Smyrna times., 1881-11-16
One of Life's Lessons.

AS youth lie had never looked forward
to manhood with that expectant anxiety
so Characteristic of the very young gentle
man. He had not enjoyed the advantages
OF collegiate instruction, and his educa-
ton was such as he acquired from the
common school curriculum, and a course
OF private study and general reading.
Naturally thoughtful, having a distinct
individuality. and being born with no
glded surroundings, the world to him was
a field of labOr-a field in which Law his
uncarved future. 1t was difficult to form
his acquaintance, consequently he had
few intimate friends.
His observation Of domestic life had in
clined to make him a misogamist. $50
many marriages occur in which there is
total want of adaptability some of them
| composed of nothing but love-that very
necessary element-but there must be
| adaptation. There are other essential in
gradients, not the least important of which
Is good sound dgment-discretion. And
again, other marriages are composed of
ten parts OF love, ten of adaptabiiity, and
eighty parts-pOverty. Such couples de-
lude themselves with the idea that if they
only love each other dearly, they will live
happily and prosperously Oh. YES
Theirs will be an unclouded Eden of bliss.
The dear, deluded creatures Instead of
their dreams of Eiysium being realized
they will find life of toll before them
slavlsh toil-t0 support an ever increasing
family. Their experience, like that of
thousands deluded ones gone before. will
be an additional proof of the truth ex
pressed in the homily:
Love in hut. with water and crust
S-LoVe forgive us-cinders ashes. dust"
do not believe in poverty marriages."
so thought wise Mr.. Gray; and this in
clned him to look upon matrimpny as
beng, after religion, the most serious
affair OF mans life. Holding the views he
ana. 1t IS not remarkable that he was an
individual not easily captivated by the
charms of the ladies. In fact, to beautv
OF face combined with all the articles and
Establishments of the sex. he was scarcely
more susceptible than adamant.
His taste was literary, and he claimed
that true beauty was not facial. but men.
tai Faces and forms are only DESIGNED
to lndividuallze us, that we NAV distin-
guish each other with the eye: while the
true being whom we love or hate dwells
inside the head, in the brain. The inner
face ''0
TINS is a long prelude to short story.
but we thought it necessary to take the
dimensions of our hero upOn this tonic
that our readers may comprehend the
following:
1t was the last day of August, 1880. a
usual August day, very warm. and inst ss
dry. Mr. Gray, in connection with his
business, had occasion to spend several
months in the village of Glendale. He
arrived at the village on the morning of
the day above mentioned. His personal
acquaintance in his new location was ex-
tremely limited, embracing but two or
three individuals, gentlemen.
In MS business relations he formed the
acquaintance of James Leighton. and II
naturally followed that he should meet
that gentleman's daughter, Miss Maud
She was tall, slender blonde of 1S: hair
OF the poetic golden color, very heavy
ana when loosed, reaching below her
waist her features were clearly cut, with
decided hrmness about the mouth: her
dark gray eyes were remarkably brilliant
and expressive. Gray's observing eve saw
all this, but the impression upon him was
only optical.
Being frequently in her presence IT was
not long ere he found that this ladv nos
sessed an individually of character the
most remarkable he had met in her sex
she was unusually intelligent, had an in
dependence of thought and character
combined with the most polished feminine
graces, which of necessity must be felt
even by such a stole as he. In fact affer
1ew weeks acquaintance, he found Miss
Maud quite an interesting young ladv:
but that was all.
Time passed away, and he began IN
find her company decidedly entertaining
twas refreshing, vivifying; she possessed
he thought, some of that essential of his
mental beauty. He had considered woman
as weak creature in character and intel
lect; had always imagined her to be in
every sense, except intensity and suscepti-
Dllity, mans inferior. He found in Maud
Leighton no such creature as this. but a
lady possessing an innate reserve and n
hative independence of mind which COM
manded his sincere admiration.
Mr; Gray became a captive unawares.
ana ne enjoyed his captivity. If Miss
Leighton had any ret iprocal regards for him
he had as yet received by word. look or act
no token; this, rather than Sitting the
feelings which he was now fully sensible
OF sustaining toward her, increased their
Intensity, and made him admire and value
her more highly. She was lady to be
won and 1t was powerful incentive to
MIN TO know that from her dignified re-
serve, whether native or diplomatic. he
could expect no ovePtures.
Mr.. Gray was very austere individual:
he was naturally so and he manifested
in Miss Leighton's presence none of the
feelings raging in his heart Between two
such persons there was little prospect of
either ever knowing the feelings of the
other.
A Social Circle had been organized at
Glendale several years previous to the
opening of the story, and the young people !
of the village and neighborhood, meeting |
weekly during the winter months, passed |
their evenings very pleasantly and profit
bly, in social and literary exercises.
Gray had been frequently solicited to
join the circle, and finally, after much
characteristic hesitation and deliberation. |
did so. Miss Leighton was also an at |
tendant. These social gatherings, together
with .he literary exercises, no found very |
agreeable, aud the circle of his aeauaint- |
ances greatly increased.
James Sheldon and Maud Leighton had |
been school children together. and in |
their childishness had fattered themselves |
with the idea that they loved one another, I
ana, IN their innocent way, probably they /
did. James Sheldpn was how a Young /
man and hfo E,r,l IA -. 80