Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1869-06-17
ENGAGEMENTS.

4 lover was once known to wish that
his courtship period, being 50 delicious,
might last forever, and it IS only cruel
peorle who wonld make 5aise of the i'm
ruIs;ve aspiration. Bat IN whatever way
I 9no regards the possibilities Of marriage,
there can be no harm in saying that en-
racements should be long We cannot
say. s.the longer the better" for that
would place Us in the position of the un-
{ rejecting lover mentioned ahove but it
may be maintained that thaslonger an en-
gagemnnt continues on the sile of break
ing off the marriage, the areeter happi-
ness and security are likely to be reaped
BY the two interested ra1ies Before
love settles down into his aaSr chair, let
him have plenty q free axS~A-nv -cxa-
ciSe-' 'hreathers" across open downs, aud
stolen walks in shady lanes Then he
g~ts to know thoroughly the disposition
and character of his companion and If,
on reflection he thinks it advisable t.
Il withdraw from the position he may do 50
under penaltv, perhaps, Of an action for
breach of promise Of marriage. Bt,er
that howsvor, than an ugly discovery as
t.rwar1. And on 4 mere utilitarian cal
culation Of preponderating pleasures, long
engagements are to be preferred The
delights df marriage como sooner or later,
and extend over an nlefnite period but
the Joys Of eourtship once left behind can
never be recovered. All through that
charming period the object of a mans
affection is begjrt with miraculous halo
which glor fias evena commonplace face
and commonplace mind There is a
mysterious Sanctity around the being
whom he worships which Nmakas her faint
con discussions, her tender interest, her
gracious intimacy, wonder and a de-
light Then the pleasures and pains of
quarreling Love is cunning maci-
elan, and knows that m0notonous sweet
ness wonld only tire unnerve, perhaps
disgust; SO he introduces sharp altcra4
tives AMI toncs, that the xirtces of his
miraculous potion may be more kecnlyy
and more markedly developed. Glow
happy they are - say outsiders, when
they see two young people slyly steal
away from the company, wilfuIy take
the wrong turning at the next crossroads,
and 90 off by themselves for an inlepen-
dent ramble. One cannot help imagin-
ing all the pretty things these two are
saying to each other, coupled with that
conversation carried on by the IN -
meric language of the eyes. You ba1jn
10 count the number Of wears that have
passed since you left.hat period ,rhinl.
and you think thu .1A VIZ. .a.h-.lh mt
l., ,-l.. ~ J
very moment taero is a v It as Of ieaI
on Edwards heart and Cla@a is wishing
she had never been born There is thun-
der abroad, aud Edward sloomily asks
himself if this sort of thing meaning
Clara's unreasonableness and obStinacy
and, Selt-wltl and independant unworthy
self-asscrtion-is a foretaste of what is
coming after while Clara thinks her
companion Il brute, who has no kndlness
towards her, nor consistency in himself.
And 1t has all arisen out of Clara's hav-
ING gone down to dinner on the previous
evening with somebody else, when it was
OBVIOUS TO any impartial person that the
poor glrl could IN no wise help it. Or
else she has written a brief and formal
note to certain captain, III reply to ona
of his Or else she has forgotten that
Edward expressly desired her never to
wear blue snood in her hair wien she
had on purple dress-although Il, said
captain once CALAMITY defended Clara's
doubtful taste. Or else she has declined
to 90 with him to a certain ball. Or else
She has spoken Sig htcnly of one of his
: bachelor friends. Or else---but why pro-
long a list Of trjfling causes of quarrel
which might include every circumstance
in heaven and earth There is nothing
5 about which engaged people will not quar-
rel; and although the cause may be trt-
, fling to outsiders, it is Il Mount Blame to
, them. For the time being they expert
cnce as much bitter feeling in quarrel
ling over pair of gloves as they would
q were the cause of quarrel the DIVISION
Of an estate. The reason is clear. The
time is one of ideals tending toward real
; izaton and both he aud she are breath
lessly anxious that the other should III no
, particular fall short of that glorious crea-
ture Of the Imagination whom they Look to
! as their future spouse Clara is determ-
; ined that Edward shall be tie most court
, eous as he il now the bravest and hand
; somest Of MEN and she is shocked and
panied to see that he sometimes laughs at
, poor oh Mrs. Gradlleton. He, on the
, other hand. is determin d that his Clara
shall be a miracle Of sensitive good taste ;
and he cannot bear that she should praise
the manners of tie parsons wife Each
has a SeIfshly unselish desire that the
; other shall be without flaw and a flaw
at this particular time, becomes moun-
tain. Once a Week.