The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-01-21
A SECOND LORLEI.

A SEGONO LORLHl.
Unfortunately for myself ami every
body who ever saw me, am very beau
tiful. It is not egotism to make that
remark, for have had plenty of mis-
haps on account of my looks, and every
i'll that can befall family has been laid
TO the score of " Franks terrible ap-
pearance." When was a child every
thingwent wrong. Once on a ferry-boat
Young and lovely lady, petting and
talking to me, became so interested that
she quietly backed off the edge, and
only the presence of mind and daring
of her husband rescued her in a very
damp and choking condition. Nurse
scolded, mamma raised her hands in
horror, and the lady gave me the name
of Lorlei," which I have ever since
retained.
/ was "A continual source of anxiety
lest should be kidnapped by some
childless people, and made into n cir
ous-rider, or an heiress. My life was
miserable, with the guard set around
me, to say nothing of a dozen or two
toilets n dav, my hair to be combed
and brushed incessantly, and myself
kissed and fondled like a lap-dog. It
grew % better, later. My sisters hap
Pened to be very plain, and I couldn't
help it if I got all the invitations,
bouquets, and proposals, and they re-
ceived none. To make it worse, one of
my admirers died of heart disease, and
left me the large fortune that should
have gone to his sisters aud then they
loved me excessively, of course
IcCmbed my hair in the most hOrri-
BILE way L could invent, ore stiff col
lars up to my ears, plain dresses of sober
color, made faces at myself IN the glass
by tie hour, and all to no purpose.
My hair would turn into the cunningest
little ringlets about my forehead, and
fall down in a golden mass of curls Just
at the wrong time. The neck above the
ugly linen no amount of sun could make
other than white and well-turned and
the clumsy dress hid form of the most
perfect mould-stately, smooth and
rounded rs only healthy English girl
can ever hope TO be.
couldn't have any girl-friends, tor,
without meaning it. I captured their low
ers they grew jealous and called me
names; and the attachment usually
ended in a storm of tears and reproaches
on the one part, dismayed repentance
on the other. l couldn't have n gentle
man friend, for, if single, he proposed
in n month, and if married, the wife
came to the rescue, and got the worst
of it. tried one plan, and you shall
have the result cut my hair off
nearly close, and mercy me IL had
done the business. I was handsomer
than before looked 6 very picture
Of mischief, my hair curled tighter than
ever, and my eyes would dance, spite of
all the sober books / read, and all the
sad things tried to think of. took
Aunt Hetty into my confidence, one day
when she came TO the city TO buy some
furniture for her country house, and
promised as soon as her sons started for
school, / would be with her TO spend
the summer. made my preparations
secretly, aud only on the day of my de-
parture asked and received permission
to 90 unmatched and alone. Used to
my freaks, mamma asked no questions,
but gave me some advice-to "wear a
thick veil in the cars, not to take my
gloves of, aud not to wink at any one.
As though l ever knowingly did wink
NV own sisters would not have known
the little brown mouse of a girl that
sat so demurelv ir the car on its way 20
Rockbridge had ordered a wig made
of bright red hair, and it was very
marvel in its way. Short, crisp, fiery
curls covered my head closely, we'll
down on the neck, and twining lovely
proof OK the most ungraceful cul
aud make, green glasses, shoes and
gloves two sizes tooIbiR, and with the
exception of mouth and complexion,
was hideous. Auntie would not believe
that it was myself, until ! had shown
her my eyes, and spoken TO her several
times.
There was not a soul on the place
that had ever seen me, except aunt and
uncle T; and as they called me "Lorlie, >
the servants never suspected that was
the Frank Morrison they had heard sc
much OF from the young masters
There we're few neighbors, and rather
avoided them. For the first time il
my life was ugly, and consequently
happy. rode the horses, sat on the
barnyard fence during the milking, fec
the chickens, ate apples and new butter
took long walks IN the woods, and my
big feet and scarlet hair never invited
second glance from any one I passed
What happy, Jolly days they were K
me, only those who are blessed with too
much beauty and long to fee frem tn,
conseque uences can imagire.
One morning took book, and go
ing through the orchard, followed tn,
stream to a favorite nook, lay down
and laughed the pretty, musical laugI
luAb WIS ht once a pleasure ana q pane
/ laughed to think of myself in thi
rig in an Opera-box and, looking at tn
water, said, "Why not be a rea
"Lorlei for a while? No soone
thought than done. on came th
clumsy shoes and knitted stockings
and holding my dress up went splash
ing in the shallow waters. I steppe,
on big stone it rolled with me, an,
sat down costly in the middle Of tn
brook, wet to my waist, and my disma
finished by the heartiest laugh you ca
imagine. Looking at a part of tn
bank that had not before noticed,
saw a gentleman, in sporting dres.
holding a fishing-rod in one hand an
waving the other at me in the mos
genial and pleasant manner. It migI
have been that my eyes did not mate
my hair at any rate, fancied that h
stopped laughing rather suddenly, an
coming close down to the water stoe
eyeiuc me inquiringly. 1 had bee
angry at first but my usual sense {