Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-30
: 81 KNOW IT."

A hNON lie"
At seventeen years of age was
more of a man than | have ever
been since. l wore a long-tailed
coat and boots Ito which the appur-
tenance of spurs was generally
added), a mustache was quite visi-
BILE on my upper lip, and a con-
sciousness of ripe maturity never
left my mind. | was studying for
the legal profession, but at the time
of which | write was spending my
summer vacation at my fathers
house in the country.
Though so manly almost soldier
like, as | fancied) in my appear
ance, my inner was by no means as
stern as my outer man. l loved my
mother with childish tenderness,
and sooner than pain her pious
heart, | unmurmuringly accompa-
MED her every Sunday to the vii
lage church, to listen to long SER
mons of which l could not hear a
word, for the tremulous accents Of
the very aged minister who con-
Quoted the services we're so faint as
to be inaudible where we sat
Though melted by love and duty tc
subject myself to this weekly pen.
nance (well deserved by my weekly
sins,) my conscience yet did moi
prevent me from Willing away the
time by such amusement as lay at
hand-that, namely, of observing
and speculating on the counte.
nanceS Of my neighbors, an occu
patton of which l was fond.
The physiognomy which interest.
ed me more than all others was tina
of a young girl who sat not fal
from us, and who was accompanied
by an aged lady, probably he
grandmother the object Of he
ever-watchful care, This girl
face from first eliciting my careless
admiration, gradually absorbed M
whole attention. 1t was very beau
tiful, but apart from that it pos
sessed the greatest possible intereS
for me. Never had ! seen n coun
tenance which denoted so mucl
sensibility; each emotion Of he
mind was plainly written upon it
by its quick, delicate changes
nothing was wanting but the Ike,
of corresponding degree of sensi
bility in the beholder, to read he
tender, innocent soul like an opel
book. For hours gasel and spec
ulated on that fair young face.
thought how sad would be the 10
of 50 sensitive o being should fat
unite her to one who would no
know how to read arght what wa
so delicately written-to whom tn
varying expression of that swee
countenance would be but a blanl
who should be able to see in
only its coarser part - beauty Q
feature. There was no end to tn
reyeries into which these swllt'oom
ing bushes led mt.
. Sometimes, by chance, the fai
object Of my busy fancies woul
catch my eye, or, without lookin
at me, seem to know Or feel that
: ; was gazing at her, and ! wicked
: delighted in noting the blush whic
q deepened her cheek till | withdre
d my eyes.
One Sunday I happened, in con
: ing out Of church, to be close to n
I. lovely neighbor-immediately b
i hind her-my hand actually toucl
ed her unconscious garments. ! fe
an irresistible desire to force her
IS some way to notice me-to speak
. her-to occasion one OF thol
charming bushes - anything -
know not what. In short, like Q
0 impertinent coxcomb as | was,
stopped forward, and with an insu
fQgable insolence which | blush no
to remember, | whispered in HI
ear:
"You are very pEettyF
: Never was more surprised thf
when she calmly replied
II know itp
l was absolutely startled. | h'
. expected q silent, conscious blush
an indignant glance - anythil
rather than this cool, 81 know ii
, was puzzled, but / had plen
r Of time to turn the matter in 1
mind, for in q few days ! return