The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-16
cOysIN BOB's FIRST LOVE.

Cousin BOO, al oIl UNI oiH'>htiS 49, -
whom no one suspected OF ever having hao
a sweetheart tells his story as follows:
was walking out one day, when came
to house and garden, surrounded by a
high wall, at the foot Of q hill. The gar
den beneath me was large and laid out
with thick and heavy strawberries and in
walk which intersected one Of these,
caught the glimp C Of a female robe.
She happened to turn her eyes towards
the hill and so became aware OF my pre-
sence. There was one point Of sympathy
established between us already; she, too,
must be long sighted, for she could evil
IDENTIFY distinguish that | was not shep-
herd. at least in the practical sense OF
tending sheep-iu the Arcadian meaning,
7 was a little in that line-for she would
not otherwise have taken so much notice
of me; standing still and looking full at
me walking on, and watching me from
sheltered spots, where she fancied l could
not detect her.
After playing ct bo-peep for about
quarter of an hour, the deep tones OF
bell were heard, and she hurried Oil to-
wards the house. AS she took one last
look in my direction, / rose up and laid my
hand upon my heart she waived her hand
in answer. and vanished. On the follow
ing day I returned to the same spot, at
the same hour, and saw her again. took
off nv hat; she waived her parasol; l
kissed NV hands; she kissed hers. The
Irritation was as desperate as 1t we'll could
he. considering the distance between US,
and the insecure nature Of footing.
continued to haunt the hill some
times I saw the divinity of the garden, and
sometimes did not; but when l did she
was ALWAYS alone, and we exhausted our
ingenuity in exchanging sentiments by
signs.
However timid and respectful lover
NAV he. he does desire, after time, to ap'
nroach nearer than hundred yards to the
object of his affections, and that was the
closest could get by stationing myself on
the. lowest spot which commanded vac"
over the wall. Besides, to enable te!e,
graph to work satisfactorily, the pattie!
communicating by it should meet togo1ne'
first to explain what their signals mean
So my heart leaped with. gladness Wllel'
on the fifth day of my pantomme perform
ance, she Enthusiastically beckoned 10 INC.
I ran down the hill, and was undef 'n'
wall In minute,
care you there ?" asked the softest AM
the sweetest voice (prcsent company al
ways accepted) that ever heard.
Loveliest and fairest, am"
Bang came something on my hat. l
was large stone, with the following mote
attached to it by string:
"Mysterlous unknown, are you anothe
foe or friend A secret instinct incline
me to think you are the latter. Know
YOU nv pitiable story Have you sough
me ont and come to my rescue! Or nave
Won been drawn by mysterious magnetic
power to the foot of these walls, ignoran
ofwhom they contain If the latter, inquire
not of others, lest your questions excite
suspicion, There are spies everywhere
/ myself will my tale unfold (Shak
speare) In fitting time and place. Speal
not, but adopt my method of communica
tion."
The style was, to my then taste, charm
ing. The Shakespeare was rather eccen
trio, perhaps; but did it not show sweet
" tender conscience, only too rare il
these day of wholesale plagiary'
I should have liked to have returned al
answer in poetry, but there was not TIM
for an ilnpromptu. So tore leaf (fo
there were plenty Of blank ones) out of
blank book intended for my epic (Which
eventually proved to be all blank verse;
and wrote the following letter:
STAIR and afflicted lady, you are right
am indeed friend; and | know no
who you are. An almighty influence
need I name it?-has drawn ne toward
you. I know nothing, seek to know no
thing, but that am your blind and devo
ted slave!"
Pretty, was 1t not Well, tied that tt
stone, and remembering my own acct
dent, and that my charmer did not wear
tall, stiff hat, uttered warning cry. and
tossed the missive over the wall, Then
ran up the hill to SEQ how she liked it
and assembled high enough in time to OBJ
serve the whole progress of reading the note
which she did, holding it ct arms length
clutching it with both hands, lips parted.
What / had said seemed to be satisfac
tory to her, for when she had read it. sh
Kissed tho note twice, and thrust 1t int
her bosom; looked up ct the sky, claspet
her hands, and walked rapidly off towards
the house, without attempting to commu
nicate With me further.
Immediately after the commenc emen
Of our correspondence, wet weather SGT in
snd ! did not see tho mystery Of my hear