The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-01-19
{ VAN BUREN,, ARK, JANUARY 10, 1869

more strove to create a good impress
sion, the more failed acted, steadily
and constantly, day after day. my best,
and at the end of the term was as difldent
and i'll at ease at the beginning. In their
presence l never could do or say the
things I wished Usually, so great was
my terror, that could say nothing at all.
and no mortal can tell what l suffered
day by day, when in their society, and /
could not talk and they would not
Well, the term was over. My studies
were finished l was soon to commence
practice in distant city--Frank likewise
was to return TO his home Our trunks
were packed and ready for our departure.
But before we made this final start. we
decided to treat ourselves to one last
week together by the seaside, and Cohas
set was to be the place. We put what
things would make US comfortable for 8
week $ time into our travelling bags, and
at dinner babe the family, girls and all,
good bye. We still received our room,
in which we left our trunks, thinking IL
might be convenient for US to stop day
or two on our return. Upon reaching
the city, Frank and | separated, each to
attend to little matters ofbusiness, agree
ing to meet at the depot in time FOR the
last train.
Everything went wrong with me that
afternoon, and conspired to hinder me,
and the upshot of it was, that l reached
the station Just five minutes after the cars
had started l was vexed and disap-
pointed. To add to the rest, it was Sat
urday night, and was distressed beyond
measure to think must 60 back to the
house and stay and over Sunday with
those three girls without Frank to help
me along. 1t was quite late, and glori-
Gus moonlight as started to walk out !;
and reflected with pleasure that it would
be near midnight before should reach
the house. Then ] would let myself
quietly in with my night key, and should
be safe for one night at least,
All this happened as expected, But
what was my surprise upon quietly enter
ing my room, to sec Franks form as u.s.
ual in the bed. msn lies.
"Well," said Iquietly, odd fellow, did
you miss the train too?" But he did not
answer and thought if he was half as
tired as l was, it would be pity to wake
him.. | missed the usual " haw-hee ~
+" haw-hee" of his heavy breathing, but
thought he was too tired even to snore.
So speedily disrobing, without even strk
ing match--for the moon gave light
enough, even though it fell but family
through the heavy foliage that surround
ed the house--I was beside him in
twinkling. and was soon fast asleep, I'D
The fatigues Of the day we're followed
by such a night of rest as comes TO us
sometimes; when neither move nor stir
through all the night. When the first
bird began to sing in the early morning,
tmnK oppressed by the fear Of how
should get through the day. suddenly
was broad awake. ] opened my eyes to
see if Frank had awakened too, and. oh,
horrors it was not Frank at all, but the
beautiful Miss D. the prettiest of the
three girls-and the one l feared most of
all -4n at 0
For moment my heart topped beat.
ing. Ii l had been woman, l was so
scared should have screamed murder,
and then tainted. AS it was. my hrst
thought was to jump and run my next
was that my first movement would waken
her, and then matters would be worse
than at that moment. While was think.
ing hard and fast what should do to get
both myself and her out Of so terrible a
dilemma, the human nature within me
awoke, and | could but cast one glance
at the face of the still sleeping beauty be-
side me. / had in my boyhood often
gone to my mothers room to say good
night after she had retired, and seen her
tall, angular woman in dimity night
gown and close fitting cotton night cap,
and had never been impressed thereby.
But oh, this vision! No cap or pin con-
fined the rich brown hair; but beneath
one check it lay in masses, pushed back
by her dimpled hand from the other it
rolled off in waving curls, and streamed
upon the pillow Her cheek was flushed
in sleep. and one lily white arm was
thrown up high above her head, over the
curling waves of brown hair, while the
dainty night dress, "just swelling with
the charms it hid was such miracle of
putfs, and lace and beauty as had never
dreamed of. Don't imagine that linger.
ed, as | am lingering now to tell the sto.
ry. saw all this 4" in moment, in the
twinkling Of an eye;' but l think my
gaze, mingled as it was with terror, as
constituent and delight, must have had
mesmeric power, for without warning
moment, the beautifully fringed eyelids
Enclosed, and the large brown eyes look
cd full iuto mine! Every vestige ofcolor
forsook the fair check. knew in mo
ment more she would do what would
fain have done myself, shrek or faint,
and for once in my life l got the better of
my ,bashfulness, and acted as if had
never known fear
"Know you what II Is when anguish
To aPythIan height dlates you
And despair sublimcs topower?"
suppose this was my case. / had all
summer hardly dared to looked her in
the face, and call her Miss Dale now /
Saii snffiv hut caiIniv. Mary dnn'f