The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-03-22
Sel'erf Shry.
"I KNOW IT."

man than | ha We ever been since. I wore
8 slong-tailed O Dat and boots(to which the
Of spurs was generally
added J, a ttus tache was quite visible on
my my upper lip, and consciousness
of ripe matur ty never left my mind. 1
was studying for the legal profession,
but at the ii me of which write I was
spending my summer vacation at my IA
theirs house il the country.
Though so manly (almost Soldier like,
as fancied } in my appearance, my in.
ners was ny mo means go stern as my
outer man. 7 loved my mother with
childish tendei ne.ss, and sooner than pain
her pious he, .rt / murmurlngly accom-.
panied her every Sunday to the village
church, to listel to- long sermons Of which
could not ear word, for the tremu-
lous accents ,of the very aged minister
who conducte the services were so
faint. Thoug iacited by love and duty
to subject mys elf to this weekly penance
{ well deserves, by my weekly sins) my
conscience did not prevent me from
willing away the time by such amuse-
ments as lay at hand-that, namely, Of
observing and speculating on the coun-
tenances of my neighbors.
The physioe ,nomy which interested me
more than all ,others was that OF a young
girl who sat n OF far from Us. The face,
from first eli, citing my careless admira-
ton. gradually absorbed my whole at
1t was very beautiful, but apart
from that it possessed the greatest inter-
est for me. Never had I seen a counte-
nance which denoted SO much sensibili-
ty each emoti on of her mind was plain
" written up on it by its quick, delicate
changes; nothing was wanting but the
key Of CORE spending degree of sensi-
bility in the be holder, to read her tender,
innocent soul like an open book. For
hours I gazed and speculated on that fair
young face. / thought how sad would
be the lot OF so sensitive being should
fate unite her to one who would not know
how to read aright, to whom the varying
expression Of that sweet countenance
would be but blank; who would be
able to see it only in its coarser part
beauty of feat Ire. There was no end
10 the reveries into which those swift
coming bushes led me.
Sometimes, by chance, the fair object
Of my fancies would catch my eye, or
without looking at me seem to know that
I was gazing her, and l wickedly de-
lighted in notir ,g the blush which deep
ened on her G ae.sk till i withdrew my
eyes.
One Sunday I happened, in coming
out of church, I o be close to my lovely
ueighbor-imme di ately behind her-my
hand actually ouched her unconscious
fell an irresistible desire to
force her in SON e way to notice me-to
speak to her-t, occasion one OF those
blush. IS -anything-I knew
not what. In sh ort, like an impertinent
coxcomb as I v,asI, stepped forward,
and with insuffer able insolence, which !
blush now to rem leimber, I whispered in
her ear:
"You are very ,rttty!'
Never was / mo re surprised than when
she calmly'repliec /: ~
81 know it!'
was absolute ly startled. had ex-
pected q silent, ce,n scious blush-an in
dignant glance-s .nYthing rather than
this cool 81 know it,"
As much as b, I'd heretofore disliked
attending the Wilt sge church, the next
week seemed to drag along slowly
enough, and whel, Sunday again came
nv mother and were early seated in
our pew, and I imp ati emily visited for the
arrival OF my lovely, enigma. tried to
prepare myself for disappointment. 81
have been thinking and dreaming about
an idea," said te, nlyself-"doubtless
when the young lad y herself appears al
my IRne imaginings will vanish-there car
be no doubt my far cy has been playing
tricks with me, inve. .tilng mere country
maiden with trsnst ,er.dent graces ant
charms" While ] was reasoning thus
with myself. the young lady appeared.
Worshipping an "itleal" My mos
charming remembran 80 did not begiI
to do Justice to the b ca utiful reality. A
soul full of tendern ess and sensibility
seemed to have foul,d fitting home il
person and face Of perfect lovelines
and grace.
She blushed when, looking round, sh
chanced to see me, 81 Id again the play o
expression on her fea lures, which had 81
interested me formerl v, charmed me.
The more I studie, ] her face the NOR
l seemed to see into the pure depths Q
|her soul. / could have staked my lii
on her ss Of noble th, ,ught and deed.
AS we returned ho me ] described m
fair neighbor and ask, ID my mother VIII
she was.
aMer name," nav mother said, :"
Grace Denny, and she is the most sup
Irior young woman J, have ever in m
whole life met with. 1t is too soon
think of such things yet," she continue
smiling, shut some years hence it won
make me happy to see my dear son ma
Iried to just such q woman"
"Not quite 80 fast, mother" said
Laughing q good deal tt, hide a little bo
lish embarrassment wh ich ] was anxio
to conceal.
Hound that Grace h,sd become a Col
slant visitor at my m others and / d
]. not fail to improve the opportunity
becoming better acquai nted with her.
al Grace-sweet, noble' Grace, with b
childlike simplicity and sensitive W
mans heart-who could resist her?
could not; my whole soul was hers.
vain I struggled-in vain had ! CALI
upon my vanity (of which had plen
Ito invoke) to save me from the morti
cation of loving without retarn. ] cou
not stem or control the passion whlc
strong as mighty whirl,7ind had seiz
me.
One evening 1 sat by tire piano, VIII
Grace sang to me, and dear Grace's '
ryiug color and glistening eyes suggest
sweet hopes to my vanity. fancied
saw love in those bright dewy eyes a
on those soft music breathing lips.
1t vas the last evening OF my vacatic
!, and surely read gentle farew
thought in Grace's face. l was besi
myself with joy at the ides-I was as
In a hlieaful DRAMA rar,ture of 10,