Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-09-21
My Dream and Awakening.
BY MARIA sTAHL.

We had been beuoIhed, Roland Haynes
and |, for six long years. and we're set
ling down, after an odd sor, Of fashion,
into sort Of mutual proprielorshiP, with
msIrimony, off some where in The vague
distance. There was no startling ro-
nance about our courlshiP ; we were old
friends from early childhood, and when,
one pleasant spring evening, as we were
walking, he asked me to be his wife. |
accepted the offer in the same matter Of
course was ss he had put the question.
Nobody was astonished everybody said
they had expected il mother suggested
a vast deal Of embroidery TO fill Up the
long period that must elapse before we
were married, and father, Smuggling his
shoulders, limited Iha, a young lawyer,
depending eolely upon his profession,
must wait long before he could take
wife 10 his home. We lived. my parents
and myself, with five younger olive
branches, in quiet little country town
called Lester, my father being the physi.
clan of The place, my mother the lady
president of every charitable society for
miles around. |. The eldest child, had
been brought up IN the simples, country
fashion, learning my tasks al my fathers
knee. sewing my seam by my mothers
side, and finding no accomplishment with.
in my reach but fancy needework and
music. From babyhood the latter had
been my ruling passion /; as lulle child,
had initiated The birds as they flew pas,
the window, had learned every old,fash
ioned hymn in the church choir,and when
the organist Of our LILLE church offered 10
teach me his art. and prevailed upon my
father TO send 10 The city for second
hand piano, | was nearly frantic with Joy.
Even the lsborious routine OF exercise
and scale could not daun! me, and when
the treasures of old music my master
owned were once mine, no language can
describe the ecstacy Of being able 10 trans.
late the notes 10 sounds. The old church
gallery, and The corner dedicated 10 our
piano, became my favorile resorts.
1t had been grief 10 me that Roland
cared nothing for music, would sleep thro'
Beeihoven's most sublime sonates, and
yswn sudibly over Mozart; but he was
very kind TO me always, and never pre-
tended 10 interfere in my pleasure. |
think, when the sixth year Of my beiro,h-
al closed, and Roland whispered TO me
,ha, in another twelvemonih he hoped 10
end our long time Of probation, that | had
never truly loved my promised husband.
He was noble, energetic man, full Of
high resolve, grand purposes, and con-
sclentious principle !; a man who. in this
age of frivoliiy and pleasure.seeking. was
almos, pre-eminent, in his steady Chris.
,isn life and work. He ives ten years
older than |, yet but tweniy.six when he
asked me 10 become bis wife. He had
couried me in frank, grave way, from
The time when his boyish steps were
checked TO NEE, my iodding ones, and |
had never fahcied any other future than
settling down al some future time in
quiet, simple home, content 10 fill the
position of his bel pmeet. OF the wealth
Of brain and soul hidden away under his
grave manner and quie, ways /, blind
child, never dreamed
twas, as have said, early in the sev.
eath year Of our beToIhal, when my
mothers sister wrote 10 invite me 10 pass
a winter in her city home. had never
seen her, for her marriage had carried her
a hundred miles from our guie. village,
and, with The exception of an occasional
letter. there had been but little intercourse
between her and my mother. So when
the invitation came we were ell surprised
but. after due deliberalion, CONCLUDED 10
accept il. Roland found that he could
spare q few days 10 sscofi ms 10 my ces.