Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-23
MARY MOORE.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER 1.

All my life / loved her.
Our mothers were old playnaates and brsi
cousins. Ny first recollection-is of boy. in
red frocl. aud morocco shoes, rocking cra'
die in which reposed sunny haired, blue
eyed Laby not quite q year old. That boy
was myselr-Harry Church; hat blueeyed
baby was Mary Moore.
Later still. see myself at the little school
house, drawing my little cha;se up to the
door. ,hat Mary might ride Lone Many q
beating have | gained on such occasions, tor
other boys besides Inc liked aer, aud she, J
fear, was something Of q tiist, even in her
pinafore:. 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 foioGsadhat
laugh from my days Of Childhood ill grew
an awkward, blushing youth Il followed it
through the heated noon of nauhood-and
now, when the frosts of qagesare si,yerng my
hair. and inatiy 4chiii ds'ems schm bmya knee-ana
call me :: ':fa.!er," find that the memories OF
youth arc strong, and thai, even in grey hairs.
EN- fUllowing its music'still.
When was fifteen tie first great sorrow
OF nv life Came upon my heart. was sent
to school, and was obliged to par! with Mary.
We were not to see each other fOr three long
wears! This, to me, was ike u sentence OF
death, for Mary was ike life iss'li to me.
But hearts are tough things afcr all.
left college in all the flash and vigor Of
my nineteeth year. was NC longer awkward
and embarrassed. 1 bad grown into tall
slender tripping, with yery good opinion OF
myself, both in general ard particular Ii
thought of Mary Moore. it was to imagine
how | would dazzle and bewilder her with
nv good looks and wonderful aftainments-
never thinking that she might dazzle and be-
wilder me still more. Twas a coxcomb, l
know but as youth and good looks have
fed, | trust I may be believed when / say
that self conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at that time, and, accepting it, gave up all
idea of profession and l prepared to 60 to the
Indies. In my hurried visit home OF two
days saw nothing of Mar Moore. She had
gone to boarding school at soome distance,
and was not expected homo till the following
May. uttered one sigh 20 the memory OF
my little blue-eyed playmate, and then called
myself q man again"
"In a year." | thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door" in year, or
three years at the very most, Twill return and,
if Mary is as pretty as she used to be, why
then, perhaps, may marry her"
And thus settled the future of q young
lady whom 1 had not seen for four years.
never thought of the possibility Of her refu-
sing me-never dreamed that she would moi
condescend to accept my offer.
But now know that, had Mary met me
then she would have despised me. Perhaps
! in the scented and affected student she might
have found plenty Of sport; but as for loving
me, or feeling the slightest interest in me,
should have perhaps found that was mistaken
India was my salvation, not merely because
of my success, but because my laborlous in'
dus,1y had countcracted the evil in my ns'
ture and made Inc better man. When al
the end of three years prt pared 70 return
I said nothing of the reformation in inysel
which | knew he'd taken place.
nThey loved me as l was. murmured tc
mysclf and they shall find out for them
selves whether am better worth loving thai
formerly"
packed up many token, from that lant
of romance and gold, fer the friends hopet
TO meet. The gift for Mary Moore selected
with beating heart il was ring of rough
virgin gold, with M name and hers engraved
insideItha. was all, ard yet the sight OF tn
little toy strangely thrilled me AS balanced
it upon the tip Of my finger.
TO the ey Of others it was but small
nlain circlet, suggesting thoughts, perhaps b.
IFS elegance, of the beautiful white hand thu
was to wear it. But to mellow much va
embodied there! A loving smile on beau
t;ful (ase-low words Of welcome-a Tutor
home, and a sweet smiling face all these DC
lights were hidden within that little ring Q
gold
CHAPTER II.
Tall, bearded and sun-bronzed, l hav
knocked at the Goor of my father S house. LII
lights in The parlor windows and the bum
conversation and cheerful laughter sho~c
me that company were assembled there.
boncd nv sister Lizzie would come To tn
door, aud that might greet my family "he
no strange eye was locking cu,iouSly on =,
But no-a servant answered my summons
They were too merry in the paror TO hee
tie long absent one " hen be asked for admit
tance. a bitter thoughtlikc tLis WAS passn
; through my mind, as | heard The sounds tro1
the parlor, and saw the bali suppressed smii
upon the servants face.
FL hrsitated for a moment before l mad
m, self Known or asked after the family. An
while S God silent, a strange spparition gre
}; up before me. From behind the scrvan
peered out small golden head tiny, del