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

ill my life had loved her.
Our mothers were old playnlatcs and
first cousins. My first rccollcctions are
of ii boy, in IL rcd frock and morocco
shoes, rocking IL cradle in which re-
posed Il sunny-haircl, blue. eyed baby,
not quite year old. That boy was
mysclf-Harry Church; that baby
Mary Moore.
later still / sec myself ut the old
school house, drawing my little cllaisc
mp t" the door that Mary might ride
home. Many Il beating have gained
on such occasions, for other boys be-
side me liked her. and she, fear, was
something of IL ilirt, even in her pi,l.-
fore. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps when called her name; ;
how swectly her blue eyes looked ut
me, how gaily rang ont her merry
laugh. No one but Mary could ever
bring her heart $" near her lips. [
followed that laugh from the days of my
childhood till l grew IN awkward,
blusling youth | followed it through
the heated noon of manhood; and now
when tho frosts Of age are silvcring my
hair, and many children climb upon nv
knee and call me ''futhcr," ! find that
the memories Of youth are strong, and
that even in gray hairs, nm following
the music still.
When [ WAS fifteen the first great
sorrow of my lifc came upon my breast.
l was sent AWAY t" school, aud wits
obliged t" part with Mary. We were
not t" see each otllc: for three long
years. This to me was like Il sentence
Of death, for Mary was like life itself
to me. But hearts arc tough things
after I'LL.
| left college in all the flush of nv
nineteenth year. I WAS no longer :,wk-
ward or embarrassed. L hal grown
int" Il tall, slender STRIPPING, with Il
very good opinion of myself both in
general and particular Ii I tloughtof
Mary Moore, it WIS how l could dazzle
al! bcwildcr her with my good looks
and wonderful mental attainments,
and never thinking that she might daz-
zlc and bcwildcr me still more. [ was
il coxcomb, I know, hut us youth and
good looks have fed, trust That Imay
be believed when 1 say that self-conccit
has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
ut that time, and accepting it l gaze ,,p
all idea Of !: profession, and prepared
to &" t." India. In my hurried visit
home of two days ] saw nothing of
Mary Moore. She had gone to q board
inS-scllool ut some distance, and was
not expected home until the following
May. [ uttered II sigh to the memory
Of my little bluc-cycd playmate, and
then called myself ";t man" :,4,;lin.
In II year, I thought, as the vehicle
whrl'd away frc'n our door Il will re-
turn, and If Mary is ;,S pretty ;,s she used
t" be, why then, perhaps | may marry
her.
And thus settled the fortune Of !.
young l"ly whom [ had not seen for
four years. I never Thought Of the
possibility Of her refusing me --ncvcr
dreamed that She would not c",n>lc:ccl,l
to accept my offer.
But now know that had Mary met
ne then she would have ,lcspised me.
Perhaps in the scented and affected
student she might have found plenty of
sport; but Us for loving mo, { sh01itl
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause of my success, but because my
laborious industry had countrractc,l
the evil Of my nature and had nn.lc me
Il better nltn. When 1T the end of
three years prepared to return, I said
nothing Of tn" reformation Of myself,
which J. know had taken place. They
loved me as was, ] mllrnur,l to my
self, and they shall find out for them
selves whether am better worth loving
than formerly.
picked up many !. token from that
land of romano, and gold for the friends
hoped to meet. The gift for Mary
Moore ! selected with II heating heart
it was II ring Of rough virgin gold, with
my name ;tnl hers engraved inside
that was oil, and yet the sight of TIL,
little toy strangely thrilled me as
balanced it ON the tip Of my finger.
TO tho eyes of others it was but q
small plain circle, suggesting thoughts,
l"',i'.Ir;, hy It's elegance, Of the brtuti
iul whit" hand that WAS to wear it. But
t'd to me how much WIS rnln"lird
there all these things were bidder,
within That little ring of gold.
Tall, bearded, AMI sun-b""nzr'1,
knocked at my fathers house. Tho
lights IN til" IarI"r window, and the
hum OF conversation and cheerful
laughter, showed III" that company VII:
:':;*''nh|r'l there. | hoped THAT Sister
'hTIi' would t,,,r to th, door. and
'n':'ht erect my family when NO :trnnn,
eye WAS hooking; '','r' ',:,;<Iy on
'lt no. II servant answered my s,,,!
mons. They were trp merry in tl,t
! Darlur to heed the LOnn ahsnnt ono ,yh.