The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-10-27

portion OF MS time IN the mouse, or In
walking with the young ladies. /
suspect that Ida's brown eyes and
cherry cheeks Influenced the hand
some young man a good deal.
But the course Of true love never
does run smooth; and ere long he dis
covered that he had rival i'm the per-
son of stalwart young farmer named
John Gordon. Vilo walked In the par
| lor one evening, dfedBed in, his best.
l Darfd saw st 56nce by his manner,
Chat he was little Ida's "beau." The
knowledge did not please him, and
he retired to his room in fit Of the
sulks.
"What the mischief can she see in
that BOBBY to like?" he said confiden-
TALLY to his pillow. But what differ
ence does it make to me2 Am l in
love with this little country maiden?
Yes; am; and would marry her to-
morrow, if she would have me?
Aye there's the rub-wiH she have
me? believe she would learn to love
ME, if that confOunded fellow would
keep out OF. the way. Certainly she
doesn't love him, for he's ugly as sin.
guess 1 had better wait awhile, and
see how matters 90 on; and II she isn't
actually engaged to that fellow I'll
cut him out, by JOve, il l can"
With which consOling reflection he
went to sleep.
Another week passed without OAR
lshaving decided whether or not
he could y"cut out" the young
farmer. Sometimes he teased Ida
about him, hut she speedily got into
bad humOr and vowed that she cared
nothing at all for him-which Darrell,
with his knowledge Of women, could
not believe.
One morning being in a particular
dOwn-hearted mood, he took his rifle
and started for the woods to renew
his acquaintance with the squirrels.
He had not gone far ere voices which
he recognized as belonging to Ida and
her lover. ,-nssgA ,or--~- sstTn
Alps fair In love and wa" he said
to himself; and approached as near as
he dared, he crOuched behind a log,
and peered through the foliage at the
lovers-if such they were. They were
seated on fallen tree-trunk; 1da's face
was averted, but GordOn's wore an
! expression of mingled anger and sOr-
row.
"You liked me well enough" he
said i'm a reproachful voice, until
| that fellow from the city came down
| here. IsuppOse you think you'll get
him now, and maybe you can; but
its my opinion you'll get no great
prize, anyhow"
"YOu are no gentleman" rctOrtcd
Ida, angrily, ITO slander an absent
person. 1 never expect to get Mr..
| Darrell; but that il no reason why
! should marry you.
81 didn't mean to say anything
against him; don't know anything
I about him; but, oh, Ida, he doesn't
love you as l do. Only think how
we played together "a children, and
how 1 loved you ever since, caring
nothing for any one else"
T am sorry for you John, if you
| love me as you say" replied Ida's
I gently" "but can never care for you
only as friend, and it would be
wrong to marry yOu?"
"YOu never can love me rs / love
you?"
"I never can, John"
"Then gOOd-by said the honest fell
low, rising to his feet, and holding
Tda's hands in his, while his mourn
full eyes, filled with tears, met hers.
/ 81 shall never trouble you any more.
am rough and ugly, | know, but L
loved you truly. Will you let me
kiss you for once, for the first time
and the last" e-t
"As a friend you may, john" said
Ida, plying his sorrowful face.
a"Asl the only woman shall ever
love!"
he said passiOnately, catching her to
his breast for a moment; then he re-
leased her, and disappeared without
another word.
Darrell pitied the poor youth sim
cerely, but at the same time his heart
beat high with joy of renewed hope,
and approaching the spot where Ida
was still seated, he sat down by her
| side. The beautiful girl blushed scar
let and would have fled, but he de-
!! tained her by clasping her hands in
his own. !il
!! II met your .fSiend, Gordon, mo-
I ment ago" said Rafe, n,ischievously
,'and he seems to be terribly down.
cast about something. What is the
matter with him.?
How should | know?' replied Ida,
trying to withdraw her hands,
"But he was talking with you; ]
heard your voices. He looked like
fancy a man who has proposed to the
woman he loved and has been rejected.
Did you refuse him?'
"Why do you ask"
Because l think you treat him
badly, little girl. He is good fel-
low, and loves you devOtedly. 1fyOu
knew how you hurt his feelings, you