The Portland daily press., 1875-01-11
A Second LOrlei.

Unfortunately for myself and and every
body who ever saw me, am very beautiful.
It is not egotsm to make that remark, for
have had plenty of mishaps on account of my
looks, and every Ill that can befall a family
has been laid to the score of Franks terrible
appearance" When l was child every
thing went wrong. Once on 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 very damp and choking condition. Nurse
scolded, mamma raised her hands in horror,
and the lady gave me the name OF "Lorlei,'
which have ever since retained. ..lg
was continual source of anxiety lest l
should be kidnapped by. some childless peo-
pie, land made into a circus-rider,or an helress.
My life was miserable, with the guard set around
me, to say nothing OF dozen or two toilets a
day, my hair to be combed and brushed in
cessantly, and myself kissed and fondled like
lap-dog. 1t grew no better, later. My sis
tiers happened to be very plain, and couldn't
help it if got all the invitations, bouquets,
and proposals, and they received none 10
make ii worse, one of my admirers died OF
heart disease and left me the large fortune
that should have gone to his sisters; and then
they loved me excessively, of course!
conhed my hair in the most horrible way
I could invent, wore stiff collars up to my
ears, plain dresses of sober color, made faces
at myself In the glass by the hour, and all to
no purpose. Ny hair would turn into the
cunningest little ringlets about my forehead,
and fall down in golden mass of curls just
at the wrong time. The neck above the ug-
ly linen no amount of sun could make other
than white and well-turned; and the clumsy
dress hid a form of the most project mould
stately, smooth and rounded as only a
healthy English girl can ever hope to be.
lx,sf haxra rir1-f fOr NIT
meaning it l captured their lovers; they
grew JEALOUS and called me names; and the
attachment usually ended in a storm of tears
and reproaches on the one part, dsmayed re-
pentance on the other. l couldn't have a
gentleman friend, for, if single, he. proposed
in month, and if married, the wife came to
the rescue, and got the worst of it. 1 tried
one pan, and you shall have result; cut my
hair off nearly close, and mercy MEL had
done the business. i was handsomer than
before! looked a 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 that as soon as her sons started for
school, would be with her to spend the
summer. / made my preparations secretly,
and only on the day OF my departure asked
and received permission to 60 unmatched and
alone. Used to my freaks, mamma asked no
questions, but gave me some advice--"to
wear thick veil in the cars, not to take my
gloves off, and not to wink at any one. As
though I ever knowingly did wiukl
NV own sisters would not have known the
little brown mouse of girl thai sat so de.
murey in the car on its way to Rockbridge.
had ordered wig made OF bright red hair,
and it was very marvel in its way. Short,
crisp, fiery fcurls covered my head closely,
well down on the neck, and twined lovingly
around my ears. dress of waterproof Of
the most ungraceful cut and make, green
glasses, shoes ard gloves two sizes too big,
aud with the exception of mouth and COM
plexion, was hideous. Auntie would not
believe that it was myself, until had shown
'er my eyes, and spoken to her several
times.
There was not soul on the place ths had
ever seen me, except aunt aud uncle; and as
they called me "Lorlei," the servants never
suspected that / was the Frank Morrison
they had heard SO much of from the young
masters. There were few, neghbors, and
rather avoided them. For the first time in
my life / was ugly, and consequently happy.
rode tie horses, sat on the barn-yard fence
during the milking, fed the chickens, ate ap-
Piles and new butter, took long walks il the
woods, and my big feet and scarlet hair new
err invited a second glance from any one l
passed. What happy, jolly days they were to
me, only those who are blessed with too
much beauty and long to flee frcm the conse
Quences can imagine.
One morning / took book, and going
through the orchard, followed the stream to
favorite nook, lay down, and laughed the
pretty, musical laugh that was at once a
pleasure and bane. i laughed to think OF
myself in this rig in an opeIa-box; and look
ing at the water, said, "Why not be a real
'Lorlei' for while 2" No sooner thought
than done. Off came the clumsy shoes and
knitted stockings, and holding my dress up
went splashing in the shallow water. l
stepped on big stone; it rolled with me,
and sat down costly in the middle or the
brook, wet to my waist, and my dismay fin
ished by the heartiest laugh you can imagine.
Looking at part OF the bank that had not
before noticed. saw a gentleman, in sport
ing dress, holding fishing-rod in one hand
and waving the other at me in the most
genial and pleasant manner. Il might have
been that my eyes did not match my hair: al
any rate, fancied that he stopped laughing
rather suddenly, and coming close down to
the water stood cycling ME inquiringly. /
had been angry at first; but my usual sense
of humor came to my aid, and sitting there,
with ihe tapping water full about me, held
my sides, and laughed with him until was
tired, and my cheeks glowed like two roses.
SWELL" he finally said, stopping to laugh
at every word or two, ''you have succeeded
in your loudly expressed wish, and made
veritable "Lorlei' of yourself"
"Did YOU hear me?'' asked, feeling for
the first time a little shy aud rising slowly to
my feet. He saw that l could not come
out Ct the water in my bare feet, and
laus.ing still, he answered: