Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-07-14
A Bachelors Romance.


age of old letters, yellowed and faded
by time, and bound together with a
colored ribbon which was once a
bright blue.
There are others here also, written
on fresh French paper, perfumed and
monogrammed, aud traced In deli
cate feminine characters; dainty fin-
gers penned them, and fair faces bent
over them yet scan them indiffer-
emily and lay them aside But these
old letters, lying 30 long overlooked
and forgotten, awaken emotions in
my heart which / thought was too
we'll schooled by the world ever to
feel again. They are simply werded
letters, written with the candor and
simplicity Of fresh pure nature, yet
bearing the impress Of thoughtful,
intelligent mind. read them with
q new, strange interest. They lead
me back into the past, and revive the
memories and hopes Of my lost
youth and there arises In my heart
the regretful tenderness and longing
that we feel for bygone years, when
We think upon "what might have
been."
And this ribbon that binds them, i
pass it lingeringly through my fin
gers. 1t bound the sunny hair that
waved around her shapely head
Well 1 remember the evening she
gave 1t to me. We sat beneath the
huge old walnut-tree that stood In
her fathers garden, and the moon.
light drifted through the leafy
branches, just as they do through
yonder maple tonight, and lighted
up her gold-brown hair, and shone
upon her pure rose-tinted face, so ra.
diant with youth and loveliness.
"Give this to me-" l said, unbind.
ing the ribbon, without waiting her
reply "it is the color of your eye,
and shall be the pledge of love, for
blue is truth. you know" 4
She smiled softly, as she raised her
eyes to mine, and from their aznre
depths the loving, trusting soul look
ed out. Why do I think of this to-
nightS / have done with romance
long ago; contact with the world Ia
destructive to sentiment, and am
no idle dreamer to indulge In it.
How little do we know ourselves
We 60 into the world, and are nodded
into its ways; We ignore emotions
and impulses, and grow practical and
worldly wise; and 1t surprises us
when, beneath our wOrldliness and
cynicism, we discover that an under
current of feeling yet survives. II
gives me u painful pleasure TO linger
over those days. They were my best
and happiest. / had been a hard
student at college; and afterward
applying myself closely In studying
for my profession, my health become
impaired, and went to Royley to
regain it. 1 see plainly now the
pleasant, old-fashioned farm house
standing Oh hill, and the large
gently sloping yard. There was
farmer Dee, whole souled and genial
and kind, motherly Mrs. Dee, ant
Nellie, Nellie Dee how familiar the
name sounds even now! She wa.
their only child, their pride and dar
ling-and well she might be. hav,
seen many beautiful women but non,
that to my mind could equal her.
1t may be that / idealized, but
think not; / am not apt to idealiz
now. She had the grace of form ant
manner which nature. gives, EN-
hanced by the innate refinement ant
dignity of her nature. Slender
rounded, and graceful in form, he
broad, white forehead, clear, deep
blue eyes, and red, curved mobil,
lips, were expressive Of the pure SOU
within. She was but happy, art
less girl then, aud gave promise of I
glorious womanhood.
What a happy summer that was
We fioated together on the calm. blu,
waters of the lake, drifted among
the fragrant water lilies Wandered
through the shady roads aud lanes
or sat beneath our favorite walnu
tree, chatterlng pleasantly or repeat
ing poetry, whose soft, smooth rhym,
charmed US. Is 1t a wonder If, IL
the clear, witching moonlight. ou
voices should become tender and ex
pressive? We smile half>scornfully
to ourselves, as, wise with the ex
perience and knowlege of mature
years, we look back on those days.
Oh, Nellie Dee! of all the moonli
eyes I've seen since then, boating o.
yachting on moonlit waters, will
fair ladies for company, or flirting
with giddy bellies, and talking sof
nonsense beneath moon-hauntet
trees, none have ever been to me lik,
those of long ago. The summe
went away, and reluctantly I left tn,
pleasant place and the friends VIII,
had grown 80 dear TO me.
"Good bye Nellie," I said, "unti
l return again." and I saw her swee
face watching me as walked dowr
the road, upon which 1 never. alas
retraced my steps.
thought of her constantly, q
first, but youth is variable and easil.
Influenced. I was proud and ambi
tious, and I determined to win |,
name and place In the world. M,
associates were older and more world
ly than I they induced me into so
ciety; and for awhile I was dazzleC
and fascinated. Poor Nellie; gave
but little thought to her, my letter
came fewer and shorter; she felt M
coldness, and our correspondence,
ceased. I am q successful man, q
the world goes. Some call me col,
and cynical /; perhaps am. I hav
seen below the surface, and am n,
longer blinded and dazzled. Some
times Nellie's sweet face has come VI
before me, bringing with 1t vagu
sense Of pain and regret. but
laughed 1t away as boys idle fan
cy.
A few days ago was at Rugby
Mr.. and Mrs. Dee were sleeping to
gether In the village cemetery, an,
Nellie, I was told, had gone to som