Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-06-12
selefted Stgistellanv.
MARY MOORE.
1 Love story.

AL lily tiit 4 iiuA huOW ~ AlQi NAQOtt
all my life had loved her.
Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first recollections are
Of asboy, in red frock and morocco
shoes. rocking a cradle in which reposcd
sunny haired, blue-eyed baby. not quite
year old. That boy was myself Har-
ny Church; that baby, Mary Moore.
Later still | see myself at the old
school house, drawing my little chaise
up to the door, that Mary might ride
home. Many a beating have gained
on such occasions, for other boys beside
me liked her, and she, I fear, was some
thing Of firt, even in her pinafore. -
How elegantly she came tripping down
the steps when I called her name; how
sweetly her blue eyes looked at me, how
gaily rang out her merry laugh. Nc
one but Mary could ever bring her heart
so near her lips. I followed that laugh
from the days Of my childhood till
grew an awkward, blushing youth
followed it through the heated noon Of
manhood and now when the frosts Of
age are silvering my hair, and many chill.
dren climb upon my knee and call me
"father," find that the memories o.
youth are strong, and that even in gray
hairs, am following the music still.
When was fifteen the FIRST great sor-
row of my life came upon my breast.
was sent away to school, and was obliged
to part with Mary. We were not to sec
each other for three long years. This to
me was like sentence Of death, for Mary
was life itself to me. But hearts are
tough things after all.
left college in all the flush Of my
nineteenth year. I was no longer awk.
ward or embarrassed, / had grown into
tall, slender STRIPPING. with very good
opinion Of myself, both general and
particular. If thought of Mary Moore
it was how could dazzle and bewildei
her with my good looks and wonderful
mental attachments, and never thinking
that she might dazzle and bewilder me
still more. was coxcomb, | know
but as youth and good looks have fed,
trust that may be believed when ! say
that self-conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made al
that time, and accepting it gave up all
idea of profession, and prepared to 60
to India. In my hurried visit home o.
two days | saw nothing Of Mary Moore
She had gone to boarding school al
some distance, and was not expected home
until the following May. uttered Q
sigh to the memory Of my little blue eyed
playmate, and then called myself q man
again.
In year I thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door, will re-
turn, and if Mary is as pretty as she
used to be, why then, perhaps | may
marry her.
And thus I settled the fortune of q
young lady whom / had not seen for -four
years never thought of the possibili.
ty of her refusing me--neyer dreamed
that she would not condescend to accept
my offer.
But now I know that had Mary met
me then she would have dcspised me. -
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu
dent she might have found plenty Of
sport; but as for loving me, / should
perhaps have found myself mistaken. =
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause of my success, but because my la
borious industry had counteracted the
evil of my nature and had made me a
better man. When at the end of three
years I prepared to return, said moth
ing of the reformation Of myself, which
| knew had taken place. They loved me
as was. ! murmured to myself, and
they shall find out for themselves whether
am better worth loving than formerly.
/ picked up many token from that
land Of romance and gold for the friends
hoped to meet The gift for Mary
Moore I selected with a beating heart !;
it was ring Of rough virgin gold. with
my name and hers engraved inside--tbat
was all. and yet the sight Of the little toy
strangely thrilled me as l balanced it on
the tip Of my finger.
TO the eyes Of others it was but small
plain circle, suggesting thoughts. per-
haps by its elegance, Of the beautiful
white hand that was to wear it. But not
70 mellow much was embodied there
al these delights we're hidden within that
little ring of gold
Tall, bearded and sun-bronzed. /