Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-14

FIRST LOVE;
Or, Csnstancy in the Nineteenth Centur

for example, is Of all others thing apart an
enchanted dream, where common griefs and
cares come not" 1t is like the matrimonial
qusrrel-never to be benefited by the inter
ference Of others; it is q sweet and subtle Ian
guage, "thAt none understands but the speak
ers," and yet this fine and delicate spirit is
most especially the object of curiosity 1t is
often supposed before it exists F; it is taken for
Hgranted, commented upon, continued and end
ed, without the consent Of the parties them
; selves; though a casual observer might sup
pose that they were the most interested in the
business.
All love affairs excite the greatest possible
attention; but never was so much attention
bestowed as in the little town of Allerton, upon
that progressing between Mr.. Edward Rain
forth and Miss Emily Gorthington. They had
been charming couple from their birth-we
call the little lovers from their cradle and
even when Edward was sent to school, his let
Ter home once quarter, always contained his
lave to his little wife. Their course of true
9 sioye seemed likely to run terribly smooth
= their fathers having maintained a friendship
: as regular as their accounts. Mr.. Worthing-
b tons death, however, when Emily was Just 16,
led to the discovery that his affairs were on
the verge OF bankruptcy. Mr.. Rainsworth
now proved himself true friend; he said little,
but did everything. Out of his own pocket he
secured small annuity to the orphan girl,
placed her in respectable family, and asked
ton, ''the little" became "the young lovers -
and the town Of Allerton, for the first time in
its life, had not q fault to find with the conduct
Of one of its own Inhabitants.
The two old friends were not destined to be
long parted, and few months saw Mr.. Rains
forth carried to the same churchyard whittier
he had so recently followed the companion of
his bOyhOod. A year passed away and Ed
ward announced his intention of marriage
The whole town was touched by mis- con-
stancy, and felt itself elevated into poetry by
being the scene Of such disinterested affection
But for the first time in his life, Edward found
there was another will TO be consulted than his
own. His trustees would not hear of his mar
rying till he was two-and-twenty, the time his
fathers will appointed for his coming of age
The rage and despair Of the lovers were only
TO be equalled by the rage and despair of the
whole town Of Allerton. Everybody said it
was the cruelest thing in the world; and some
went so far as to prOphesy that Emily Worth
ington would die of consumption before the
time came Of her lovers majority. The trus-
tees would not abste one atom of their brief
authority; they had said their ward ought to
see little of the world, and both of them were
men Of their word.
Accordingly il was settled that he should 90
to London for three months, and see how be
liked studying law. He certainly did not like
the prospect at all; and his only consolation
was, that he should not leave his adored Emily
exposed to the designations Of Allerton. She
had agreed to 90 and stay with an aunt some
forty miles distant, where there was not even
ayOung curste in the neighborhood. The town
of Allerton was touched to the heart by the
whole proceeding; no one spoke of them but "a
that romantic and devoted young couple I
know that have known greater misfortunes
in life than that young gentleman and lady
of 20 should have TO wait a twelvemonth be-
fore they were married; but every person CON
siders their own the worst that ever happened,
= and Edward and Emily were miserable TO their
hearts content. They exchanged locks of
hair; and Emily gave him a portfolio, embroi-
dered by herself, to hold the letters she was TO
write. He saw her of first, under the care Of
an old servant, to the village where she was TO
stay. She waved her white handkerchief from
the window rs long as she could see her lover
and little longer, and then sunk back in a
food Of failing pearls, which men call tears ~
Edward was wretehed, and he was also ex-
ceedingly uncomfortable, which helps wretch
edness on very much. 1t was thorough wet
day; all his things were packed up-for he
himself was to start in the afternoon when the
mail passed through-and never was q young
gentleman more utterly at loss what to do
with himself. In such case an affair of the
heart is great resource; and young Rainsforth b
got upon the coach box looking quite unhappy
enough to satisfy the people of Allerton.
In these days, roads have no adventurer-
they might exclaim, with the knife-grinder,
''Story bless you, I have none to tell ,"-we
will therefore take our hero after he was four
days in London. He is happy in a lover )
good conscience, for that very morning he
had written a long letter to his beloved Emily
the three first days having been "like a tes
totum in twirl, he had been forced to ne
, giect that duty 50 sweet and so indispensable
TO an absent lover. He had, however, found
time to become quietly domesticated in Mr..
Affords family. Mr.. Afford was of the first
in mi haI
three other young men under bis charge; but
IL is soon evident that Edward was a first rate
faVorite with the mother and two daughters at
all events. They were fne-loOking girls, and
understood how TO look their best They were
all dressed, and it is wonderful how much the
hair 'dOne TO turn, ribands which make a
complexion, and an exquisite ehGussuye, sets
OF young woman. Laura taught him to
waltz, and Julia began to sing duets with him
Now these are dangerous employments for a
youth Of one-and-twenty. The heart turns
round, as well as the head sometimes, in a
SaHtsHse, and then IL is difficult to ask those
tender questions appropriated to duets, as
Tell me, my heart, why wildly beating?n
"CaDst thou teach me to forget ?" without
some emotion. ..
week passed by, and the general post
mans knock, bringing with il letters from his
toned that he had just heard that Miss Emily
Worthington was quite well, put him in mind
that he had not heard from her himself Oh :
how ill-used he felt he had some thoughts Of
writing to overwhelm her with reproaches for
her neglect; but on second thoughts he re-
solved 10 treat her with silent disdain To be
sure, such q method Of showing his contempt
took less time and trouble than writing four
pages to express it, would have done. Thai
evening ne was little out Of spirits, but Julis
showed so much gentle sympathy with his
sadness, and Laura rallied him so pleasantly
upon il, that they pursued the subject long
after there was any occasion for it. The week
became weeks-there was no drawback TO the
enjoyment of the trio, excepted now and ther
''some old friends of papa, to whom we must
be civil; not, }" said Laura, "but that would
put up with one and all, excepting that odious
Sir John Belmore."
Edward had been in town two months and q
fortnight, when one evening Julia-they had
been singing Meet me by moonlight alone''-
asked him 70 breakfast with them ~ have, u
said she, some commissions, and ps pa viii
trust me with YOU" He breakfasted. and
attended the blue-eyed Julia to Swan and
Edgar's. SNOW have some conscienesi - er
claimed she, with one of her own .va.t Is,~,;J