Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-31
into which those swift-coming bushes

led me.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object
of my busy fancies would catch my eye,
or, without looking ut me, seem to know
or feel that l was gazing ut her, and !
wickcdly delighted in noting the blush
which deepened on her cheek till ! with
drew my eyes
One SUNDAY happened, in comingout
of church, to be close to my lovely neigh
bor--immediately behind her-my hand
actually touched her unconscious gar.
ments. ] felt nm Irresistible desire to
| force her in some way to notice me--to
speak TO her--to occasion one OF those
charming blushcs-anything-l know
not what. In short, like III impudent
coxcomb MS was, ! stepped forward,
and with insuifcrable insolence, which |
blush now to remember, whispered in
her ear:
lyon are very pretty"
Never was | more surprised than when
she calmly replied;
II know itw
was absolutely startled. had ex-
pectcd u silent, conscious bush--an in
dignant glance-anything rather than
| ~. ..,,l at lnnu ~
was puzzled but had plenty of time
to turn the matter over in my mind, for
in few days returned to college. |
can truly say it was one problem which
throughout the term gave me most trou-
bio to solve, and cost mo most Thought.
Another year elapsed ere | returned
home, and again sat in the little village
church. My personal appearance was,
meanwhile, somewhat altered. still
welc my monstache, it is true, but my
coat tails were not or did not seem quite
SO lone, and had left off my spurs.
Nv mother and were early seated in
our pew, and impatiently waited for
the arrival of my lovely enigma tried
to prepare myself for disappointment.
~ have been thinking and dreaming
abou, an IDEAL" | said to myself
"doubtless whenthe young lady herself
appcars, all the fine imaginings Will
vanish--there can be no doubt my fancy
has been playing tricks with me, in
vcsting mere country maiden WIN
transcendent graces and character"
While | was reasoning thus with myself,
the young lady appeared, leading her
old relative with tender care.
Worshiping IN ''idcal" indeed! My
remembrance did not begin to do justice
to the beautiful! reality. A sOnl full of
tenderness aud scnsbility seemed to
have tound fitting home in Il person
and face Of perfect loveliness and grace.
She blushed whcm, looking around,
, she CHANGED to sec me. and again the
& play of expression on her features which
, had 50 Interested ~" formerly, charmed
me.
The more ! studied her face the more
seemed to see the pure depth other soul.
: | could have staked my life on her noble
purity of thought and deed.
As we returned home described my
fair ncighbor and asked my mother who
she was.
''tter name" my mother said, sis
Grace Denny, and she is the lovelicst--
the most superior young woman have
ever in my whole life, met with. II is
too soon to think Of such things yct,"
she continued, smiling. But some
wears hence it wonld make me happy to
see my son married to just such n wo-
man"
Not quite so fast, MOTHER" said /,
, laughing a good deal to hide little boy.
ish embarrassment which | was most
anxious to conceal.
found that Grace had become q con.
slant visitor at my mothers and | did
not fail to improve the opportunity OF
becoming better acquainted with her.
She was indeed gifted creature, en-
lowed with all natures best" She
sang, she danced, she conversed with on
| indescribable grace peculiar to herself.
Though generally thoughtful and ear
nest in her ,lemcanor, she had q vein OF
quiet humOr, and her strokes Of playful
drOllery charmed all the more from be-
ing unexpected. But more alluring tt
me than all her gifts and accomplishments
G was the shrinking sensbility depicted on
t every feature of her sweet face ! soo'
+ found myself deeply, painfully interest
Q ed in her. say painfully, for Grace re-
h ceived my assiduous attention with
perfect GOODNESS and lnac"ountable M
. ,,-i,i,I, m = :