Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-09-09
NO. g..

i heNih6 hp'iS III % peiooi oiiA lhNt VI Bti
feet loveiness and grace.
She blushed when, looking around, she
CHANGED to see me, and again the play of
expression on her features, which had so
interested me formerly, charmed me.
The more studied her face the more
seemed to see into the pure depths of her
soul. could have staked my life on her as
noble of thought and deed,
AS we returned home | described my fair
neighbor and asked my mother who she
was.
"der name" my mother said, ais Grace
Denny, and she is the most supurior young
woman have ever in my whole life met
with. 1t is too soon to think of such things
yet" she continued smiling, "but some years
hence it would make me happy to see my
dear son married to just such woman"
"Not quite SO fast, mother" said laugh
ing good deal to hide little boyish en-
barrassment, which was anxious to con.
ceal.
found that Grace had become con-
slant visitor at my mothers,.a nd | did not
fail to improve the opportunity of becoming
better acquainted with her.
Grace-sweet, noble Grace, with her child
like simplicity and sensitive woman's heart
who could resist her | could not; my
whole soul was hers, In vain | struggled,
in vain called upon my vanity (of which
| had plenty to invoke) to save me from the
modification of loving without return.
could not stem or control the passion which,
strong as IL mighty whirlwind, had seized
me.
One evening l sat by the piano, while
Grace sang 10 me, and dear Grance's vary
ing color and glistening eyes suggested
sweet hopes to my vanity fancied saw
love in those bright, dewy eyes and on those
soft, music-breathing lips.
1t was the last evening of my vacation,
and surely read a gentle farewell thought
in Grace's face. | was beside myself with
joy at the ideal was as If in blissful
dream-a rapture of love. AS Grace rose to
leave the piano caught her hand, and UNI
able longer to repress the one thought that
filled my heart, exclaimed iervently;
"Grace-dear Grace--with all my soul
love your
She lifted her large, soft eyes, and said
slowly, as miscellaneous smile stole over
her face;
81 know il
She was gone before had time to pre-
vent it, or to recover from my surprise.
The next day | returned to college, ex-
pecting to complete my studies in another
year. A year How long to be absent from
the beloved being who was to me hence
forth and forever, whether she returned my
love or not, the nucleus around which all
thoughts would revolve. | need not say
how often her strange and unsatisfactory
answer tormented me | perceived In her
repetition of the same words her rcnlem-
brance Of the time when she had once used
them before, and this was just punishment
of my insolence. | tortured myself by.bring-
ing the whole scene again and again TO
memory-my passionate declaration Of love
and her provoking reply II know it,
"The duecc you o~ thought |, sometimes.
81 would had possessed the wit TO have left
you little more uncertain"
very often wondered that was able to
study at all at this time, for Grace was never
! absent from my thoughts she had become
the dream Of my life, the object Of all my
love sonncts, which had until now been
scattered on various rival beauties. did
study, however, and studied hard, and at the
end Of the term passed examination, with
high honor, much TO my dear mothers pride
and joy.
determined TO be wiser when | saw Grace
again--to discover beyond n doubt If were
indeed beloved before committed myself MS
had done.
In order TO satisfy myself on this point, and
perhaps also TO crafty little pique, when
! returned home, did not go immediately
to see Grace, but waited until, at my mothers
summons, she spent the evening with us.
Even then though my heart was full Of ten
derness for her affected GOODNESS.
had made up my mind 10 play part
and suffer MS | might, | would act il out.
There was young lady staying with my
mother at this time who dearly loved 10 llirt,
and was quite rcady TO contribute 10 her
amusement ] devoted myself 10 her the
whole evening, and felt the sweetest pain
ever experienced when | saw, by Graces
dear, charming, sensitive face, that she was
deeply panied
When this ioolery had been carried 10 It's
height perceived Grace suddenly rise and
step through the open window out on the
piazza. In n few minutes | followed her;
she had retired 10 little distance from the
window and stood with her head resting
against the railing, weeping Stealing softly
behind her, passed my arm around her and
whispered
"Ah, dearest Grace, do not deny You
love me p
There was little pause; then laughing,
yet half crying, Grace turned aside her head
and said
"AlasI | know itW