The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-29

way, and declared that he participated in
my enthuslasm-that his love for horses
amounted to quite passion and that ne
flattered himself he owned the fastest trotter
in all that region.
All at that moment, to quote from dear
Miss Bremen, "our souls met"
Mysterious sympathy of passionate young
hearts,
His eyes, upon nearer view, were gray,
but their expression was full of poetic sensi-
bility. They beamed with that tender def
erence, half wistful, half wicked, hardest OF
all looks for even little women to resist, L
suspect the fellow knew II. They all do
There was now and then mysterious
shade of sadness over his br0w-an interest
ing Lara-like frown that came and went In
that festive hour. 1 OWNED that, young as
he was, he had had great thoughts and am
bitions, and SORROWS and sins, or meant TO
have them, which was all the same.
At parting, he begged from my bouquet
sprig of geranium, which be placed in his
button hole ''for remembrance" Then he
asked leave to visit me, which graclously
accorded. Then we murmured our adleux.
went home with my head among the
stars. My dear, absurd as it may seem, L
really believed had that night met my des-
tiny, and met ii on the whole in very sat>
isfactory shape
did not know just when to look for my
admirer, but was ready for him, morning
| and evening. l grew strangely careful OF
| my dress. 1 assiduously brushed and curled
my hair. ] applied cosmetics to my sum
| burnt face. / slept in kid gloves.
These alarming symptoms were not un-
noticed by my tender mother; but she
noticed that my manner had grown quiet
and maidenly, and took great comfort
| thereat.
Six days l walted in vain. The seventh
magic number! brought-not him, but a
Lei, To-, oil
rose-tinted and gilt-edged. This was before
| the time OF envelOpeS-a remote age border
| ing on the Drift Period" you may think,
| in the insolence of your nineteen summers
1t was directed-this letter of letter of let
ters-in one OF those rearing Italian hands
once so fashionable; 1t was sealed with lilac
| colOred wax, and the seal bore the motto
how we'll remember it, though didn't in
/ the least know what il meant then-of
| ''Tovjours fidele."
With my heart beating into my finger tips
/ broke the seal opened the letter, The
very first line was something startling, un-
| equivocal: My dearest Love"
Without waiting to read another word
| turned the leaf to look at the signature: ::
| oh, my prophetic soul." it was John IRE
valyann'
made no copy of that letter, and found
| memory has been a little unfaithful in re
gard to the exact wording. / know that
4
lover-like inventory which it contained of
my most amiable and admirable character
istics There were things set down there
| that / had supposed known only to myself
| Toward its close the letter assumed prac
tical tone. Il will, with your leave" it ran,
''call on your father in day or two; in the
| meantime, love, perhaps you had better con-
fide our dear secret to no one, unless it be
| your brother Tom"
| All, heavensi the letter was not for me.
Alas, / had no brother Tom"
Providence had been bountiful in sons to
| our house. Our cup had run over with that
1 particular sort of blessing. but the respecta-
BILE name OF Thomas had somehow never
struck my mothers rowing fancy. AT the
| baptlsmal font she had never given it in.
Fatal omlssIoni
Madam, you might have saved me from
/ this"
resealed that letter I sent it with all
dispatch and a courteous apology to my
double. now my rival. | was wretched, but
| L 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, butshe was charmingly dressed.
| John still lives. He has no longer the
] Byron expression; but the Byron peak on
| his brow is more pronounced than ever. OF
/ all the beautiful enthus;asms of his youth,
/ that for fast horses alone remains. He has
| believe, never been so unhappy or wicked
as he pomised to be, though for time, he
fell into evil ways and was sent to the
| legislature.
My double has made several visits to Paris,
| and has grown fonder and more au fait of
dress than ever. As she has no children, she
\ gives her whole mind TO it-''Dut that's not
| much"
l never could think her the companion
/ for John in intellect and soul. L never, in
/ truth, could help thinking that, if L ha 1 had
| a fair start with ner-if had had her clothes
If had had her brother Tom-it might
have-but ah-
/ ''Of all sad words OF tongue or pen,
The saddest those: 1T might have been. -