The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-29
THE DISPATCH .
: - ; m :, MARCH 20. 1883
MY FIRST We.
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AZ twenty was considered sa,nca s.ss have
man thau Otherwise: 10 fsc. ~ 49, srvious and
ooyI hsS uyseIf no doubt whatever on tnc
s.sss xss not rich, Il 10 true, bat my mmity
go - Gid ss the conquest, my htner osron' ana
myself coruet Of dr.goo ms ,.,.,,,v AZ neor,e
~n.,d oonsider my postion--excepttng the iAct OF
.Sss;n~ An elderly brother-an exceedingly en-.
pptsnis ane They are mistaken. A younger son
With an estate strictly ensailed !: no saen env,aoo
SIN vas happy. Il was Christmas time. and
Lady Maria Temp,eton was on visit to my mother
/ never did, and I never shaii again see such
beauty a. hers II shed light - she walked. sue
~ dazr,iusly fair Ia skin, and yet her hair was
black. She WAS tall, slight, and syipn.ike, ssu
vet no mao could venture to call her any o,net
than . naughty beauty. But her eyes .a.n y.
eyes of moss unholy blue OF sappnires osan,ns
with rem.ltke sparkles. know not what 10 COM
There was my brother Tom, the heir to the
h.ronstnv. Fanny and Mary, Lady Maria, and my
self She was our cousin, and an neiress'
She had ave thousand year. THIS l aa no.
know At the time, or possibly much that followed
might not have occurred. / was not OLD enough
TO be a fortune-hunter, while my pride would
have prevented the chance OF my falling IN love
spder circumstances which might have made me
srspected But did though, and up to my very
ears. -,
Tom was hearty fellow, fond Of bis gun and his
doss, horses and hounds and not avcrse to indul'
gence In those Bacchic reveis which, even 70 TINS
day. are not unpatronised by some Of the gentle.
men Of Eogland. He was, have heard also, the
terror OF rnra SWANS and the admired OF every
lady within ten miles of Courtney Chase But
even he was struck by Lady Maria.
bnt a. mere children, when we had quarreied and
and made IL up, ana been fast friends and bitter
enemies within an hour. But now she was ioSeiy
woman and cornet of Dragons.
never was 80 taken aback In my life. Young
a. was, bad put down the impertinence OF one
or twoelder men, who thought they had caught a
green hand. / had made decent figure at mess,
aud club, and Almack's, and generally, in fact
WAS supposed to know thing or two.
had stared . lady once out Of countenance at
the opera, but when l stepped mp to Maria, to
compliment her as everybody else was doing, l
biushed, stammered, and finally 1t ended in my
muttsring something about "Happy-next dance!
affected manner in the world, taking my arm as
she spoke. SNOW, don't look so very woe.begone,
Mr. Thomas, or shall laugh. So, Harry, You are
ia the army. Why don't you come down in uni
There was something so easy, so whimsical, so
banteriug 10 her tone, that could not help blush.
ing mp to the eyes, Was that merry, delightful
laugh with me or at met For the life Of me
"You are aware, Lady Maria" began in some
what stately tone, "that unless upon state occe
sions, we dispense with our uniform as much as
possible"
"Oh YES, Mr.. Cornet Hsrcourt," she replied, 81
am fully aware of the etiquette of the thing, but
then thought-you were new to it-that you
might like to make sensation for once"
For once! /, the handsomest man 10 'ours," to
be talked to In this way, and by little girl who
year ago had been 10 pinaforesi could not
reply on the instant, and so pretended TO pull my
gloves on.
We danced. As we moved to the soft cadence Of
90 ,aaf ovsfb
rapidly. In the dawn of manhood, while the feel.
ings are fresh aud virgin when everything earth
appears bright and lovely, to find ones self sup
porting q beautiful woman in ones arms, the air
balmy'with fragrant odors, lights dazzling land
music intoxicating with its effeminate sounds, is
to dwell awhile In paradise of which We never,
perhaps, again obtain so perfect vision.
