The Van Buren press., 1869-11-23
MISCELLANY.
The Green Lantern.

think am safe in saying that Pan
Stanford hatod me from the time we wsrt
little boys att school together, up to the
period of which ] am going to tell you
Unfortunately we had always been in
some sense rivals. We were nearly OF
the same agc-our tastes were somewhat
similar-our circumstances in life much
alike, and we were in the same classes
and studied the same books.
Probably it was moro because applied
myself closer to my studies than he did
that l outstripped Paul, and under all
circumstances where scholarship was
concerned bore off the palm. Naturally,
he was quite as clever as was-a little
more brilliant indeed-but he lacked ap.
plication, and we all know thatts become
a scholar requires time and patience and
hard study, even if one is genius in the
beginning.
Paul had one decided advantage ovel
me. He was handsome and graceful, ,and
all the girls in the vicinity made him
aware of it. lie was self.conceited, nat
urally-and the adulation he received
made him vain. Nothing makes a foo
of man more speedily than to have the
women make too much Of him.
Gay, and gallant, and courteous, he
,u 20 70 .l---- Iii b,t H. II tho law
of only one. Florence Wayne was &
sweet little brunette Of two or three and
twenty, and all the young men in town
were in love with her.
She had only lived in Marley two years
Her native place was Philadelphia, but
her fathers health requiring change OF
air, they had come to Marley and estae
lished themselves ia pretty cottage out
on the Pownal road.
Florence was accomplished in no or
dinary degree, and she had travelled o
great deal, which is after all the best way
to educate ones self.
In Philadelphia she had moved in the
first society, but she did not hold herself
above taking part in our rustic merry.
makings, and at the huskings, and apple
bees and dances she was the life Of the
company.
TO do Florence justice, she encouraged
none of her suitors; was kind and cour.
teous, nothing more
AZ for me, | had been a beauty wor.
shipper always, and when met Florence
Wayne | saw for the first time my ideal
woman. My heart went from me and
never came back again. In my widest
dreams | had never imagined ever SO
family that such glorious vision ever
could come upon me In dull, prosy old
Marley, where nothing ever did happen
year in and year OUT
had seen very little Of the world, and
was shy and awkward, and the passion
felt for beautiful Florence did not tend
to make me less embarrassed in her pres
once. The fact Of it was, the sight Of her
confused me to such a degree that l was
always making myself ridiculous before
her, and il she had not beon the kindest
hearted girl in existence, she would have
INDUCED in many hearty laugh at my
expense.
Once summoned up courage enough
to invite her to ride with Inc. had as
fine horse as there was in the country,
and good buggy, and might have en-
joyed myself IL had not been so awk.
ward.
As it was, / had trod on Florence S
dress. struck her bonnet with my elbow
getting into the carriage, switched the
whip in her face, and did score Of other
things which l would have died TO pre-.
vent. I...rr
She made me so terribly conscious that
possessed hands and feet that must be
of some way, and how this dis
position was to be accomplished was the
question.
Paul Stanford loved Florence also, but
his love made fool of him as mine did
of me- He was always just so polished
and brilliant, and could say his witticst
things with the dark eyes Of Florence up.
on him-just as well as if she had been
a thousand miles off. Oh, how cnvicd
him his easy, quiet nonchaance, aud how
chafcd and rrtated was by the patron.
izing air he assumed toward me.
But at last fate gave mo chance to do
Florence servicc-to prove to her that
| was not coward, though might be
an awkward clod-hoppcr.
Marley was a seacoast town. and 1t was
to avail himself Of sea-air and bathing
that Mr. Wayne had removed thither.
Almost every fine day he and Florence
were dawn on Point Pleasant beach
Mr Wayne bathing, and Florence read.
ing and watching him.
The attachment between this father and
daughter was very strong--possibly be.
cause Mr.. Wayne had tried hard to ha
both father aud mother 70 his girl