Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-04-10

served as WhoRS0me restraint upo
my transports-and kept me from ei,
ing way to them, and again renderin
myself ridiculous 10 the eyes of my b,
loved. At length the service was owe
the people rose from their seats, an
poured out of the Westinghouse dool
/ hurried into the aisle, iostle
against Ssllie Bell, scarcely knowing o
distinguishing her flom the squire's sci
want maid, in my hEry and anxiety {
get beside Miss Gray.
My end was accomplished at last.
stood beside her, fat the rustic Of he
light silk dress agsitst me, and inbale
the faint perfume from her broidere,
handkerchief. -
Oh, unfortunate Zoe Smith! Som,
one from behind, ether with maliciou
intent, or accidentally, showed agains
me. propelled me forward with irresis
tible force, shutting me against he
and causing her to drop her hymn
book. Pr r Pa.
begged her pardon, with what
conceived TO be, and 10 doubt, was th,
politest of bows, and with perhaps
more agility than had ever in my lif
before displayed, stopped, and picked
up her hymn-boek. lH
"Thank you." she said. with a sweel
smile, and as l again apologized fo
my awkardness and nnintentional rude
ness, she replied: bio
"Oh, never mind. The crowd il
very great and it was pure accident or
your part"
l could have knelt to her there for
those words and the smile that accom-
panied them, so unlike the mockinl
laugh or reproof of Sallie B ell, when
was guilty of anything, t.
l began to wonder how / could hav,
been so much in love with Sallie, anC
cordially congratulated myself upor
the same oft mentally cursed bashful'
ness that had prevented my proposing
to her on two occasions, when ! had be-
gun it, and blessed the chance thai
threw me into the peach-preserves,
when / had commenced the declara.
ton third time.
With Efie Gray's bright smile and
brighter eyes still shining upon me. !
my head, and walked out OF
and past Sallie Bell and Bill
Read, who were carrying on spirited
Irritation, without SO much as looking
'oward my former love, piece of cox
,ombery that. if not unnoticed by her,
must have afforded her infinite amuse-
nent. 1 then imagined. however, that
t must be source Of very great and
sincere pain to be treated SO contemp-
1 saw Miss Gray handed into the
leacon's carriage by the white hand Of
he handsome stranger, and again the
lemon of jealousy tugged at my heart
trings. Next he handed in Polly
White. and then lightly springing in
himself, took the reins in his hand, and
tracked the whip gently, and the whole
,arty moved off rapidly.
AS they went, Effie turned toward
ne, smiled, nodded her little head, its
lancing ringlets, and waved her hand.
1 was raised to the topmost peak OF
he mountain Of delight, my resolution
vas instantly formed, would go to the
leacon's to dinner. l was very inti-
nate there, and visited, an invited guest,
whenever / pleased.
1 instantly turned my steps in that
direction, and having arrived there,
ound the handsome stranger seated in
he parlor.
The ladies had not yet come in from
-emoving their bonnets, but l had not
sat long before they entered.
If i had admired Miss Gray in
church, and at a distance, I thought
ler now, on closer inspection. and with
,ut bonnet or mantle, too transcendent
for description.
Polly White advanced, and shook
bands with me, with a cordial "How
1'ye do, Joe?" then turning to her
friend, said:
"Efie, allow me to present Mr.. Smith;
Joe, my friend, Miss Gray"
l bowed with all the grace and gal
antry that l was master Of, and Polly
turning 10 the stranger.
"Harry. Mr.. Smith,"
1 was prepared to recognize the in
reduction by the iciest and most formal
salute, when the concluding words
turned my INTENDED formal salute into
the most gracious bow, and my iciness
into the pleasant,st smile l could as
sumo.
Joe, Mr.. Gray, my friends brother. :"
All, me, whit an overwhelming
weight was raised off my heart. Pol
y White, you were by no means spret-
ty girl, on ordinary occasions, but when
you pronounced the words that trans
formed what | bad supposed a hated
rival into your friends brother, you
we're an angel of beauty.
Polly was something Of flirt, and
managed without much delay, to en-
gage the attention Of Harry Gray. and
| was left to entertain his beautiful sis
Ter. .-
I hardly knew how to do it at first,
but she kindly came to my assistance,
.aking upon herself to amuse me, as /
was a guest Of her friend.
A folio of eugrsvings lay on the ia.
bic, and drawing my attention toward
hem, we discussed their merits and
heaut;aa til fke announcement of din.