Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
A SECOND L0RLEI.

that can befall u family has been laid TO the
score of Franks terrible appearance. When
/ was a child everything went wrong. Ouce OH
a feiiy boat young and lovely lady, ,pettng and
talking to me, became 30 interested that nhe
quietly backed off the edge, and only the pres
ence Of mind and daring of her husband res
cued her in very damp aud choking condition.
Nurse scolded. mamma raised her hands in hor-
ror, and the lady gave me the name OF "Lorei,
which have ever since retained,
| was a continual source of. anxiety lest /
should be kidnapped by some clnldless people,
and made into II crcusiider, on an heresr. My
hte was miserable, with the guard rot around
me, to ray nothing of a dozen or two toilets
day. my hair to be combed and brushed ihces-
sanity and myself kissed aud fondled like lap
dog. IL grow no better later. My sisters nap.
lioned TO be very plain, AMI couldn't help il n
/ got all the Invitations, bouquets, aud propo
sails and they received none. 10 make II worse,
Of my admirers died of heart disease, and
loit me the large fortune that should have gone
to lin sisters and tlIcn they loved me oXeess
lyely, of course !
combed my hair in the most horrible way |
could invent, wore still collars up to nv ears,
plain dresses of sober color, made faces aL my
self in the glass by the hour, and all to no pur-
pose My hair would turn into the cunnngest
little ringets about my forehead, and fall down
IN golden mass Of curln Just ut the wrong time.
sun could make other than white and we'll
turned and the clumsy dress hid Il form of tho
most perfect mould stately, smooth and round
cd as only Il healthy English girl can ever hops
10 be.
couldn't have any girl friends, for without
meaning it captured their lovers they grew
jealous and called me names and the attach
ment usually ended in storm of tears and re-
proaches on tho one part, dismayed repentance
the other. l couldn't have gentleman
friend, for, If single, he proposed in a month,
and il married, the wife came to the rescue, and
got the worst OF 1t. tried one plan, aud you
shall have the result | cut my hair off nearly
close, and mercy me had done the business.
| was handsomer than before looked very
picture of mischief, my hair cured tighter than
ever, and my eyes would dance, spite of all the
sober books read, and all the sad things l tried
to think of. took Aunt Hetty into my conf
dence. one day when she came to the city TO buy
some furniture for her country house, and prom
ised that as her SONS started for school,
1 would be with her to spend the summer.
made my preparat ions secretly, and only on the
day OF my departurd asked and received permits
rion to go unmatched and alone. Used to my
freaks, mamma asked questions but gave
me some advice" to wear thick veil in tho
cars, not to take my gloves Off, and not to wink
at any one." As though ever knowingly did
wink
My own sisters would not have known the lit
tie brown mouse of a girl that sat 30 demurey
in the car on its way to Rockbrdge. l had Or
very marvel in it's way. Short, crisp, fiery curls
covered my head closely, well down on the neck,
and twining lovingly around my ears. A dress
Of waterproof OF the most ungracefu cut and
make, green glasses, shoes and gloves, two
sizes too big and with the exception of mouth
and complexion, l was hdeous. Auntie would
not believe that il was myself, until had shown
her my eyes, and spoken to her several times.
There was not a soul on tho place that had
ever seen me, except aunt and uncle and as
they called me Lorlie," the servants never
suspected that was the Frank Morrison they
had heard 30 much OF from the young masters.
There were few neighbors, and | rather avoided
them. For the first time in my life was ugly,
apd consequently happy. rode the horses sat
on tile barnyard fence during the milking, fed
the chickens, ate apples and new BUTTER took
long walks in the woods, and my big feet and
scarlet hair never invited Il second glance from
any one passed. What happy, jolly days they
were TO me, only those who are blessed with too
much beauty and long to ilee from the conse-
quences can imagine.
One morning took book, and going through
the orchard, followed the stream to favorte
nook, lay dow and laughed the pretty musical
laugh that was ut once a pleasure and a bane.
laughed to think of myself in this rig in an op-
ora box and looking at the water, 1 said, sWhy
uot be IIorlei' for a whle?' No sooner
thought than done. on came the clumsy shoes
and knitted stockings, and holding my dress NJ
| went splaslling in tho shallow waters.
stepped on big stone; it rolled with me, and
10 my waist, and my dsmay finished by the
heartiest laugh you can imagine, Looking at Il
part OF the bank that had not before noticed.
| saw gentleman, in sporting dress, holding
n iishing-rod in one hand and waving the other
at me in the most genial and pleasant manner.
1t might have been that my eyes did not match
match my hair at any rate, fancied that lie
stopped laughing rather suddenly, and coming
close down to the water stood eyeing me inqur
ingly. l had been angry at first but my usual
sense OF liumor came to my aid, and sitting
there with the tapping water full about mo-
held my Sides and laughed with him until WAS
tired, and my checks glowed like two roses
"We he finally said, stopping to laugh ut
every word OF two you have succeeded IN your
loudly expressed wish, and made II veritable
Lorlei' of Yourself"
"Did you hear mo ?" asked, feeling FOR the
first time II little sliy and rising slowly to my
feet. lie saw that could not come ont of the
water III my bare feet and laughing STILL he
answered
"Yes. But fear you will continue a water
nymph until | Am gone, no goodbye. And RS
suddenly as he had come, he disappeared.
put on my Shoes and made the best of my
way back to the house. Aunt Hetty laughed al
Ine when l told her of my adventure, but stared
when described the man.
Bless me, child" she said, sit is Walter
Gray, who lives on the next farm. rather owns
it, and lives in New York. l did not know he
WIS at home"
The days flew by on golden wings every one
seemed more happy than the last. | took an
apronful of peaches and book and lay down
III the hammock under the elm for lazy time
one morning. l was scarcely settled when
heard auntie calling me- and then steps coming
near to me. l raised myself and who should II
be with her but that Walter Gray He laughed
heartily on recognizing in my auntie's neice the
water-nymph," but soon made. me feel at ease
by his courteous and merry manner. He hat
come over to zee il he could buy COW of uncle
and over the merits of butter and milk we grew
quite friendly. Auntie would have him stay t
lunch, Lnd tried to enact the country girl, ant
be as awkward as possible. Two or three times
almost betrayed myself by some unguarded re
mark but by dropping my fork upsetting m,
milk and knocking my chair over when rose,
managed to seem ill-bred enough to suit IN
coarse frock absent collar, and tumbled hair
To my utter astonishment, Mr.. Gray ask ed MI
to go to picnic, at the school house the mex
day. While was staring, first at him and thel
at myself in glass, aunt Hetty quietly said
.'She will go with pleasure" l was ready t.
beat her, but beyond few muttered words,
said nothing until he was gone. Then l mad
Il few remarks TO her which made her look 4
sorry, that l kissed her and promised to 4
peaceably.
| made myself look as countrlfied as possible
next morning, and my looking glass told me tha
was no longer even passable. Mr.. Gray made n
remark about my appearance except to ask
the glasses were absolutely necessary, and o
my gravely assuring him that they were, he hell
ed me into the carriage, and away we went. Ho