The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-06-03
d8jloersaly yntelaliigettu. III
GARY MOORE.
ia PHEASANT LOVE STORY.

t3A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
All my long life l had known Mary
Moore. All my life I loved her.
Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first recollections are of
abey, in red .fock and morocco shoes,
rocking cradle. in which reposed sunny
haired, blue-eyed baby, not quite year
old. That boy was myself-Harry Church ;
that blessed baby was Mary Moore.
Later still. ! see myself at the little
schoolhouse, 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, fear, was something of q
firt, even in her pinafore. How elegantly
she came tripping down the steps when l
called her name. How sweet her olue
eyes looked up at me. How gaily rang
out her merry laugh. No one but Mary
could ever bring her heart so soon to her
lips. T followed that laugh from my days
Of childhood till I grew an awkward blush
ing youth; followed it through the heat
ed noon of manhood; and now, when the
frosts ofage are silvering my hair, and
many children climb upon my knee and
call me ssfather," l find that the memories
ofsyouth are strong, and that even in grey
hairs, am following the music still.
When I was fifteen the first great sor-
row of my life came upon my heart. I
was sent to school, and was obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to see each
other for three long years. This, to me,
was like q sentence Of death, for Mary was
like life itself to me. But hearts are tough
thlngsafter all;
left college in all the flush and vigor
of my nineteenth year. was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. ] had grown
into tall and slender STRIPPING, with a
very good opinion of myself, both in gen.
eral and particular. If / thought of Mary
Moore it was to imagine how I could daz-
zle and bewilder her with my good looks
and wonderful mental attainments, and
never thinking she might dazzle and be-
wilder me still more. ]. was coxcomb,
know; but as youth and good looks have
fed, / trust that may be believed when
say that self conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made to
me at that time, and accepting 1t, gave
!. up all idea of profession, and prepared to
90 to India. In my hurried visit home, of
Swo days, saw nothing of Mary Moore.
She had gone to boarding school at some
distance, and was not expected home un-
I'll the following May. / uttered one sigh
to the memory of my little blue-eyed
playmate, and then called myself "a man"
again.
In year, I thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door, in q year, or
three years at the most, I will return, and
if Mary is as pretty as she used to be,
why, then perhaps, may marry her.
And thus had settled the future of a
young lady whom I had not seen for four
Years.~ Inever thought of the possibility
of her refusing me-never dreamed that
she, would not condeseend to accept my
offer.
But, now know that, had Mary met
me then, she would have despised me-
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu
dent, She might have found plenty Of sport;
Out, as for loving me, 1 should have found
myself mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause of my success, but because my la
borions industry had counteracted the evil
to my nature, and had made me better
man When, at the end of three years, I
prepared to return, I said nothing Of the
reformation in myself which / knew had
taken place.
They loved me as was, / murmured to
myself, and they shall find out for them
selves whether I am better worth loving
than formerly.
packed up many token from that
land of romance and gold, for the friends
Hoped to meet; the gift for Mary Moore
kselected it with a beating heart; it was a
ring Of rough virgin gold, with my name
and dhers engraved inside-that was all !;
and yet the sightof the little toy strangely
thrilled me as I balanced it upon the tip of
my finger.
ITO the eyes of others, it was but a small
plain circlet, suggesting thoughts, perhaps,
by its elegance, of the beautiful white hand
that was to wear it. But to mellow
much was embodied there! A loving
smile on beautiful face-low words Of
welcome-a future home and smiling face
ALI these delights were hidden within
that little r1ng Of gold.
Tall,s bearded, and sun bronzed, l knock
ed at the door Of my fathers house. The
lights in the parlor windog, and the hum
of conversation and cheerful laughter,
showed mo that company was assembled
there. Ihoped sister Lizzie would come
to the door, and that I might greet my
family when no strange eye was looking
carelessly on.
But no-a servant answered the sum-
mons. They were too merry in the parlor
to heed the long absent one who asked
for admittance. A bitter thought like
this ran through my mind, as I heard the
sounds from the parlo,s andoosaw the self