The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-01-27
2fm Original Story.
For the Union.1
SUNSHINE IND SHADOW.

/
SUNSHINE IND SHADOW.
The "Demosthenes Literary Association" of
which had the honor OF being an original men,
Der, "resolved, with patriotic gravity, to cele-
brate the next ensuing fourth of July in pleasant
| grove on the line of the railroad some fifteen
| miles from the city. Literary efforts" were
| duly apportioned, and the beautiful, bright
morning witnessed geeful gathering, as all on
board the tran with its shrill whistle of playful,
but positive warning and notice glided out the
station, rumbled over few squares of stones,
and then with It's lons girded up sprung to the
contest with time and space. Arrived at our
destination, entered with zest and Zeal upon
the literary entertainment proposed, and after
this and more muscular exercises we Cceros cast
| about for the Willing away OF some hours yet
remaining OF our days pastime and picnic
The railroad al this point runs througha slight
| depression, and the cross road village, in addl-
ton to its store and tavern, boosted church and
parsonage, located in pretty grove near by. 1t
so happened that the good ladies OF the congrega-
ton had also fixed upon this day for a celebra-
ton, and goodly number were assembled hold
fair and festival and neighborhood gathering.
Tbither wended our steps and soon found
ourselves with welcome among many friends.
few miles from this period or pivot OF my des-
tiny was the farm of Mr.. Tross, plain and wor-
thy cid gentleman, the father of u large family,
mostly girls, who, with devoted mother, enjoy
ed the happiness of their rural home. and the
spect and regard Of a large circle OF friends
Our story relates to two only o. the girls, Carrie
aged about twenty, and Fannie a short seventeen,
pair of graces who made a. fairy land OF the old
homestead and the latter of whom fixed my fate
on sight Sauntering along with Indifferent pur-
pose approached a carriage in which was
merry party, and responding to friendly CALL
! drew nearer passed the salutations of the day
and was transfxed for the careless sweep o. the
eye took in the form and features of beauty so
rare so exquisite, that the election spark kinded
glow, fervor, devotion that brought me
metaphorically to prompt and pronounced
obesance. Enslaved and enchanted, subdued
aud bewildered, gazed ixedly for a moment,
long enough to heighten the carnation that GRIM
soned the perfect cheek of my heroine and then
abashed at my temerity, nervous with delight,
beat retreat, worshipped from affair." and dumb
founded, withdrew to the station, where, sup
ported by post, awaited the arrival of the
train, gained a seat in the car, and without ut
terng a word for the fifteen miles, was whired
homeward in dazed, dizzy condition ! should
probably have sat still all unconscious until the
promptings of hunger, the station master, or
some other propelliug power had reused me
from my comatose condition, had not my atten-
:
gested change of base, which being approved
got on my pins and recovering gradually under
the necessities of the situation, came to by de-
| grees and finally realized that | lived, moved
and had being, and under no circumstances OF
star-gaZing and pointlesS rumiEations could be
excused from home service and office duty, for
hattered myself was faithful as son and broth
er, and a useful appendage of Commerce & Co.
Two days after this adventure, during all of
| which was barely able to contain myself and
preserve whole skin, Ideterminedto suffer such
suspense (?) no longer. Although common sense
might have dictated that the young lady, if she
had observed me at all, held me according to
sage advice, friend in peace, an enemy in war,
! that is-on a common level, | was far from
cepting any such an unsatisfactory conclusion.
On the contrary, having rapidly risen to a con
| siderable altitude in the realms of romance, my
views enlarged and became quite comprehensive,
as to the future from that stand point of exalta-
ton and desire. Though even the mostthorough
qualification might insinuate that to indulge the
hope of an early telegram to my mother of "Ueni,
Uidi, 0ici was ignorance pure aud simple, sup
ported by arrogance quite as broad and silly, IN.
til at least had measured the ground or recon-
notered. l was yet so brimful of passionate
| longing that resolved TO GO in at once TO win or
| to get punched, and putting on spurs of steam,
soon landed at friends who | knew was we'll
acquainted with Mr.. Tross' family, and who,
having enlisted quite heartily in my plans for
acquaintance, grati6ed my desire for an immedi-
| ate visit.
| Burdened by huge bouquet from ny friends
sister to my heroines sister, behold us two gall
liant Dons, directly after an early dinner on hot
July day, off on a canter, riding like gay cava-
Tiers, over hills and dales (pure metaphor, except
| the green, or country crossroads here mud,
there dust, with stones everywhere. Thespeech-
| es the beautiful introductions | made on that
ride the melting signs Allowing minute for
speech and fraction to cool off for another,
calculate the wasted eoquence of that two miles
recover, if you can 1.-THE of those splendid sem
fences was to lavish, profuse as an oriental,
upon the fair lady of my love. ! make no esti-
mate of imperfect and unfinished fragments"
as mentally POLITICALLY addressed them. They
vanished in toto into thin air and are incapable
of being embraced in an epitome at once numerl-
| cal and heroic.
1t occasionally occurred to me that my sweet
heart (?) might be out What then was TO be-
come of the speeches? More than that, what of
me? A grim fancy even conjured up the picture
| of an ogre, club in hand, rampant at the door,
defending and defying entrance to this enchanted
castle, or rival, knight Grant like prepared
to contest an approach. Again argued, suppose
prudent papa blocked up the way, supported
by Madame and fanked by the daughters? What
then Inesc aud divA-ls phantasms
were however happily and continuotc.J and m
continently knocked down and dissipated under
an occasional revival of courage and common
sense, this neither abounded superhuously) and
with an air of unconcern and gasconade, |
whistled like the school boy in the church yard,
and was about addressing an Indifferent remark
| to my companion when he said
"Well, we're most there"
! Spasmodically clutched the bouquet till the
briers resented the affront, and asked
"Where- which-whatP
''Theres the house" he said.
! In Il spirit of nervous determination ! clappeG
my hat tightly on my head, rudely refined up my
steed, which kindly or CONTEMPORARY in con-
sideration of the circumstances and this person
concerned rebuked me not and summoned
desperate courage to assist nue. in this crisis of
my fate | am quite sure | was red in the
| face as a contemporary beet-certainly there was
strange gurgling in my throat-but in this
prospective victory or defeat, composure was es-
| sential, and with its verify or semblance follow
ed my friend, more with "stay, jaler, stay"
| than peace at heart.
We dismouned. To ensure safe escape in
case of need, quietly requested my companion
to examine if my horse were securely fastened
He looked carelessly, shook off the dust indiffer-
emily and walked Familiarity forward saying fall
O. K"
PRESENTATION was doing its work with me.
wrung nv handkerchief out till it refused to be
wrung any more. My heart spun round like
car wheel on wet rail, then stopped, then went
on The gloss had departed from my boots.
viewed them in despair, to seek my angel with
soiIed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The handker-
chief was performing a new office when soft
laugh-the voice of girl-smote my ears.
looked up, ringlet was just leaving the window
as the shutter closed Though nearly fantiug,
some little inspiration was demanded by and for
the occasion and courteously signing to my
cicerone to proceed and recalled the sublime mo-
ment of the great Roman if wrapped in the gar
ment of destiny, plunged into this Rubicon.
Behold me then the latch of the gate as it
rose and fell was like the sound of doom, the
crunchug of the gravel returned the most dismal
forebodngs, the noise of my boots ascending the
doorsteps echoed the denouncings of guilty