Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-11-18

THE LOCK OF HAIR.
STORY FIRST LOVE.

Il
As a nidshipman, held sort of neutral posi-
ton ! was expected 10 keep myself far above the
sailors but the same time, il was crime little
less than raatihy to consider that was either here
or hereafter at less than an unapproachable dis
tanee from the sixth mate, 1t WIS. while I held
this unenyiable appointment that [ FIRST fell IN
love. Among the passengers on board the ship
were two companions, and several extra officers
of his majesty l20thregiment Of foot. We were
conveying them to Bombay, where they were to
be stationed. The wives and daughters of many
of the officers were cabin passengers. The young
lady who particularly attracted MY attention was
the daughter Of Major c. kindhearted,
gentemanly man, butwhose position was Of course
SO superior to that Of the unfortunate East India
company 5 aidshipman, that nytlling in the shape
of aga quainsaaeeship or even Of eolgersaaion was
impossible
Maria, his daughter, was an excellent pretty
girl about sixteen Or seventeen years of age. She
was evidently, from the expression Of her coun-
teuance for I never but once had the pleasure Of
speaking to her, exceedingly anliable. 1t was
perfect happiness 70 me to see her on deck. /
used to watch her each afternoon with her mother
and sister when the band was playing and sin
eereiy enyied the military officers who futtered a
round her. 0nthese occasions my eyes used to
be necessarily riyeted on her; and was often Sc
yerey rated By my superior officers for my mat
tention to orders.
| AT last, felt certain that she noticed me, but
most probably only from the fact Of my incessant-
| ly gazing at her. She evidently mentioned my
behavior to her sister, for she used to regard me
! hardly think she mentioned my behavior to her
mother at least, never had any reason, from
that lady conduct, to imagine that she was even
aware Of ny existence
My affection increased to such an extent that
at last I grew desperate and l determined, cost
what it might, notwithstanding our fearful differ
ence in position, to make known to her my pas
sion but how 10 manage it was the difficulty To
address her personally on the subject was Of course
| impossible Her mother was a cross grained i'll
tempered woman, Who when not prostrated by
sea-sickness which, unfortunately, rarely occur
red, had her eyes incessantly fixed on her daugh-
ters. had too much dread of her to think of
broacling the subject TO her even if my position
would have madesuch an action presumtpuous.
There was only one rember Of her family with
whom there existed the slightest possibility of
forming an intimacy, and that was her young
brother, boy about eleven years Of age. I inn
mediately broke ground with him, and succeeded
admirably / commenced BY giving him press
ing invitation to the midshipmans berth By
degrees our acquaintance ripened into intimacy.
Then after binding him over eternal secrecy,
conhded to him my unhappy, consuming passion
for his sister. Young as he was and inexperien-
eed in such matters, he kindly sympathized with
me. He promised to assistme in every manner
that lay in his power advised him to begin by
pointing me out to his sister and telling her how
vastly superior / was 10 the other midshipmen.-
Then to hint gently to her how necessarily / was
talking and thinking Of her. This considered
would be as mutch as would be prudent at the
commencement.
In a short time found his sister had remarked
me fayorably, and thought me very good-lookin2
i There was encouragement for me. OF course, /
sent word back that she was the loyeliest girl |
had ever seen. The next day She smiled kindly
when she saw ne. We were then within fort
NIGHTS sail Of lombay / used bitterly to weep
IN the niellt-w4sehes when thought that on her
arrival tlese should sec her no more. Some
tines fhaught Of descrting the ship and enlist
ina as a gfiF2e ia her flasher regiment, but then
onr difference IN position would even be greater
than ever.
Atlast l summoned up sffcient courage to tell
her brother how happy would be if he could OBJ
tain from his sister some little object that might
keep as ameaente of her He asked me what [
should ike, and modestly left it to his discretion
He suggested lock Of hair, to which, as may
easily be supposed, ] gave a ready consent !
tissured him that such gift was more than my
widest inaginntions could have hoped for that
the possession Of such treasure would make me
happy for lie.
4 Bad weather set in, and did not see either
sister or brother again for some days. He was
exceedingly deIcate and during the rain his
mother confined him prisoner to the cuddg-
When I saw him again, he placed my hand, with
out saying word small folded paper, about the
size Of shilling. AS it evidently contained some
thing, ] Immediately rushed below, andi with
some difficulty, contriyed to open it unseen BY any
one.--no easy task, as solitude is rare In a mid