The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-21

TO think of hiding from an admiring world
entirely for the worlds sake. These
facts common sense dictated to our minds.
So we prepared-as we waited the COM
Ing of the mail-for tall, thin quadrant
gular female, with long, thin face, watery,
weak eyes, sharp nose, straddled with,
perhaps, gold spectacles, drab travelling
dress. blue wooden stockings and list
shoes-though We scarcely expected a
glimpse of them--a bottle of cold tea in
one hand and blue cotton umbrella in the
other. We waited, kicking our toes in
the sand, and thinking alternately Of q
leader for the Weekly and Miss Grey.
We saw the mail whirling down the
grade, and thought with lively satisfaction
Of our position in the society of Sandy
Gulch, that gave us tho privilege of vel
coming Congressional aspirants, members
of the Legislature, and that old school,
dame.
As the maid neared us we saw brown
hood with blue lining, and the sweetest
face 1t had ever been our fortune to look
upon. The eye SO clear and laughing, the
fair shiny hair-not dead, but vivacious,
smiling hair-a sweet little mouth, whose
lips looked the very couch of love, her
face soft and round like child's.
We were absolutely overcome and in
active. The crowd did not try to suppress
their Joy but gave prolonged shout Of
welcome, "Ain't she sumner, though ~
'tPwettyer than chunk Of pure gold I"
"Darned i'll ever seed anything so:trin !"
were some few of the compliments that
greeted her, while we stood rooted to the
ground. Mr.. Nav had advanced hat in
hand, and offered her q word of quiet
welcome. We could say nothing. Some
commonplace remark filled moment,
and we went to our office to write an article
on popular Education" and flattering
notice of her arrival. Then we began to
think we had been hasty in leaving SO
soon. This WAS probably the greatest ed.
itorial error we ever made. We did not
think how much effect kind word or
quiet act Of attention would have, or we
too should have carried her bundles to
Mrs. SINNERS where she was to board.
But we did not, and Mr.. May did.
The summer passed.
And with it each day, to the little school,
house up the Gulch, passed Miss Grey. The
mountains were glorious in their varied hues
of autumn. And Miss Grey was equally
lovely in her beauty.
Why was it our heart beat more rapidly
and our tough cheeks glowed when she
came near?
Why.did we feel so backward about COM
ing forward and walking home with Miss
Grey, as she came each evening down the
little path, swinging her sun bonnet by the
strings? l
He was not backward, but cool and self.
possessed. He met her and walked where
we so much wanted to be--by her side.
We discovered that we disliked Mr.. May.
He was growing absolutely odious to us.
We never saw him walking slowly up the
Gulch toward the school. house that we did
| not have this feeling. r
We came from our walk one evening in
the early spring, and saw Mr.. May placing
blossoms in her hair, and then-kiss
her!
| Well, we sigh as we think Of it, there in
the wild West, so near where the sun set
on our love years ago. ~
People spoke of his goodness, and one
red-shirted admirer had sworn in our pres
ence that he'd die for that ere preacher.
You ought seed him, Mister; just ought
a seed the way he nursed my pardiner
when he got cut up at Peters Bailic-him m
and that school-mam helpin him." Aye,
we found we disliked him-because he
| liked her.
We found that with perfect harmony OF
soul these hearts had met and mingled.
We are alone. Rev. Milton May won
Miss Grey, of Sandy Gulch." If
l