The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-03-08

Byron, and n. p. Willig."
admire art and music, poetry, unC
all such things, but I don't know mucl
about them yet. To tell the plain truth
my particular enthusiasm is-iust horses
/ suppose it's peIverse and improper, anc
all that; but do know something abou
horses, and love them"
My hero smiled, in beaming, indul
gent way, and declared that he partici
pated in my enthusiasm that his love
for horses amounted to quite passion
and that he fattered 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 a nearer view, were
gray, but their expression was full OF
poetic sensibility. They beamed with
that tender Difference, half wistful, hall
wicked, hardest of all looks for even
sslistle women - 20 resist. suspect the
fellow knew it. They all do.
There was, now and then, myateri-
Gus shade of sadness over his brow--a an
interesting, Lara-like frown that came
and went in that festive hour. ] OWNED
that, young as I was, he had had great
thoughts and ambitions, great sorrows
and SINS or meant to have them, which
was all the same.
Atparting, he begged from my bouquet
a sprig of geranium, which he placed in
his button hole Z" for remembrance"
Then he asked leave to visit me, which
! graciously accorded. Then we muir
INJURED our adieux.
/ went home with my head among the
stars. My dear, absurd as it may seem,
really believed I 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 sdmirer, but was ready for him
morning and evening. I grew strangely
careful of my dress. I assiduously
brushed and curled my hair. I applied
cosmetics 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 It was a dainty-look-
ing missive, all rose tinted and gilt
edged. This was before the time of
envelopes-a remote sge bordering on
the Drift Period" you may think, in
the insolence of your nineteen summers.
II was directed-this letter Of letters
in one Of those rearing Italian hands
once so fashionable. 1t was sealed with
lilac colored wax, and the seal bore the
motto-how well remember it, though
l didn't in the least know what it meant
then--of - 7ovj0urs fdeIs."
With my heart beating into my finger.
tips l broke the seal--I opened the letter.
The very first line was something start
ling, unequivocal: My dearest Love - !
Without waiting TO read another word, |
I turned the leaf to look a. the signature
'' Oh, my prophetic soul % it was g John
Trevalyan %
1 made no copy of inst letter, and |
find memory has been little unfaithiul |
in regard to the exact wording. I know
that read it with great satisfection-in |
especial, love-like inventory which it /
contained of my most amiable and ad-
mirable characteristics. There were !
things set down there that l had sup |
posed known only to myself
Toward its close the letter assumed a
practical tone. 81 will, with your
leave" it ran, call on your father in |
day or two. In the meantime, love, per
hsps you had better confide our dear
secret to no one, unless it be your
brother Tom"
All, heavens! the letter was not for |
me- AlasI I had no brother Tom"
Providence had been bountifuI 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. l sent il with
all dispatch, and courteous apology to
my double, now my rival, was wretched,
but could not be base.
Yes, she married my John. After |
that 1 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 Byron 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, 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 ats ia ! |
of dress than ever. AS she has no chill
dren, she gives her whole mind to it
but that's not much"
1 never could think her the companion
for John in intellect and soul. never, |
in truth, could help thinking that, if l |
had had fair start with her, if l had |
had her clothes, if had had her brother
Tom, it might have--but ah--
OF ali sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: at might have been.
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Heightened artists nowadays won't |
take a subjects "full face" for the |
reason that a full-front picture looks