The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-07-12

for horses amounted to quite a passion,
and that he 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 sensibility. They beamed with
that tender Difference, half wistful, half
wicked, hardest OF all looks for even
"little women" to resist. 1 suspect 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. OWNED
that, young as he 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 bou-
quet a sprig of geranium, which he
placed in his button-hole 1for remem-
brance." Then he asked leave to visit
me, which graciouslyaccorded Then
we murmured our adieux.
went home with my head among
the stars. My dear, absurd as 1t may
seem, 1 really believed had that night
met my..destiny, and met it on the whole,
in satisfactory shape.
did not know just when to look for
my admirer, but 1 was ready for him
morning and evening. grew strange
ly careful of my dress. 1 assiduously
brushed and curled my hair. l applied
cosmetics to my sunburnt face. l 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 COM
fort thereat.
Six DAYS | waited in vain. The sew
enth-magic number! brought-not
him, but letter. 1t was dainty look
ing missive, all rose-tinted and guilt
edged. This was before the time of
envelopes-a remote age bordering on
the "Drift Period" you may think, in
the insolence of your nineteen sum-
mers.
II wis directed-this letter of letters
in one of these rearing Italian hands
once so fashionable Ii WAS sealed with
lilac colored wax, and the seal bore the
motto-how well I remember it, though
didn't in the least know what it meant
then-of Tjjours fdele."
With my heart beating into my finger
tips broke the seal-opened the letter.
The very first line was something start
ling, unequivocal: MY dearest Love"
Without waiting to read another word
| turned the leaf to look at the sigma
ture "Oh, my prophetic soul" it was
John Trevalyanl'
made no copy of that letter, and
found memory has been little unfiith-
full in regard to the exact wording.
know that read it with great satisfac-
tion-in especial, lover like inventory
which it contained of my most amiable
and admirable characteristics. There
were things set down there that / had
supposed known only TO myself
Toward its close the letter assumed
practical tone, a will, with your leave"
it ran, "call upon your father in day or
two, in the meantime, love, perhaps you
had better conffde our dear secret TO no
one, unless it be your brother Tom.'
All, heavens! the letter WAS not for
me- Alas had no brother Tom"
Providence had been bountiful in
sons TO our house. Our cup had run
ever with that particular sort of bless
ing. but the respectable name of Thomas
had somehow never struck my mothers
rowing fancy. At the baptisnlal font she
had never given it in
Fatal omission,
Madam, you might have saved me
from this"
resealed that letter. l sent it with
all dispatch, and courteous apology to
my double, now my rival. l was
wretched, 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-eyen on her
wedding day, but she 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 enthusi
asms Of his youth, that for fast horses
alone remains. He has, believe, never
been SO unhappy or wicked IS ne prom
ised to be, though, for a time, ne fell
into evil ways and was sent to the Leg
Iislature.
My double has made several visits to
Paris, and has grown fonder and more
au fat of dress than ever. As she has
no children, she gives her whole mind
to it-"but that's not much
never could think her the compan-
ion for John in intellect and soul. L
never, in truth, could help thinking
that; if had had fair start with her
I-ifI had had her clothes-if l had had
her brother Tom-it might have-Dut
ah-
l"Of all sad words of tongue or pen'
The saddest are these: 1T mlght nave
been.'"