The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-12-22
Anbersot1 yntsAigelutr,
: Twice Wooed.

TT =
I aPooh J. poeh Phil Morton > sincerely
hope you are not absolutely determined to be
an old bache o."
And Fred Lacy plucked the stump OF cigar
from his teeth, and looked at me half-reproach-
fully, half inquiringly. -
"Then, my dear boy, it is my painful duty to
inform you that you have hoped in vain,~ re-
And And I if arned to the window ofsths 1aiIysy
carriage, inwhich We were travelling TO Conceal
what nv face would have otherwise betrayed.
We were fellow-students, in the Temple, Fred
antfT, iust;f freed from the confinement We had
ehanrea 90 long ;tand Iya his urgent request,
was accompanying him honeito spend the ho!-
idays in the beautiful little village where his
parents lived. That evening Squire Lacy was
to give grand ball, or soiree, in honor OF MS
sons return ]; and ], though always tar more
willing to shan than To court the society OF Ia
dies, had, after much urging, consented to MAKE
one of the brilliant thFong that was expected
to crowd the rooms of the wealthy yom Squire.
Besides, Fred was to be married on New
Years Day; and, as was his old chum and
most intimate friend, he chose me in preference
toaH others for chief groomsman.
: And it Mss5 his Contemplated marriage shat
caused the remarks with which have chosen
to commence my story. He had asked me if L
had not thought of taking unto myself wife,
and Ihad very emphaticatly Informed him that
it was my intention to adhere to celibacy
through the entire course of my existence,
should I livea hundred years. And really
meant it at the time / said it. "You have nev-
er loved, Phil,n said he, laying his hand on my
shoulder.
seHavesL=nosfp T growled, still looked out
through the window at the snow-clad fields and
lkafess. trees.
Ss ts4.EWhat7 do you meanlto say, Phil Morton,
that you, who have always, since the time be-
aversion rather than apenchant for the society,"
of other sex-do you mean to say that you.
II haven't said any such thing" interposed-
"But one would infer" as-'.>
'Tnfer anything" I exclaimed, stamping my
foot impatiently. "For heavens sake, Fred,
let us drop this subject, and talk of something
more sensible" - 80
"What is more sensible than marriage 2"
"Bosh YOU are love-sick, old fellow. ..i
= off you mean by that, Phil, that have e1-
perienced the power of Cupid, you are right;
and in one short week / hope to make the love-
ly object of my affections the wife of my bosom:
But even before that mischievous urchin had
done the work never had a thought of tramp
Ing Tue SCiSe VI llit Al otuSl0 SuASouuSoo AoA
may call me nensensical, Morton, or whatever
you like, but, honestly, 1 never hear man say
he has no intention of ever marrying but,
think him either liar or very foolish.
"Thank you for the compliment" | replied,
dryly. NJ,
ssNow don't talk in that way, Phil; for you
know-I would not rumple that temper of yours
for anything. I think fully understand what
/ am talking about; and if you please, sir, l
will wager fine new hat that you are mar
ried man before you are thirty years oldss'
81 will accept the wager, just to please you"
I said; and we struck our palms, together TO
make it. good. eff am single man or. my
thirtieth birthday, you are to give me fine
new nat; if previous to that time find myself
in the meshes of matrimony-vice versa"
Correct" rejoined Fred, with touch of en-
thnsiasm.
s.&Rnd turned again to the window, with
suppressed sign, thinking it quite evident that
Fred bad no suspicion of the real cause of my
resolve never to link my life to that of any wo-
man. He didn't suppose that there was time
when was as ardent as he in my admiration
of female loveliness. And with these thoughts
came vivid recollections Of that time long ago
when 4 slosss young heart and: nd hsf been
u remembered the proud steamer Victory,
and the'pleasant hour spent upon her deck
IS she pfoughed the broad Atlantic. remem-
bered too, the little -golden-haired creature
first saw there, and how was affected by her
beauty, her innocence, her charming noivete,
and her sweetness of disposition. l. was only
seventeen then, and she fifteen but, for all
that, we took fancy to each other, became
strongly attached, and in very short time l
was hopelessly in lovei
1t is said that young love is delusion, and
soon over Such may generally be the case,
but I, odd goose, am to this day as much under
the Influence Of that intoxicating passion as
when T first felt the delightful sensation, in the
seventeenth year of my age. 49,,
And now, as I sat with my chum beside ME
In the train, I recalled to my memory those
sunny days of my boyhood's love, and wished
that they could return. could not prevent
secret wish, too, that my spirit had flown when
Lillian's did, that might sleep peaceably be-
side her far away down in her watery, grave /;
and I dropped tear, then, and wondered If
could ever be SO fond of another as Ihad been
of Lillian. No ! would waituntil death should
mite me to my golden-haired lost one. j.,
A cold tremor crept through my frame as the
memory Of that neyer-to-be- forgotten night,
when the iil-fated steamer succumbed to the
whitening breath of the fire-king,9 rushed over
my mind. 1t was an awful sight; children
screaming, women wringing. their hands in
mental agony, while passengegsi sailors, and
everybody on board were crying aloud to heaven
for mercy and yet the fiery elements rushed
on and wrapped the doomed vessel in q sheet
of fame. Poor little Lillian, unable to find
her father, came to me for protection. In en-
deavoring to calm her fears, l almost forgot my
ewn; and | can never forget that beautiful
face as she lifted it so trustfuly to mine, lighted
by the raging fire in the background. Twas
then and there told her l loved her; and
nesting her curly head upon my breast, she
burst into tears, and told me that which caused
me to clasp her in my arms and kiss her rose
bud-lips.
face felt a momentary thrill of joy. We
L. IA III