And then to talk of her afterwards. She was so
full of animation and life, of really kind, with all
her playful spirit of sarcasm, that soon found
myself at my case, even answering some of her
bantering remarks.
was no mere carpet soldier. longed for some
field on which to distinguish myself. 1 burned
for fame, for worldwide renown. Lady Maria
soon found this out and then her bantering ceased
altogether; her voice sunk lower her eyes sparkled
her bosom heaved, as in whispered accents, she
wished me success and fortune.
"You are of the favored of the earth, Harry" she
said, drawing me one side toward the conser-
vatory; '.poor as can do nothing, but wish you
men good speed. Oh, how | sometimes long to be
u nau, budt l. tUu, InlSut DO sdIiOr, al
orator, or a statesman 1t seems to so sad a
life to be born in station where one can be moth.
iss.n
SOb, Maria !" cried 1, enthusiastically, "tis far
better it is. If We wish to be great as soldiers,
or Statesmen, why is it'll"
"Tell me-" she said, smiling.
$50 win the love of such as you. Rely upon it,
that is the prize man eovets. 1t is the conscious.
ness that woman will smile, which impels us to
great Deeds"
"Harry, Harry" she said, with something of a
sigh, fiat your age believe some such feeling does
exist, but it soon fades away, and man covets
cess 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.
looked at her with surprise. She spoke warm.
w. and yet with secret bitterness.
"Aphilosopher in petticoatsl" said, ina laugh
ing tone.
az have lived more in the world than you have,
Harry" continued Maria, smiling shut bore comes
our brother Tom to claim his turn We will con.
tinue our conversation by and bye"
1t was my brother Tom, and looking rather
surly, too at our long tete q tete A some " hat
vicious glance which he cast at me convinced me
that he was deeply interested in my bea utiful
companion. As l resigned her arm feeling of
despair came over me. knew WAS in love-
retired behind some fragrant bushes, and re.
fected an instant 1t was quite clear to me that
Lady Maria was intended for the heir of the baro-
netcy. He had at all events, made the selection
and what hope was there for me? He had title
position home. and a goodly income on his side,
while was mere adventurer, q younger SOD, an
iucumbrance on the estate.
And with the law of primogeniture and the ex.
ample it serts, people are found to wonder at the
doarth of early marriages, and at the fact that so
many never marry at all.
1t is not that they cannot afford to marry. but
they cannot keep up the style they have been &C.
customed to at home. A wealthy noblemans &c.
copd son, while ct home, enjoys as many luxures
as the heir. 1t is hard, then, in his eyes, to de-
scend to the plebian villa and no carriage even
though happiness b3 the result.
The evil law Of entail and the agglomeration
of wealth In the hands of the few, is the great
cause Of modern Indifference to marriage. The
middle classes, unfortunately, are too fond of
aping their betters.
But WIZ moralize, when have 30 much to teig
watched them narrowly. Tom was grave even
sulky, while Lady Maria was more than ordinari-
ly gay. She fairly laughed at him, and presently
the grave eldest son of the house condescended e.
smile, and as Tom was naturally in request, / |
again Joined her.
''What made my brother SO gravei' asked.
"Poor fellow!" she said, with bust of merri.
eldest sons are subject"
"WhaL" ! cried.
"Yes, he really did, poor fellow He is Obliged
to dance with everybody, and therefore cannot
pleased to say, my beauty, accomplishments, and
90 forth, deserved"
"He was quite right" said I, dryly.
"How so?"
'Who can see any one In the room while Won are
present." ~" "'0
"Etu, Brute r'cried Lady Maria, aughiuc:"d
be ridiculous Because are old friends and
like to talk OF old times, don't try to latter me-
When ID 70 DO your first campsignl"
There is talk of India said, "but nothing ia
decided e
India" she cried. with something of a start
and Q blush; indeed"
81 have heard it said, but scarcely wish it so
much Is did"
"Whyl"
al have met you"
"Now, Harry do not look % sentimental, and
make such tender speeches, or shalt laugh.
suppose you mean to dance; 90 you had better ask
name intent"
Eagerly led her TO her pIece, to the great dts.
.atislsction Of the Irish captain, who did know OF
her fortune.