The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-08-02
AUNT FANNY'S STORY,
BY NAY Maple.

b1 MAY MAPPLE.
The greater part of the first eighteen
years of my life was spent within the
walls OF the village academy, where | was
taught the rudiments and some of the
accomplishments considered necessary to
practical education. To put on a finish
/ attendeds first-class seminary for a year,
or more.
That year, how many stories it might
tell, of lives made miserably unworthy
of their pOsessors of lives begun midst
the loftiest SEPARATIONS, and the sternest
resolves, but ending in the deepest,
darkest despair.
While attending school in my native
village I had paid but little attention to
the would d-be-beaux, for was determined
o give my whole attention to the get
ing of my knowledge"
Butt ha0ssot been at L-semiuary a
week beforeI encountered a pair of the
most bewitching black eyes that my own
blue orbs ever beheld For an instant,
I seemed to be perfectly fascinated, riv-
eted to the floor, so fixed was their gaze
upon my own face. Suddenly their
owner seemed to become aware of his
rudeness, and at once turned his atten-
tion to something else.
The following day found us classmates,
and, although the sexes were not allowed
to address each other, before night we
had been formally introduced
Henry Steele was pronounced to be the
best student in the institute; also the
haudsomsst and most fascinating gentle
man to be found for miles around. Amia-
BILE and active, with good moral charac-
ter, he was a general favorite wherever
he went
The girls were all anxious to win his
regards; but he treated each young lady
with the same marked politeness, and
none could tell which lady fair was the
favoTite one. Where all pronounced him
the beau-ideal of perfection, what won
der that /, simple village maid, should
gaze upon him with admiration, and
then with love-besming eyes. Particu-
iarly when, after a six months acquaint-
ance, he confessed his love for me and
vowed eternal fidelity.
If rhetoric and the ologies and ometries
received my attention, there was another
study that claimed more of it, and which
was not named in the principal cata-
logue. For six months l was supremely
happy.
If Harry was not constantly at my
side, was not my desk crammed to over
flowing with gilded and perfumed note
paper, which was covered over and over
with passionate avowals of devotion to
my fair self2 And were not those same
professions clothed in the most beautiful
language that could be expressed in
Foiceless words? Yet with all this hap
-es;,sss filing my soul, never neglected
nv studies. The midnight lamp, yes,
and the early dawn, not unfrequently
found me hard at work at my lessons
had an object in view worth all my
efforts to win. Once / had studied for
the sake OF the knowledge 1 should need,
n win me favored seat amid cultivated
,,aople. Now l desired his commenda-
tion; to make myself his equal, and to
be worthy of his love, was the height of
nv ambition. To love was part of my
Of life. He seemed a part of my very
oelf. Not a thought, not an aspiration
had but what in some way was con-
acted with him. Ii a doubt ever en-
tered my mind that he might prove rec
.eant to his vows, drove the thought
owsy as unworthy of him and of myself.
Judge then, if you can, what my feel
mos must have been when, on bright
september morning, my roommate
hsnded me a paper, at the same time
,,ointing to the list of marriages, and l
heheld the name of "Henry Steele to
Miss Ida Sumner" at the head of the
column. 1 did not cry out nor faint, for
did not believe in my eyes.
But an hour had not passed before a
rall knewn tinted envelope was handed
~ me; how l hugged it to my heart
telling, oh, so sure, my Harry was not
faIse to his oft-repeated vows. As soon
a. had entered the privacy of my own
chamber, tore off the covering of the
rttle note and read:
eDARLING FANNY-Forgive me fol-
the step / am obliged to take, for it is
only you that love, and ba assured that
vour suffering viii only equal my own
when you receive this l shall be welded
20 one for whom / have only common