Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-08-04
MARY MOORE.
a PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER |.

All my life long had known Mary Moore
All my life loved her
Our mothers were old play mates and first
cousins. My first recollection is of boy, in
q red frock and morocco shoes, rocking era
die in which rcposcd sunny-haired, blue
eyed baby not quite year old That boy was
myself Harry Church that bluceyed baby
was Mary Moore
Later still, see myself at tho little school
house, drawing my little chaise up to the door,
that Mary might ride home. Many beating
have | gained on such occasions, for other
boys besides me liked her, and she, I fear,
was something Of hirt, even in her pnaforcs.
How elegantly she came tripping down the
steps when / called her name! how swcetly
her blue eyes looked up at me how gayly
rang out her merry laugh That fairy laugh |!
No one but Mary could ever bring her heart
so soon to her lips! I followed that laugh
from my days of childhood till grew an awk-
ward, blushing youth followed it through
the heated noon Of manhood now, when
the frosts Of age are silvcring my hair, and
many children climb my knees and call me
father" | find that the memories of youth
are strong, and that, even in grey hairs, 1 am
following it's music still.
When J. was fifteen the first great sorrow of
my life came upon my heart. was sent to
college and was obliged to part with Mary
We were not to see each other for three long
years This, to me, was like a sentence of
death, for Mary was like life itself to me-
But hearts are tough things after ALL
left college in the flush and vgor of my
nineteenth year. was no longer awkward
and embarrassed. I had grown into tall
slender STRIPPING, with very good opinion of
myself, both in general and particular. If
thought Of Mary Moore, it WI; to imagine how
would dazzle and bewildcr her with my good
looks and wonderful attainmcnts- never think
ing that sho might dazzle and bewilder me
still more. was cox-comb, ! know but
as youth and good looks have fed, I trust
may be believed when say that sclf.eon ecit
has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at that time, and, accepting it, I gave up all
idea of profession and prepared to 60 to the
Indies. In my hurried visit home of two days
! saw nothing Of Mary Moore She had gone
to boarding school at some distance, and was
the not expected home till following May. I
uttered one sigh to the memory Of my little
blue-eyed playmate, and hen called myself
ga man again"
"In year," | thought, as the ychicle
whirlcd away from our door" in year, or
three years at the very most | will return,
and if Mary is as pretty as she used to be,
why then, perhaps | may marry hcY"
And thus I settled the future of young
lady whom I had not seen FOR four years. /
never thought of the possibility of her rcfu-
sing mc-ncver dreamed that she would not
condcscend to accept my offer.
But now I know that, had Mary met me
then she would have dcspiscd me. Perhaps
in the scented and affected student she might
have found plenty of sport; but as orloving
me, or feeling the slightest interest in me,
should have perhaps found that was mista-
ken.
India was my salvation, not merely because
Of my success, but because my laborious in
dustry had counteracted the evil In my nature
and mado mo better man. When at the
end Of three years prepared TO- return, said
nothing of the reformation in myself which L
7 knew had taken place.
"Thcy loved me as ] was" murmured to