Smyrna times., 1869-12-15

e9 leave 10 Visit me, Wnlcn gracefully accOru-
ed. Then we murmured our adieuX.
went home with my head among the stars.
My dear, absurd as it may seem, l really be:
lieved l had that night met my destiny, and
met it, on the whole, in a very satisfactory
shape
did not know just when to look for my ad
mirer, but | was ready for him, morning and
evening. l grew strangely careful of my dress.
| assiduously brushed and curled my hair.
l applied cosmetics to my sun-burnt face. l
slept in kid gloves.
These alarming symptoms were not under
stood by my tender mother; but she noticed
that my manner had grown quiet and maiden
y, aud took great comfort thereat.
Six days waited in vain. The seventh
magic number brought-not him, but letter.
1t was dalnty-lOoking missive, all rose-tinted
and gilt-edged. This was before the time Of
envelopes remote age bordering on the
drift period, you may think, In the insolence
of your nineteen summers.
1t was directcd-this letter of letters-in one
of those rearing Italian hands once so fashiona
BILE. 1t was sealed with liac-colored wax, and
the seal bore the motto-how we'll remember
it, though didn't in the least know what it
meant then-of " ToWours .fdele."
| With my heart beating into my fnger-tips,
l broke the seal opened the letter The
very first line was something startlingly une-
quivocal-" Nh dearest LOve!'
| Without waiting to read another word,
turned the leaf to look at the signature "oh
my prophetic soul ut was John Treval
yan"
made no copy of that letter, and found
memory has been little unfaithtul in regard
to the exact wording. know that | read il
with great satisfactiOn-in especial lover like
inventory which it contained of my most amia
BILE and admirable characteristics. There were
things set down there that l had supposed
known only to myself
Toward its close the letter assumed practi
cal tone. II will, with your leave" it ran
, "call on your father in day or two. In tn
mean time, love, perhaps you had better con
hde our dear secret to no one, unless 1t be you
brother Tom"
All heavens the letter l00S not for NE Alas
had no brother Tom I"
Providence had been bountiful in sons to ou
house. Our cup had run over with that partiC
ular sort of blessing, but the respectable nam
! OF Thomas had somehow never struck IN
! mother rs rowing fancy. At the baptismal fou
I she had nerer given it in.
! Fatal omissionl
. Madam, you might have saved me froI
this"
,, re-sealed that letter. l sent it with all di
q patch, and courteous apology, to my double
/ | now my rival. was Wretcneu, DuG cOul
; not be base.
Yes, she married my John. After that,
n got no more Of her letters, which was son
q consolation.
q No, she was not pretty,-even on her We
: ding.day but she was charmingly dressed.
,s John still lives He has grown rich al
4 stout. He has no longer the Byron EXPIRE:
y sion but the Byron peak on his brow is mo
~ pronounced than ever. OF all the beautiful e
thusiasms Of his youth, that for fast horses
~ mains. He has, | believe, never been so u
20 happy or wicked as he promised to be, thoug
j. for time, he fell into evil ways and was Sc
- to the Legislature.
40 My double has made several visits to Par
a. and has grown fonder and more an fat of DIRE
10 than ever. As she has no children, she Civ
70 her whole mind to it -" but that's not much
~ never could think her the companion
-, John in intellect and soul. never in trut
n could help thinking that, if had fair st;
81 with her-if had had her clothes-if b
M had brother Tom-it might have-Bnt ah
- - " OF all sad words Of tongue pen,
ny The saddsst are these: 1t might have bsenr"