Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-10-26
For the TELEGRAPH,
WHY SHE DIDN'T.

quite stale and uninteresting, anC
one turns from it with infinite wea-
riness. 1t is a matter of surprise
that the monOtony of these Tecltal'
is not sometimes relieved by glance
at the trifers of the opposite sex
whose misdeeds of the same charac-
ter so rarely figure in story or III
song. Certainly not because thell
numbers are less, or their Sins more
venial. Who shall estimate the
wrong done by the use-for mere
purposes of vanity-of those subtle
influences which convey an impress
sion as strong as spoken words. An
expressive glance of the eye, a pres.
sure of the hand, the softened inhec-
ton of the voice can convey a
world of meaning to a sensitive
soul, and yet mean nothing to the
trifer but the form of amusement
which he has chosen to while away
an idle hour. Such were the means
by which Mr.. L. gained the affec.
tions of Miss E. He never told her
he loved her, except in this mute
language, but to her confding and
unsophisticsted nature this was
enough, and she returned his sup
posed affections with all the warmth
of her heart. He basked in her
smiles, and reveled in the almost
idolatrous regard which she bestow-
ed upon him until his monstrous
vanity was fully satisfied, and then
he coolly informed her that he was
engaged to another. The wound to
her affections, the unutterable morti-
fication of having given her heart to
one who had cast it away as a worth
less thing, and her consequent loss of
self-respect, drove her to the verge
of madness. The lesson of her un-
happiness was not lost upon her
cousin, Miss B., who resolved to
guard her own affections from such
desecration, and at all hazards to
preserve her self-respect and dignity
of character. She had just formed
the acquaintance of Mr.. NJ, with
whom she was much pleased, and
she resolved in her intercourse with
him to indulge in no fond hopes ex-
cept such as were justified by the
most direct and pointed attention.
She did not understand the man with
whom she had to do. With refine
ment and culture, agreeable man.
ners, good social position, and a
fair reputation, it seemed incredible
that he should lack confidence in
himself, and in his powers of pleas
ing in the society of ladies. But
such was the case. He was full of
admiration for Miss B., and really
wished to make her his wife, but he
was doubtful of her sentiments. She
was much captivated with his gen.
tlemanly bearing, his air of refine
ment and his apparent kindness of
heart, and she gave him such en-
couragement as consisted with her
sense of delicacy and propriety, and
such as should have satisfied him,
but it did not. His female relatives
who understood the true state of the
case endeaVored with all their elo-
quence to encourage and reassure
him, but with characteristic obstina-
cy and self-will he refused
to be convinced except by some un-
mistakable sign of regard from the
lady herself. Miss B., with her
consin's fate in mind, and quite un-
certain whether his attentions meant
more than mere politeness did not
venture to commit herself by giving
him this sign, and so the matter
ended. He gradually declined in
his visits and then left her altogeth-
er, carrying with him the small gam
of not having risked a refusal, to set
over against the infinite loss of the
affections of noble woman. Did /
say the matter ended here? Alas!
no. 1t was known to some of Miss
BIS most intimate friends that Mr..
Ms desertion had caused her
months of wretchedness, but with
the force of a strong character, and
with her persistent effort to keep
herself SO engrossingly employed
that she should have no time to
dwell upon her own. sorrows, she
conquered herself at last.
am aware how greatly the fe-
male coquette writers have the ad-
vantage Of me in being able to give
such pathetic close to their tales of
treachery aud deceit. The fearful
words, 'She was compelled to live a
life Of single blessedness," are high
tragedy indeed, and form a dramatic
ending of unequaled power, but
truth compels me to the very tame
and prosaic statement, in conclusion,
that Mr.. M. did not meet with such
a stunning fate, such a climax of
wretchedness, but that he very soon
found a bride in a self-asserting wo-
man, who had no .delicacy to deter
her from giving him all the encour-
agement he demanded.
rypUrrrrDu -