Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-09-10
TWICE WO0ED.


And Fred Lacy plucked the stump
of cigar from his teeth and looked at
me half reproachfully, half iDqhir-
ingly.
"Then, my dear boy, it is my pain
full duty to inform you that you
have hoped in vain," l retOrted, al
most tartly.
And | turned to the wi3dow of
the railway carriage in which we
were travelling to conceal what my
face would otherwise have betrayed.
We were fellow students IL the
Temple, Fred and ], just freed from
the confnefient we had endured so
long; and /, ut his earnest request,
was accompanying him home to
spend the holidays in the beautiful
village where his parents lived 1t
was the day before Christmas. That
evening Squire Lacy was to give
grand ball or seiree, in honor Of his
sons return; and /, thongh al vavs
by far more willing to shun than to
court the society of ladies, had, af
ter much urging, consented to make
one of the brilliant thrOng that was
expected to crowd the rooms of the
wealthy old Squire.
Besides, Fred was to be married
on New Years Day; and, as l was
his old chum and most intimate
friend, he chose me in preference to
all others for chief groomsman.
And it was his contemplated mar
riage that caused the remarks with
which l have chosen to commence
my story. He had asked me if had
not yet thought of taking unto my
self wife, and l had emphatically
informed him that it was my inten-
tion to adhere to celibacy through
the entire course of my existence,
should 1 live hundred years. And
| really meant it at the time | said
it.
"You have never loved, Phil" he
said, laying his hand on my shoul-
der.
"Have l not?'' l growled, still look
ing out through the window at the
snow clad fields and leafiess trees.
sEWhat! do you mean to say; Phil
Morton, that you, who have always
since the time / became acquainted
with you, appeared to have an aver
sion rather than a penchant for the
society of the other sex-do you
mean to say that you"
81 have not said any such thing"
interposed.
But one would infer"
"Infer anything!" 1 exclaimed
stamping my foot impatiently. "For
heavens sake, Fred, let's drop this
subject, and talk of something more
sensible" i4z
I "What is more sensible than mar
riage?" @
%Boshl you are love sick, old fel-
low" ~ =
eff you mean by that Phil, that I
have experienced the power of Gu
pid, you are right; and in one short
week l hope to make the lovely OBJ
ject of my affection the wife of my
bosom. But before that mischievous
urchin had done his work never
had had a thought of tramping the
stage of life in single 'cussedness.''
You may call me nonsensical, Nor
ton, or whatever you like, but hon
estly, never hear man say that he
has no intention of ever getting mar
ried but think him either liar or
very foolish"
'Thank you for the compliment"
l replied drily.
''Now don't talk in that way, Phil,
for you know 1 would not rufie that
temper of yours for anything. 1
think full y understand what 1 am
talking about; and if you please, sir,
l will wager fine new hat that you
are a married man before you are
thirty years of age"
81 will accept the wager, just to
please you," said, and we struck
our palms together to make it good.
If Lam single man on my thirtieth
birthday, you are to give me new
hat; if previous to that time find
myself in the meshes of matrimony-
gice UerSa."
''Correct," rejoined Fred, with
touch of enthusiasm.
And l turned again to the wln-
dow, with a suppressed sigh, think
ing it quite evident that Fred had no |
suspicion of the real cause of my re-
solve never to link my life to that of
any woman. He didn't suppose that
there was a time when | was as ar
dent as he in my admiration of fe-
male loveliness. And with these
thoughts came vivid recollections of
that time long ago when lost my
young heart, and had been made |
wretched.
I remembered the proud steamer
Victory, and the pleasant hours 1
spent upon her deck as she plowed |
the. deep Atlantic. l remembered,
too, the little golden-haired creature !
l first saw there, and how 1 was af-
fected by her beauty, her innocence,
her charming naiVette and her sweet
ness of disposition. / was only sew
enteen then, she fifteen; but, for all |
that, we took fancy to each other,
became strongly attached, and in a
very short time / was hopelessly in
love.
It is said that young love is q de-
lusion, and soon over. Such may
generally be the case, but I, odd |
goose, am to this day as much under
the influence of that Intoxicating
passion as when first felt the de-
lightful sensation in the seventeenth
year of my age.
And now, as sat with my chum
beside me in the train, l recalled
to my memory those sunny days of
my boyhood's love, and wished that
they could return. I could not pre-
vent a secret wish, too, that nv spir
it had flown when Lilian's did, that |
| might sleep peacefully beside her
far down in her watery grave; and
dropped atear, then, and wondered
if / could ever be so fond of another
as l had been of Lillian. No! l |
would wait until death should re-
unite me to my golden haired lost