The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-08-16
Written for the Dallas Herald.l
GRANDNA'S STORY.
BY NJ. II. NJ.

80, Grandma, do look at these lovely
fashion plates !" exclaimed Etlie Sum-
mers, knceling on her grandmother's
foot cushion, and laying a fash Oh mag
azine in her lap. The old lady fitted
the spectacles to her eyes, and taking
the book, she said:
~ used to like such things as this
when was girl"
She looked for minute at the gaily
tinted plates, then dropping the maga-
zine, fell into reverie, forgetting her
young granddaughter, wl.o still leaned
Oh her knee.
Eiiie, who was now quite fifteen,
was full of all young girls romance,
and, seeing Il tear in her grandmother's
eyes, she said softly:
"What are you thinking of grand
MAJ"
''Of the past, my child, and n little
incident connected with an old maga-
zine, nearly thirty-seven years ago"
"What was it," asked ElIie, "a love
story??"
ayes, it was love story, dear.n
"Do tell me-" pleaded the young
girl. "Mamma is asleep, papa gone
down street, and | am so lonesome.
Won't you tell me, pleasem and she
curlcd her pretty little form up on the
hearth rug, and awaited with eager Gu
riosity the expected treat.
"When was about seventeen, began
the old lady, ~ was full of romance
and happiness, never thinking of care,
and was the pet and darling Of my pa
rents and my two brothers, older than
myself There We're only three of us,
and we were a happy family, | can tell
you. Like all girls, l had lover, and
unfortunately, my old father did not
said he did not like him, and l should
not marry him.
"Well, child, the more my parents
objected to him, the more ] became in
love with my handsome lover ! can
shut my eyes now and see again his
dancing blue eyes and waving brown
hair, as he stood on the door step the
bright moonlight night that he asked
me for my love. And, child, in def
ance of all should have remembered,
/ gave him my young heart.
ave had been engaged only about
two months, when one day my father
called me into the librsry and, taking
me OH his knee, asked me very seri-
ously what Martin Coleman came to
the house SO often for? ! di | not
know what to say. Father looked 80
grave and displeascd l was afraid to
own my engagement and still more
afraid to deny it. At last, he said
sternly, Il see how it is. YOU have
been silly enough to encourage that
young man, after all | have said to you.
Now, my daughter, you shall never
marry him; and do not wish him to
know that you are not guided by your
own wishes. am going to New York,
to be absent a month, and | give you
that time TO release yourself from this
foolish ENHANCEMENT. When return
shall expect to find my little girl all
my own again.
'The stern look had left his face as he
concluded, and he wound his arms
about me and asked me to promise him
obedience. was passionately attached
to my father and mad never in my life
resisted his authority; so ] gave him
my word ] would d. as he desired
though / felt my heart sink like lead
i'm my bosom as the words left my lips.
8" Days passed OH and every evening
found Martin Coleman at my side, and
each day i felt the task given Inc by
my father grow more and more diff
cult. At last q letter came saying faith
er would be ut home the following
week. Then | knew my time had
come, and resolved to break my en-
gagement that very evening. What
the resolution cost me it is needless to
say.
"That night when my lover came so
full OF hope and confidence in my love,
it almost broke my heart to shatter all
our bright dreams, and brand myself
i'm his eyes, as one incapable of truth
or honesty, How il all passed ] cannot
tell now, it is SO many years ago, but
he wrung my hand in a parting grasp
that night, saying in such accents of
misery, shall remember them to my
dying day, you have blighted my
whole life, Nelly. May God forgive
you.'
He turned away, and ran up stairs
to my room to bury my head in my
pillow, and cry as though my heart
would break. The long night wore
itself away at last, and the first ray of
dawn found Inc galloping on my pet
pony over hill and dale, until my stoed
was white with foam, when ! slowly
home. t1f -
az refused my breakfast, and locked
myself in my room all day, not even
at dinner.
aThat evening, however, | bathed
my swollen eyes, dressed myself with
all my usual care, and went down to
the parlor where, greatly to my sur
prise, | found Martin Coleman among
the gentlemen guests for the evening.
He did not come near me, but devoted
during his stay to pale, gentle
girl who was warm friend of mine,
AID ward of ny fathers. Sweet
Emma Leslie, she died more than
twenty years ago Of q broken heart.
After they had an gone Emma came