Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-02

"doubtless when the young lady herself
appears, all the fine imaginings viii
yanish-there can be no doubt my fancy
has bee. playing tricks with me, IN
yestinp mere country maiden with
transcendent sraces and character"
While WINS reasoning thus with myself,
the young lady appeared, leading her
old relative with tender care.
Worshiping IN "ideal' indeed! Ny
remembrance did not begin to do justice
70 the beautiful reality. A soul full Of
tenderness and sensibility seemed to
have found q Citing home in q person
and face of perfect loneliness and grace.
She blushed when, looking around,
she CHANGED to 500 me, and again the
play of expression on her features which
had no interested mo formerly, charmed
me.
The more studied her face the more |
seemed to see tho pure depth other soul.
could have stakcd my life on her noble
purity Of thought and deed.
As we returned home ! described my
fair neighbor and asked my mother who
she was
"Hor 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 IL IS
too soon to think Of such things yet"
sho continued, smiling. "But some
wears hence it would make me happy to
see my son married to just such q wo-
man."
."Not quite 40 fast, mother" said !,
laughing good deal to hide u little boy
sh embarrassment which | was most
anxious to conceal
found that Grace had become n con
stnnt visitor Mt 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 convcrscd with m
understandable grace peculiar to herself.
Though generally thoughtful and car
nest in her demeanor, che had vein OF
quiet hlimor, and her strokes of playful
drollery charmed oil the more from be-
ing unexpected. But more allnring to
me than all hergifts and accomplishments
wasthe shrinking sensibility depicted on
every feature Of her sweet face. soon
found myself deeply, painfully interest
ed in her. ! say painfully, for Grace rc-
ceived my assiduous attention with a
perfect GOODNESS and unaccountablo I'M
concern, which gave mo great uncasi-
ness.
Sometimes thought she remembered
my early impertinonre, and was disposed
to punish it. But there was rival, a
cousin of Grace's, who always stood in
my way, and from whom Grace received
rs q matter of course, numbcrloss little
attentions which dared not even offer
hated this man; | was insufterably
Jealous; but Grace seemed either per
fectly unconscious or perfectly indlfler
ent to tho by-play of luminosity whiol
was carried on between MS.
Grace, sweet, noble Grace, with her
child-like simplicity and sensitive wo
mans hcart-who could resist her7
could uot--my whole soul was hers. In
vain had | struggled in vain had
called on my vanity (of which ha'
plenty to invokc) to save me from th'
modification of loving without return
. could not stem or control tho passion
which, strong ~ u mighty whirlwind
had seized me,
One evening sat by the piano whil
Grace sang to me. The cousin was no
there, and dear Grace's varying colo
and glstening eyes suggested swee
hopes to my vanity. | fancIed saw
love in those bright dewy eyes and OF
those soft music breathing lips,
, 1t was the last evening ofmy vacation
aud surely read u gentle, farewell
thought in Gracc's face. | was bcsld
myself with joy at the idea--l was n
, if in d hlssfuI drGam--a sweet dcllrluU
I "a rapture Of love. As Grace rose t.
leave the piano caught her hand, ant
unable longer to suppress the ont
thought that filed my heart, oxclaim
{ ed tcrvently:
''Graco-dcar Grace, with MI my sorl
I | love youw
She lifted hor large, soft eyes, ant
said slowly, while miscellaneous sIni|
, stole over her face:
, ~ know it,"
, She was gone before had time t
: prevent it, or to recover from my auI
! nrap