Sharp County record., 1878-03-01

for horses amounted to quite passion,
and that he fattered himself he owned
the fastest trotterin all that region.
Ahl at that moment, to quote from
dear Miss Bremen, "our souls metz
Mysterious sympathy Of passionate
young hearts!
His eyes, upon a nearer view, were
gray, but their expression was full OF
poetic sensibility. They beamed with
that tender Difference, half wistful, half
wicked, hardest of all looks for even
"little women" " to resist. IsuSpect the
fellow knew it. They all do.
There was, now and then, mysteri-
Gus shade of sadness over his brOw-an
interesting, Lara-like frown that came
and went in that festive hour. Idiyined
that, young as [ was, he had had great
thoughts and ambitions, great sorrows
and sins, or meant to have them, which
was all the same.
At parting, he begged from my bOu-
quet a sprig of geranium, which he
placed in his button-hole "for remem-
brance." Then he asked leave to visit
me, which 1 graciously accorded. Then
we murmured our adieuX.
went home with my head among the
stars. My dear, absurd as it may seem,
l really believed had that night met my
destiny, and met it, on the whole, in a
very satisfactory shape.
| did not know just when to look for
my admirer, but I,was ready for him
morning and evening. | grew strangely
careful of my dress. | assiduouSly brush
ed and curled my hair. l applied cos
metics to my sun-burnt face, | slept in
kid gloves.
These alarming symptoms were not
unnoticed by my tender mother; but she
noticed that my manner had grown quiet
and maidenly, and took great comfort
thereat.
Six days l waited in vain. The
seventh-magic number! brought-not
him, but letter. 1t was a dainty-look-
ing miSsive, all rose-tinted and gilt
edged. This was before the time of en-
velopes-a remote age bordering on the
"Drift PERIOD" you may think, in the
insolence of your nineteen summers.
1t was directed this letter of letters
in one of those rearing Italian hands
once so fashionable. Itwas sealed with
lilac -colored wax, and the seal bore the
motto how well l remember it, though
l didn't in the least know what it meant
then-of "70yOurs fdele."
With my heart beating into my fin
ger-tips broke the SEAL opened the
letter. The very first line was some
thing startling, unequivocal: " My dear
est Love!h
Without waiting to read another word,
l turned the leaf to look at the sigma
ture: "Oh, my prophetic soul!" it
was " John Trevaly YAM"
made no copy of that letter, and
find memory has been little unfalthfuI
in regard to the exact wording. know
that I,sead :. -: % 30 1iltrreat satisfaction in
especial, a lover-like inventory which it
contained of my most amiable and ad-
mirable characteristics. There were
things set down there that had sup
posed known only to myself.
Toward it's close the letter assumed a
practical tone. 81 will, with your
ieave," it ran, "call on your father in a
day or two. In the meantime, love,
perhaps you had better confde our dear
secret to no one, unless it be your broth
er Tom"
All, heavens the letter was not for
met Alas! | had no "brother Tom. !"
Providence had been bountiful in sons
to our house. Our cup had run over
with that particular sort of blessing, but
the respectable name of Thomas had
somehow never struck my mothers
rowing fancy. At the baptismal font she
had never given it in.
Fatal omission!
Madam, you might have saved me
from this"
resealed that letter. sent it with
all dispatch, and courteous apology to
my double, now my rival. | was wretch
ed, but / could not be base.
Yes, she married my John. After that
| got no more of her letters, which was
some consolation.
No, she was not pretty-even on her
wedding-day, but she was charmingly
dressed.
John still lives. He has grown rich
and stout. He has no longer
the Byron expression but the By
ron peak on his brow is more
pronounced than ever. Of all the
beautiful enthusiasm of his youth, that
for fast horses alone remains. He has,
l believe, never been so unhappy or
wicked as he promised to be, though,
for time, he fell into evil ways and was
sent to the Legislature.
My double has made several visits to
Paris, has grown fonder and more al
fail of dress than ever. AS she has no
children, she gives her whole mind to
it" but that's not much"
Inever could think her the campanion
for John in intellect and soul. | never,
in truth, could help thinking that, if |
had bo 4 N fo -, utort y1itb hnr-if | had