The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-04-03
MY AFFINITY"

4 AIN now. 1 uctU tn NFllt
| confidently believed myself TO be- the
pOssessor sf genius equal To Burns or
Byron's. 10 say the least. and expected 10
astonish the literary world, some day, by
some tremendous achievement in the poet
zeal line.
Since that time. however. | have made
up my mind that poetry isn't my forte,
and have settled down into plain, matter
of-fact business man. and fancy | get "a
good a living a most poets do. | have
given up the society of the muses. 10 those
who desire 20 cultivate their acquaint-
ance.
| had a strong desire. in those young
DAYS OF mine" 10 form the acquaintance of
some person of a literary turn of mind
like myself
One day. in looking over the Weekly
Clarion. paper published in village not
ar from the one i'm which resided. came
across piece Of poetry which struck me
as being decidedly original and fine.
thought could detect, with my keen. POI
etical insight. vein of true poetry in the
lines. They were addressed ITO One Tn
known" and were full of the usual yoarn-
ings "ior some one whose soul should
beat in unison" etc. Trash. should call
il nowadays. but my opinion. n | have
said. has changed considerably since the
The name Of Miss Ellen Daryl was APP
pended % the poem, also her post-ofiice
address.
a brilliant idea struck me. would
open a correspondence with her. Dan
bury. where she lived. was only ten miles
away. After we had correspondent awhile.
il we proved mutually agreeable. we would
have an interview. and who knew what
might result from the acquaintance so TO
maniically begun:
Full Of such foolish and rose-colored /
fancies, | wrote 10 Miss Ellen Daryl and !
begged that she would consider nv pro- |
posal Tor correspondence in favorable |
light.
BY return mail came an answer 10 my
letter. A gushing. sentimental epistle. in /
stilted. highfi0wn language; but to me. /
then. that letter was model of elegance. /
Madame de Sevigne's letters never had |
halt the grace. iucncy and refined senti- 4
ment. They lacked the poetry and polish 1
which Miss Darryl's letter had.
We corresponded reglarly after that. | 4
began 20 think had found my fate
We waved sentimental on paper. and 4
wrote poetry IN our epistles 10 each other. 4
We sent poems TO the respective papers to |
which we contributed inscribed 10 each /
other. and so on through the whole gamut .
Of poetical correspondence until got fair
" bewifched with the idea that must see
my unknown friend.
IF you are a. truly my friend n think
YOU are" wrote. ''let me come and see
you. feel that there is an affinity be-
tween our souls, and | shall never rest sat
istied until have clasped hands with you
and looked into your face. long to know
the sweet singer whose songs have charm
ed me 30. Tell me that | may come. Ii
L. L -. n
sat az your desk writing out these exqui-
site thoughts of yours for the world To
read And a string of nonsense, similar
to the above extract. dragged it, sweet
length along over two or three sheets OF
rose-colored paper. You wouldn't believe
ma capable OF writing such stuff now, if
Won could see me.
You NAV come,' she wrote in reply.
MY soul looks forward yearningly to the
time when shall take you by the hand.
and bid you welcome 10 my humble home.
As you 20 beautifully say. / do believe
there i an affinity between us tie which
our natures acknowledge 10 each other,
and which binds us in the bonds of
stronger. sweeter friendship than common
mortals know. At the twilight hour I
have often sat and thought of you. dear
poet friend OF mine. and il has seemed.
sometimes. as ifmy soul and yours met
and sat down together i'm the pleasant
realms OF that higher life which only
those gifted with the fires Of genius know.
Come 70 me- already yearn for tho time
to come when ! shall clasp hands with you.
anil. looking in your eyes can say. oh.
my friend, known. yet unknown. welcome
10 the heart which will never have but
kindly thoughts Of thee"
Beautiful. wasn't ". Divine. thought
= 4 .t..l~ Assxx
pleasant lite would be with such a COM
panion. The cares and ills of life might
pass us by. They would be nothing TO
us. dwelling on such far heights above the
common level OF mankind. who could not
understand u. nor appreciate us.
At length the time came when was TO
visit Miss Daryl. fancied just how
she would look. A girl with soft brown
hair and sweet blue eyes. and a sort Of
spiritual face. should love her. knew
The time came. ] went 10 Danbury
with beating heart. literally. ! inquired
for the Darryls. and was told they lived in
the suburbs Of the town. ! followed the
directions given me. and came 20 "A large.
pleasant house, standing back from the
road In a clump Of stately old trees.
A girl was In the garden az work
among her flowers. She looked up. and
an amused look came into her face as she
saw me.
My heart gave great thump. Could this
be my afllnityg" She had a bright, mis-
chievous eve. and clear. wild-rose face.
Tar from being spiritual. Her hair was a
shower of dancing curls all over her head.
Not AZ all the sort Of person imagined her
~ be-: bat a very charming girl, Iconclud-
cd, nevertheless.
Have the pleasure Of addressing Miss
Ellen Daryly" asked.
THAT Il my name. she answered, smil-
ing mischievously.
"Thcn allow me 20 claim you as a
friend" cried. ave have never met face