The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-07-08

spector a wealthy gentleman, by the name
Of Tredgold a widower, had settled In
Stepminster. Some said he was a retired
merchant, others that he was o retired
London broker. People hardly knew
what he was or where he had come from,
or what for. He was not very communi-
catiye on these points but it was agreed
that he was rich, and it was indisputable
that he had very pretty only daughter,
Laura. He therefore became an object of
interest to parents of manageable young
men in Stepminster; while Miss Tredgold
became ditto ditto to those young men
themselves. The Tredgolds were invited
out good deal. They were not at all
proud they appeared fond Of society;
they accepted those invitations; and in
turn their hosts became their guests.
They were very much liked, really be-
lieve for their own Sakes more than on
account of Mr.. Tredgold's wealth. Mr..
Tredgold was excellent company; had
seen a good deal of the world, could make
himself at home in any society, and what
is more, could make every one feel so too,
if not little too much so at times, for he
was some what eccentric. AS for Laura
Tredgold, there could not be two opinions
about her; she had the blacklist eyes, the
prettiest face, and the best fortune of any
girl in Stepminster more, she was
known to be good tempered, unassuming
and, in word, nice. al5d 5a0 as -d3a Z
Now, although the Tredgolds had been
settled four years in our town, and not
understanding one after another of the
best and most well-to-do of our young
gentlemen, young professional men,. and
Young tradesmen had laid continual siege
to her heart during that time, Miss Tired
gold was still disengaged. She referred
all her suitors to her father, who profes-
sed to be flattered by their attentions, but
told each of them with never failing afa-
billity, che had other intentions respect
ing his daughters future" This was his
continual replylto all applications, she
had other intentions respecting his daugh-'
ter's future;" AID he never varied a
word, but delivered it with equal good
humor and courtesy in every case. d b
Stepminster was puzzled as to- what
those intentions could be. 1t was demon.
strated that Miss Tredgold was not engag
ed elsewhere. They never received yisi-
tors from distance and more than one
disappointed sutton ascertained, through
his servants, from the Tredgolds servants
that Miss Tredgold was actually free still.
81 I became acquainted with the family
through my connection with a private
musical society for the practice of vocal
and instrumental chamber music The
society had been founded very recently by
Mr.. Tredgold, himself no mean amateur
on the double-bass. We met at members
houses alternately, ard managed to spend
some Of the pleasantest evenings can call
to mind in this way. My own part was
chiefly confined to singing tenor. Laura
Tredgold played the piano or organ with
nervous feeling, besides this she had a
very respectable sopranoyoice. My great
interest in the study and practice of mu
sic led Mr.. Tredgold to invite me to his
house frequently, to try over some of
Mendelssohn' trios with Laura and him
self until become q constant visitor,
always welcome to their home and table.
4 It went on like this for bit, and the
trios frequently came down to duets be
tween Miss Tregdold and me, while
hes father would add double--bass
obligato to her piano accompaniment.
At last I grew very miserable. l began
to feel that I loved Laura Tredgold, and
that my position as a miserable one-eyed
inspector of nuisances was an insuperable
barrier to telling her so,and much less her
afable old father, rasping away at his
Double bass Unhappy Inconsistencies of
my feelings. Ittried to stife these feel
ings, and to look upon our acquaintance
as a musical one. am afraid the very
effort made to hide them must have in
some way betrayed them to Laura, for
became impressed with growing convic-
ton that she knew what | felt, and that
her own inclinations were at least not I'M
favorable towards me. I noticed, or
thought did, that when I entered the
the room faint blush would overspread
her cheek-that she would look round
and single out mine from all other faces
at the meetings of the musical society,
and that, having found it, her eyes would
stay restfully and satisfied on mine for. a
moment-her deep lustrous eyes-before
turning with greater unconcern upon the
rest And when she parted from me of
an evening, | remember how she would
raise those eyes to mine with gentle ex-
preston that made me dizzy to think of
as ] would run out of the house and re-
feet on my one-eyed-ness. Laura had
speaking eyes, as folks say. They were
not bashful eyes, but mild and gentle
and when ] looked into their depths, they
seemed to flash back a favorable answer
to what / longed to, but dared not ask
That the longer / reflected on the social
inequality of my position and hers, the
more resolved I became at least to try my
fate, and hear at least my rejection, will
be readily understood by the lad who
has read his first love story. TWAS not SO
much this--it was my eye. "a | dared not
tell hes, lest, If she rejected me, it should
get bruited about Stepminster that the
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