Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-08-14
WINSTON, N. c, THURSDAY, AUGUST H. 1870.


spoke
81 was about your own age,
Ethel, nearly nineteen, wAep / met
George Holmes, a young artist
whose name now has obtained
worldwide celebrity. He was even
then known as an artist of great
talent and promise, apd society
opened her doors to receive him.
81 scarcely know how TO describe
him to you. Shy IN manner, be
could be won by interest 10 his
subject to complete self forget
fulness, that would be!ray him into
positive eloquence. With gentle
courtesy and modesty, he was yet
manly and digEihed when occasion
required.
Il was then, like yourself, an
heiress, petted and courted, and
really believing in my own heart
that / was a little above the rest
of humanity in virtue of my pretty
face, my accomplishments and my
we'll filled purse.
81 had suitors and friends, and
[ firted away their respect in more
than one case. II gave me pleas
ant sense of power to lead my
lovers on to a proposal, and then
mortify their vanity and crush
their hopes by refusal. A raltry
ambition that brought its punish
ment, for it was not many weeks
after | met him that | found | loved
George Homes with all the strength
of my heart.
He never fattered me, vet a
word or look OF approval from him
would please me as no honeye1
speech had ever done before. He
Was respectful to me as woman,
hut never paid subservient homage
! to my position and wealth. [ thu
! he knew that | was not all the vain
buttetfy Of fashion others believed
me, and the thought of this arous-
ed all that was true In my na:ure.
''In his presence | dropped my
vanity and coquetry, and tried to
meet his own mental powers, and
pure, high toned conversation. He
taught me some of the delight Il
a Knowledge of art gives to the
sight Of fine painting ce piece Of
sculpture.
He trained my eyes for me till
every flower, every sunset, every
sight in nature acquired a new
! bcauty. He guided me throu-h
higher walks of literature than i
had attempted alone. He loved
me and he won my love.
"Yet, during all the months of
intercourse that bonnd our hearts
together, George had never said to
me: 81 love you," and sure as /
felt of his affection, kept my own
love hidden till some word of his
gave me the guarantee to speak
sit was not coquetry that kept me
silent, Ethel, but the Inodesty OF
true, love.
eve had come to town for the
winter, and met George Holmes
constantly, at home and abroad,
when my uncle and guardian told
me that the young artist had been
offered a most desirable and lu-
crative commission for painting
that would require him to go to
Italy for two, perhaps three years.
81 was sure he would speak
then. It could not be that he would
leave homo for years, and give me
no word of love at parting.
owe were preparing for large
! party at homo when the servant
handed me bouquet of tea roses
with Mr.. Holmes compliments.
81 loved tea roses then, Ethel,
and the creamy, half open buds,
the bright leaves, the deep tinted
hearts Of the open flowers, all
seemed smiling hope on me, as
sat in my room inhaling their per
fume, and thinking of the giver.
cit seemed to me a promise of
all l hoped and wished, that /
should receive the lovely gift, and
amid my tender thoughts, lresolved
to drop all my careless manner, all
my flirting, heartless tricks, when
[ was assured this noble true heart
was all my own.
"Never was | more careful of
my dress than on the evening OF
the party to which | referred.
"My choicest jewels, my richest
silk, did duty for that occasion, and
| dressed my hair as George liked
it best, and wore the color he
thought the most becoming.
81 was still at my post at host
tess, receiving my fast arriving
guests, as he came in.
81 saw, as he advanced to meet
me, that he was very pale, and lis
eyes were fixed upon my face as i
he would read my very soul.
81 smiled as | greeted him, my
heart full Of hope.
"He took my hands in his own