The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1878-03-06
Mr.. Treyalyah talked Of poetry, art,
music, and flowers. II, low. sweet. bs-

preference. / suppose, II l had been
properly trained, or a year or two older, |
might have answered: am enraptured
with music Beethoven, Mozart, Henry
Russell, and the Seguins; dearly love
art--Tition, Michael Angelo, and Benja-
min West; but | adore uoe4ry--Milton,
Byron, and N. P Willis"
"I admire art and music, poetry, ard
all such things, but don't know much
about them yet. To tell the plain truth,
my particular enthusiasm is-just horses
/ suppose it's perverse and improper, and
all that; but do know something about
horses, and Hove them"
My hero smiled, iu beaming, indul-
gent way, and declared that he partici-
pated in my enthusiasm that his love
for horses amounted to quite a passion,
and that he fattered himself he owned
the fastest trotter in all that region.
All at that moment, to quote from
dear Miss Brem mer, "our souls met"
Mysterious sympathy of passionate
young hearts,
His eyes, upon q nearer view, were
lgrsy, but their Ok preston was full of
poetic sensibility. They beamed with
that tender Difference, half wistful, halt
wicked, hardest Of all looks for even
"little women" TO resist. suspect the
fellow knew it. They all do.
There was, now and then, a mysteri-
ous shade of sadness over his brow--an
interesting. Laralike frown that came
and went in that festive hour. | OWNED
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.
Atparting, he begged from my bouquet
sprig of geranium, which he placed in
his button hole =" for remembrance.
Then he asked leave to visit me, which ]
graciously accorded. Then we mur-
INJURED our adieux.
! went LONE with my head among the
stars. My dear, absurd as it may seem,
/ really believed had that night met
my destiny, and met IL, on the whole, in
very satisfactory shape.
/ did not know just when to look for
my admirer, but was ready for him
morning and evening. ] grew strangely
careful Of my dress. aseiduously
brushed and curled my hair. I applied
cosmetics to my sun-burnt 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 comfort
thereat.
| Six days ] waited in vain. The
seventh--magic number brought--not
him, but letter. II was dainty.look
ing missive, all rose tinted and gilt
edged. This was before the time o
envelopes-a remote age bordering Oh
the Drift PERIOD" you may think, il
the insolence Of your nineteen summers
1t was directed-this letter of letters
in one of those rearing Italian band
once so fashionable. It was sealed will
lilac colored wax, and the seal bore tn
motto.-how we'll ] remember it, thougl
/ didn't in the least know what it mean
then--of Toyjours ddeIe."
With my heart beating into my finger
tips broke the seal--I opened the letter
The very first line was something start
I ling, unequivocal: Ny dearest Love .
} Without waiting TO read another wort
/ turned the leaf to look a. the signature
: HOh, my prophetic soulP' it was 8 job
] Trevalyan p
/ made no copy Of that letter, an
3 find memory has been little unfaithfr
: in regard to the exact wording. / kno'
that read it with great satisfection-i
a especial, love-like inventory which
contained of my most amiable and az
J. mirable characteristics. There wei
}. things set down there that ] had SUI
= posed known only to myself.
! Toward its close the letter assumed
}, practical tone. 81 will, with yor
t leave" it ran, +" call on ycur father in
r day or two. In the meantime, love, Pe
n haps YOU had better confde our dei
J secret to no one, unless 1t be yoV
d brother Tom."
Alb, heavensl the letter was not 4
/ mel Alas had no brother Tom.
n Providence had been bountiful in sol
y to our house. Our cup had run ov
e with that particular sort Of blessin
n but the respectable of Thomas hi
e somehow never struck my mother
it rowing fancy. AT the baptismal font 81
had never given it In.
h Fatal omission
Madam, you might have saved L
from this"
I resealed that letter | sent il wi
7 all dispatch, and a courteous apology
my double, now my rival, was wretche
4 but could not be base.
> Yes, she married my John. Afi
] that / got no more of her letters, viii
4 wss some consolation.
No, she was not pretty, even on !
ID wedding day, but she was charming
In dressed.
i u John still lives. He has grown il
r. and stout. He has no longer the Byr
= expression / but the Byron peak On
4 brow ID more pronounced than ever.
all the beautiful enthusiasm Of
ae youth, that for fast horses alene renal
e He has, / believe, never been 50 unhap
III or wicked as he promised to be, ihout
of for time, he fell into evil ways and '
he ssnt to the legislature.
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