, again oo-
taiHs so perfect a vision.
And then to talk of her afterwards!-
She was so full of animation and liio,
so really kind, with all her playful spirit
Of sarcasm, that soon found myself at
my ease, answering somo Of her banter
ing remarks.
I was no mere carpet soldier. long.
ed for some field on which to distinguish
myself I burned for fame, for world
wide renown. Lady Maria soon found
this out, and then her bantering ceased
altogether her voice sunk lower, her
eyes sparklcd, her bosom heaved, as in
whispered accents, she wished me sue
cess and fortune.
"You arc Of the favored Of the earth,
Harry, she said drawing me on enc side
toward the conservatory; "poor as can
DO nothing, but wish you men good
speed. Oh, how l sometimes long to bO
a man, that I, too, might be a soldier, a
sailor, an orator, or a statesman IL
seems to me so sad a life to be born ia
a station where one can be nothing"
ooh, Marial" cried I enthusiastically,
'tis far better as it is. If we wish to
be great as soldiers, or statesmen, Why is
it2'
"Tell me, she said, smiling.
"To win the love Of such as you
+ Rely upon it, that is prize man coYets.
4, It is tho consciousness that woman
will smile, that impels as to great
deeds"
e Harry, Harry" she said with somo-
t thing Of sigh, cat your age I believe
, some such feeling does exist, but it soon
t fades away, and man eovets success for
it's own sake"
! "Some few, I began.
. "3Iost men-there are those choice
3 spirits who do great deeds from a sen, 0
o Of duty, but with most men ambition is
r the sole guiding impulse
D looked at her with surprise She
% spoke warmly, yet with a secret bitter
ness.
b "A philosopher IN pettieoats," said,
s in a laughing tone.
iI have lived more In the world than
D you have, Harry" continued Maria,
{ smiling, "but here comes our brother
2 Tom 10 claim his turn. We viii con-
p tinue our conversation by and by.
II was our brother Tom, and looking
r very surly too, at our long tste tsts.--
t A somewhat vicious glance which he
y cast at mo convinced me that he was
I. deeply interested iu my beautiful com
o panion. AS resigned her arm a fool-
inc of despair came over me. knew I
r. was in love.
10 Iretired behind some fragrant bush
r es, and reflected an instant. 10 was
quite clear 10 me that Lady Maria was
I Intended for the heir Of the baronetcy.
y He had, at all events, made tho selection,
j and what hope was there for me? He
a had title, position, home aud a goodly
a income on bis side, while I was mere
: adventuror; a younger SOD, an iucum
b branco on the estate.
q Aud with the law Of primogonituro
and the example it sots, people arc
Is found to wonder at the doorth Of early
), marriages, and at the fact that so many
e never marry atall.
yl It is not that they cannot afford 10
.e marry but they cannot keep up The
j lstvle thev have been accustomed to "a