Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-06-15
COURTINC BYPROxY


GOODNESS and SangJroid, quality
which | am entirely destitute Of
have always looked upon my cousin
with sort of reverence, notwith
standing be is FIVE years my junior
| have tried in vain to initiate him
but | find ii impossible.
am constisutionaliy bashful. |
| have blushed-a sort of chronic blusl
ever since | came into the world
If there is anything that | feel sensi,
lively, it is my inferiority to mankinc
in general, and Cousin Sim Plumpel
in particular. | never go into society
but feel that ali eyes are upon me.
Of course that confuses me, and the
consequence is, make blundei
every time L attempt to move. if
feel that any one is looking at me.
But Cousin Sim never knew what
it was TO be bashful. 1t does my
heart good TO see him enter room
filled with young ladies. You would
not suppose that he was aware of the
presence of any enc; and if any one
speaks 10 him, he has an answer all
ready upon his tongues end. Alas
how different with me.
1t is unnecessary for me to inform
you that, at the age of thirty, [ still
remained o bachelor. | had never
looked but one woman in the face in
my life, and that was my mother. |
bad been into society some, of course.
| did so-in fact | forced myself to go
thinking by that means to over
como my bash fulness; but as | never
appeared at a party without making
at least dozen blunders, you will
easily understand that this did not
have the desired effect.
Meantime, my cousin, who was but
twenty five, had been engaged in at
least score of firtations, and had
gained an enviable reputation among
the fair sex. Every summer he came
out to Riggleby, with the intention,
as he said, OF curing me of my weak.
ness; but in spite of oil he couli do, [
still remained the same bashful NOR
tai that | was in my sixteenth year.
l never learned what TO do with my
feet and hands while in company;
and must confess that | experienced
feeling of envy, when saw SOL
der who had suffered the loss of both
legs and arms.
When | attained my thirtieth year,
| gave up ali hope OF ever looking u
woman in the face, and of course, all
the dreams thbt | had ever enter
tanned Of welded joys vanished. at
is of no use," / said. 81 know [ can
never gain the courage to ask wom-
an to marry mo. And even if | did
| coul not survive the wedding Ger.
emony. should probably faint
away at the altar. / should be as
apt, in my confusion, to put the ring
upon the brides toe as upon her fin
ger. But L know that | never could
go through with it,"
was walking down the main
street of Riggleby at tue time those
thoughts were passing through my
brain. Il was cold day IN January
and l was wrapped up tightly in
overcoat aud furs. l was so deep in
my reverie that paid little attention
to passengers upon the street, or the
course was taking Suddenly of
found myself in close juxtaposition to
woman. We had collided. Her
nose was within three inches |
mine What an awful proximity !
[ blushcd to the roots of my hair.
"Beg pardon, miss" STAN mered.
at was my fault, sir; | did not no.
tice where | was going" she an
swered in a voice as sweet as four
nightiDgales.
| could say nothing in reply, and
if she had not moved on just then, |
think | should have sunk through the
pavement. [ turned TO look after
her. She looked back at the same
moment and smiled. Oh, that smile!
Oh, sthe glory of those dark eyes
methinks | see them now
You will easily understand that
this young lady bad made an impress
sion upon me that never could BIO eff
faced. Her image was enshrined in
my heart forever. She was the first
Young woman of whose face | had
ever got fair view. thought |
saw the finger of fate in this. | felt
that this young woman was destined
to be my wife some day. But how 2
Alb, thcre was the rub
When | reached home, asked my
mother if there were any now arriv-
ais in town.
"Why yes, there's family come
to live in the Edwards house. | be-
lieve they have bought it,"
ado you know the namc Y" | asked.
"Gogglei, believe"
"What very euphonic namel Are
there any young ladies in the family?"
sOne-a daughter Qaite pretty,
| understand"
"Pretty? Beautiful you mean I"
| cried.
"Have you seen her ~
"Yes; l mot her upon the street to-
day"
"Did you dare look up?' mother
asked. smiling.
So | told her about our meeting.
81 think that meeting was predes-
tined, mother"
"But that will be the end of it, Au-
gustus. You never will dare to look
into her eyes sgain."
"Mother," | exclaimed, seized with
sudden impulse, 81 mean to marry
her |"
NV mother smiled, and so our con-
versation ended. Of course she
knew how it would be; bnt | had in
wardly made some very strong re-
solves and | meant to carry them out.
For weeks after that haunted the
street hoping to get just one glance
at this beautiful woman, but without
success: and so at last in fit of des-
peration accepted an invitation to
attend a party st Mrs Swingletoe's.
| did attend the party. By Sc
r n 20 oh