Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-02
MARY MOORE.
4 Love story.

All my life I had known Mary Moore
I'LL my life I had loved her.
Our mothers were old playmatcs and
first cousins. My first rccollcctions are
of boy, in a rcd frock and morocco
shoes, rocking II cradle in which re-
posed sunny-haircd, ue.cycd baby,
not quite year old. That boy was
mysclf-Harry Church; that babv
Mary Moore.
Latter still I sec myself at the old
school house, drawing my little cll:.isc
up to the door that Mary might ride
home. Many IL beating have L gained
on such occasions, for other boys be-
side me liked her. and she, I fear, was
something of a fiirt, even in her pima
fore. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps when called her name !:
how swectly her blue eyes looked at
me, how gaily rang out her merry
laugh. No ono but Mary could ever
bring her heart SO near her lbs. I
followed that laugh from the days of my
childhood till ] grew an awkward,
bluslling youth l followed it through
the heated noon of manhood; and now
when the frosts of age arc silycring nv
hair, and many children climb upon nv
knee and call me "father," I find that
the memories of youth are strong, and
that even in gray hairs, I am following
the music still.
When I WAS fifteen the first great
SORROW of my life came upon my breast.
L was sent away to school, and was
obliged to part with Mary. We were
not t" see each other for three long
years. This to me was like sentence
Of death, for Mary was like life itself
to me. But hearts arc tough things
after I'LL.
I left college in all the flush of nv
nineteenth year. I WAS no longer awk-
ward or embarrassed. I had grown
into II tall, slender STRIPPING, with q
very good opinion of myself both in
general and particular Ii tlloughtof
Mary Moore, it WAS how 1 could dazzle
and bcwildcr her with my good looks
and wonderful mental attainments.
and never thinking that she might daz
zie and bewil>lcr mo still more. 1 was
a coxcomb, I know, but as youth and
good looks have fled, I trust that Imay
be believed when I say that self-conceit
has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
ut that time, and accepting it L gaze up
I'LL idea of a profession, and prepared
to go to India. In my hurried visit
home Of two days I saw nothing of
Mary Moore. She had gone to a boarCl-
ing-sclool ut some distance, AMI was
not expected home until the following
May. [ uttered sigh to the memory
of my little blnc-eyed playmate, and
then called myself "a man again.
In year, / thought, as tho vehicle
whirlcd away frc'n our door, will re-
turn, and if Mary is aus pretty as she used
t" he, why then, pcrllaps 1 may marry
her.
And thus settled tho fortune of u
young lady whom I had not seen for
four years. + never Thought of the
possibility Of her refusing me-ncycr
dreamed that she would not cYn,lcsccnd
to accept my offer.
But now 1 know that had Mary met
me then she would have lcspised me.
Perhaps III the scented and affected
student she might have found plenty of
sport; but us for loving mo, L shonld
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
canse OF. my success, hut because my
laborious industry had couutcractcd
the evil OF my nature and had made me
~ better man. When ut the end Of
three years prepared to return, 1 said
nothing Of the reformation Of myself,
which | knew had taken place. They
loved me as | was, J. murmurcI to nv
self, and they shall find out for them
selves whether ana better worth loving
than formerly.
/ picked up many q token from that
land of romance and gold for the friends,
[ hoped to meet. The gift for Mary
Moore ! selected with IL heating heart :;
it was Il ring Of rough virgin gold, with
my name and hers engraved inside
that was oil, and yet the sight of the
little toy strangely thrilled mo as |
balanced it on the tip Of my finger.
To tho eyes Of others it was but q
small plain circle, suggesting thoughts,
perhaps, hy its elegance, Of the I,cauti-
tul white hand that was to wear it. but
not to Chow much WIS cnlnnlicd
thcrc-:'ll these things were hidden
within That little ring Of gold.
Tall, bearded, AMI sun-bUnzcd, I
knocked 1T my fathers house. The
lights IN the parlor window, and the
hum OF conversation and cheerful
laughter, showed me that company was
;'ssrmhlcd there. 1 hoped that Sister
'hzI'r would come t" the door, and !
'"'"ht greet my family when no Htrnngr
eye was looking care Ir:;'Iy Oh.
But no, II servant answered my sum-
mons. They were t"o merry in the
parlor to heed tho long absent one who