The Republican journal., 1874-06-25
In Love With a Picture.

iHo oSHN1Nt ICl Dttt CtlllOG uCSCI1Ut "
face; never could examine beauty analy
tically, as you would mineral or q piece
Of exquisite mosaic. ! can only say that
| saw and felt it was very, very lovely.
My poor friend Fletcher was in an ecsta-
cy.
"Look at those eyes"' said he; "look
at those lips! Now | never kissed a girl
in my lite; but if | could but see a pair of
lips like those, with blood in them |
know am a sworn old bachelor, Moses;
but DO you really suppose it is from ma,
ture Let us see that catalogue, NO.
13,-'Miss Ella Vincent 'Tis a pretty
name, isn't it? But did YOU ever see so
beautiful a facc?'
"Oh, yes" | answered, "a thousand
times"
"Name her. them
l hesitated. In truth, | could not. |
was compelled to yield
we pursued our respective ways home;
for the dinner hour had arrived aud had
no idea OF sacrificing the substantial en-
ioyment Of brace of partridges to the
more rehned, perhaps, but, to my sordid
taste, less congenial one of gazing at
woman lovely face.
My reflections concerning my infatuated
friend were sombre enough, as pursued
my homeward walk. was bound to him
by ties stronger than those which unite
ordinary friends. We were the two only
old bachelors in the neighborhood, and
hadtogether maintained the brunt of many
a worldly contest in defence of our celba-
cy. | had long regarded him as firm
member Of our honorable but prosecuted
fraternity He had witnessed every trial,
he had overcome every temptation. 1t was
only a week before that he assured me no
lady had ever made an impression on his
heart which lasted two hours after he had
left her presence. Julias, Amelias, Sarahs,
Emilvs, Mari;,s, Janes-all had attacked
him, and all in vain
Yes, after al this; after having sustained
every contest. and having come off victo-
lious in every encounter; after having
passed unscathed through the furnace,
seven times heated, to fall in love with
picture ia piece Of canvass iaubed over
with paint and ola thing that any school
boy might spoil with his inkstand! 1t was
too much. ltWas like u noble ship, which,
having crossed the ocean through storm
and tempest, and having lriumphantly
braved Il thousand dangers of the sea,
should be wrecked within sight of her in
tended haven, and upon an insignificant
shoal, which had not been considered Of
sufficient Importance even To be avoided
When | dropped in upon my friend the
next morning, | found him still raving
about the portrait. | rrmonStrated-I at
tempted To reason with him Alas +! how
little had reason to do either with his ma
lady on his disposition | reminded him
OF the many illustrlous men who had been
proud to enrol their names on the undving
record Of celibacy. 1t was all IN vain. |
tried ridiculc but he was unmoycd.
told him of the certainty with which mar
riage was followed by family quarrals and
petticoat government. 1t was void and Of
no effect Fletcher was crazy; lnore-he
was in loye.-a thousand times worse, Tor
there are plenty Of lnnatc aSylums; but,
alack for the boasted philanthropy Of the
aye, whoever heard OF tore tt3ylum
How much lime and how much money
have been devoted to amelorallng the
condition ot those who are berett of rea-
son; and vet nothing has been done tor
the victims ot the tender passion, IL if Il
man brans were OF more importance
have digressrd Had almost any other
have been some remedy. Had he broken
a limb, il might have been mcnded; Il
broken bone will knit together in nine
days; had he cracked his skull, it might
| have been fixed bv trepanning: but
Fletcher wa, in that peculiar situation ior
which there was no present remedy; he
was out Of humanity's reach
But there was one consolation: he was
entranced only with portrait This was
far different from falling in love with lit
tie witch in flesh and blood The portrait
could not talk there was n difference,
surely; it couldn't take his arm of moon
! light evening, and walk out of everybody s
hearing it could not receive long letters,
and write longer answers; in a word, it
could "neithcr marry nor be given in mar
riage" had forgotten all this while that
there was an original to that portrait
Fletcher had not
Some months passed away, and my
friend was as erazy as ever Time, indeed,
seemed rather TO increase than to heal his
malady One day he entered my room in
great haste.
II am going" said he, ito Brighton,
Immediately, and have come for you to 90
with me"
''Whv, in the name of common sense,
are you going to Brighton2" | asked
Il have lust heard that Miss Ellen Vim
cent is there. | know the street and the
number. There can be no mistake
'And do YOU intend to call upon her,
with no other introduction than Your own
impudence ? Fletcher, this is worse than
| should have expected even from you.
warn YOU now-as you regard your
''Oh. YOU need not 90 on; | anticipate
what you intend to say. | have heard il
so often that ! have it all by heart Be
sides, | have made up my mind on the
subject. The train leaves at three We
have no time to lose Just send down
your portmanteau, and | will hear it all
when we are on our journey, though it be
for the hundredth time | will-upon my
word | willard | will not get asleep,
as did the last time, bnt will bear it with
all possible patience And then, if YOU
convince me, Moses, and YOU know YOU
will,-we will return
Finding that nothing could restrain him,
| consented to bear him company, in the
hope that my guardian care might prove
in some way beneficial.
When we arrived at the famous water
ing-place, Fletcher's first visit was to a
friend, who, rather fortunately or IA
ther, untortunately-knew the lady OF
whom he was In such impatient quest
He promised an introduction; and my
| companion returned to his hotel, and pass
ed the remainder Of the day in dressing.
1t was the first time had ever seen him
neGt-this love works sad changes in a
mans character-an he was really fine
looking fellow.
At the appointed time his friend arrived,
and they departed together. was read
ing 2 very interesting work on partial in
sanity and mental hallucination, when
was interrupted by Fletcher's well-known
step. heard him, as he ascended the stairs,
| give orders to be awakened at six
'What is the matter now ?" inquired,
as he entered
why, it's all up! Would yon believe
it, Miss Vincent went to Hastings this
very morning. But the train starts at