The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-01-07
ON AssUMMER DAY.

a,s,s, ON AsSUMMER DAY.
''wf lightsome heart pou'd the rose
9as Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree; 'g sls
And my fause lover stole the rose, $ - -
But ali! he left the thorn wi me-"
Harold gave me roses sfor my hair.
and then he asked me to be his wife (;
ana accepted him, 3. =.
Such summer as that was! Mere
existence seemed bliss, in the glorious
sunshine of that afternoon; and | felt
gay and young then, for the first time
since had left my school-friends, to
become the pining drudge Of my wealthy
and carrieinus godmo.her, who, at her
death, (two years before the happy,
happy day of which / write) had 81;
war,ied, my ten years weary sersI b,
by bcqneathing me the whole i q
large property | think no on9 had
been aware of her immense wealth. and
certainly my good fortune was wholly
unexpected by me. ] had toiled to win
at the most the "Leah" o: a quiet peace
full ending to my life. in simple inde-
oendence. aud never dreamN of attain-
ing the .sRache" of afilaence and IIar-
old Courtland's love Being one of
those useless pitiable things, rich spin
ster, without my friends that cared for
or had faith in, not old enough TO ig-
more the existence of Mrs. Grnaay and
live in selfish comfort by myself, I was
twenty-seven. and considered good
looking. and FOO old to be ableto con-
form with perfect ease to the customs
of the family with whom l had resided
since my accessions to riches 1.-THE
Wyndhams, people themselves wealthy,
who had 10 affection. to bestowfs upon
the penniless orphan, but were mutually
ready enough to afford a home ana pat
ronage to their fortunate relation), Lin
dnleed in DELICATE health, and was SO
tired and worn-out by the fatieues Of a
long, hot London season, that though
Harold might have made some senti-
mental illusions to my complexion in
connection with the roses he gathered
for me onzthat Summer day, had he
been more apt and ready at poetisal re,
marks, the most appropriate coppari.
sons he could have drawn wonld have
been with Gloire de Dion, OF tea-roses
so wan and sallow had my cheeks be
come. ass -
,e So i =
I saw good deap of my fiance du
ring the months offJuly and August
for Halcombe, where / was staying, ws'
only ten miles from - port, Harold
place !, of business, and he consfantl.y
rode over too see me-.
| The following winter Harold wa
Obliged to go to London, Abseuc'
makes the heart grow fonders and. al
through the long months. that he va
away, became more and more lfaicu
ionsly .enamored Of my tall, ID ltifu
Harold I lived on his letters, al
ways knew the last by heart, long sle j
new one was due And if they wsr
| not the most brilliant speeimens-why
| write an abominable hand myself; ant
/, / know that the cleverest people are Of
ten those who write the poorest, weak
est letters anyhow, in my FOOLS para
disc, was satisfied with H4rold's.
/ should mention here one little cir
cumstance which at first only amusel
me, but as time wore on, and my spirit
grew more dismal and gloomy from th
separation from Harold, weighed on N.
mind, making me fret and fdget |
occurred one night when / was at Til
theatre with large party of friends
I'VE were an uneven number, and ] wa
not sorry to be the odd one, at the EN-
of the row. as was feeling rather i'll
and seeing the play was quite enoug
exertion without the extra fatigue O
talking between the, acts. 5
! could not close my ears las l thin
/ did my ewes J. and Carry and the gen
tleman next her on my right were cor
/ versing piauissimo, so could not avoi
overhearing what two gentlemen benin
me were talking about. They were bot
officers stationed at --- port.
j IL saw the Heathcotes last week I
Ryds Birdie is in greater force tha
ever; she has got over her disappoin
ment, Il faney," heard.
j .Her wings were only slightly singet
j / think another voice said land at b
next wordssI strained all MY energies I
hear distinctly. ..Courtand is hant
some young fellow, but hardly braif
enough to fascinate the little scamp
reality @a 70 ID Ss 81
J, 9sShe was very i'll all last winter, an
I haye it from Randail,in whom she col
| fiaed--she was desperately smitten wit
4 Harold Courtland; but they were M
regularly engaged, and she thonght 1
J bring him to tie point by flirting wit
some rich cad, and making Harold iea
5 GUS" es.s
.And lost him instead He was ay
], fully cut up at the time, but like the re
of the world, has censoled himself
called at Haleomhe the other days ar
was shown the lady's portrait Mi
Courtland told ME she has pots ofemo
Fleynsa H
Ills she pretty9'
Al "Handsome; but awfully thin. Ha
old is very proud of her, OF cours
. lucky Young fellow, and his people a
Idelighted
sBiIdie has not heard of it yet.-
What is the girl called p
b"She is Miss Lowell" Then {
curtain drew up, and they talked
more about me Ea
y i asked my friends afterward if tn,
had overheard Of Birdie Heathcote
d but they could give me no informati'
about her. They said that Harold b
always been in love with some one
! other all his life, and thev suppos
J Birdie was "soihebody in London" "
i By the end of May we, the Wyr
! hams and myself, were back in Londt
e and my engagement being publicly .
e nounced, people began to decide Il
. Harold and l wonld be married at I
a close of the season. @s a
Ie Une night, soon after we came
Y IL u