Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-01-10
From the chronological journal q
A CHAPTER OF LOVERS,

- A-4aa.'.HH-
Can you imagine the feelings of a
bashful girl in company with her
first lover, especially when her heart
is yet unsmitten? / well remember
my feelings on such an occasion. ]
was only fifteen years old at the
time-a dreamer, who built visiona-
ryIpalaees and peopled them the
same way that l built them-an en-
thusiastic lover of the beautiful, too,
whom every rude touch of the
world Jared, until the soul-harp
gave only strains of discord Ia
would-be poet, aiming above the
commonplace life led. My admir-
er was a dumpy Englshman, short
of stature, with noselike the mouth
of an inverted pitcllsra4ehtirely too
large for his small head, which slant
ed backward into a sort of cone,
whose bare top resembled. the peak
of a miniature mountain; little,
gray, twinkling eyes; a large mouth
and uneven teeth, framed by very
thin lips. / could not bear to look
at him, but he had a: lady friend,
who was also a friend of mine, and
she was intent on making a match
between u.s. / was often invited to
her house, and as often as'I went /
found Jimmy there. ii provoked
both frequently by declaring that i
was unable to stay on account of
other engagements or. being needed
at home. Though I scarcely spoke
to my sdmirer, he followed me like
a shadow, rising up before me in the
most unexpected places, and follow
ing me when out on the: street. How
l hated him! Hate does not half
express my feelings, for people
plagued me about him, and delight
ed in making my face crimson by
rude jokes and then declare that
blushing was sure sign of conceal
ed love. .s .sF &. - ..t.'i .. In.
Butieven this torture had an end,
and thus it ended: Some Chinese
luggiers came to town one New
Years day, and Mrs. r. invited me
to witness the performance in COM
panY with herself and husband. I
had newer seen anything of the
kind. My mother was what is term
ed 'hard-shell Baptist,,' and con
sidered 7jugglery the doings of the
devil, and worldly amusements en-
tirely sinful-hence we children had
had a very limited range of obserya-
ton. | was really pleased with the
invitation, and accepted it without a
thought of Jimmy. i l dressed in
my prettiest suit that night, and
viewed my happy face in the mirror
to see the effect. / was not expert
menting to charm ony one; still, go
ing to that performance was an
event in my life. Promptly at sew
en- o'clock | rang the door-beH at
Mrs. RS residence. 1t had been
stipulated that / should call at that
hour. Mrs. r, answered the bell in
person, taking me into the parlor,
where her husband sat reading. Af-
ter some delay, she threw a. white
opera cloak around her and announc-
ed her readiness to depart. Several
telegraphic glanees were exchanged,
and was beginning to wonder what
they meant, when Mrs. r. suddenly
exclaimed -.., 9,,r.-.'.
"Come out, Jimmyl we are wait
ing for you" ,..-ls.
Then out from an anteroom Don.
ped my admirer, dressed in his best
"blb ana tucker" with a sGood
evening" " and an excrutiating bow
to me. e., y,....,..
l looked around for knot-hole
with the wish that | might crawl in.
to one and draw it in after me; ,but
no kpotihole was to be seen. Only
the big nose nodding complacently
met my vision. a--,.o;'-; .,.a .,,5
II hadinot then learned to, saw, q
won't" q can say it fiat enough
now,) and when Mrs, r.. took hel
husbands arm and bade us follow
her, ! obeyed with a feeling such a.
a criminal must havewhen beinglet
to the gallows. sf 5 .ridi S..a
:. "Will you take my aEmS'' asked
Jimmy. -, .'.r'
For an answer / edged to tn,
farthest side of the pavement, anC
in my haste, stumbled and nearly
fell. ,a..' f.... 80 :
"Take my harm; you will fall hi
you don't" making a motion of as
sistance. n., I-~f ...g,
u know how to walk l snapped
again edging from him. ia ;.r'
"You hare hin very strange tenn
perl" he remarked. M
Here he slackened his pace anC
agF epmpsuionS qulekened theirs.