The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-16

a woman
"Not quite so fast, mother" said
laughing good deal to hide a little boyisf
embarrassment, which I was anxious to
conceal.
found that Grace had become a con-
slant visitor at my mothers, and l did
not fail to improve the opportunity of be-
coming better acquainted with her.
Grace-sweet, noble Grace, with her
child-likc 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 with
out return. [ could not stem or control
the passion which, strong as mighty
whirlwind, had seized me-
One evening sat by the piano, while
Grace sang to me, and dear Gracc,s vary
ing color and glistening eyes suggested
sweet hopes to my vanity. [ fanced l
saw love in those bright, dewy eyes and on
those soft, 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 idea-I was as if in blissful
dream-a rapture Of love. As Grace rose
to leave the piano [ caught her hand, and
unable longer to repress the one thought
that filled my heart, exclaimed fervent-
Iy:
"Grace-dear Gracc-with all my soul
7 love YOU"
She lifted her large, soft eyes and said
slowly, as mischievous smile stole over
her face
II know it !"
She was gone before [ had time TO pre-
vent it. or to recover from my surprise.
The next day I returned to college, ex-
pccting to complete my studies in another
YEAR A wear! How long to be absent
from the beloved being who was to me
henceforth and forever, whether she re-
turned my love or not, the nucleus around
which all my thoughts would rcvolvc. [
need not say how often her strange and
unsatisfactory answer tormented me. |
perceived in her repetition of the same
words her remembrance of the time when
she had once used them before, and thls'
was the just punishment Of my insolcnce.
[ tortured myself by bringing the whole
scene again and again to memory-my
passionate declaration OF love and her pro
voking reply 81 know 1t. The deuce
you do = thought l, sometimes Il would
| had possessed the wit to have lett you Il
little more uncertain.
often wondered that l was able to
study at all at this time, ior Grace was never
absent from my thoughts; she had becom e
the dream of my life, the object Of all my
love sonnets, which had until now been
scattered on various rival beauties. did
study, however, and study hard, and at
the end of the term passed examination,
with high honor, much to my dear moth
er's pride and joy.
determined to be wiser when [ saw
Grace again-to discover beyond doubt
if were indeed beloved before [ commit
ted myself as | had done.
In order to satisfy myself on this point
and perhaps also to crafty little pique,
when [ returned home I did net go imme-
diately to see Grace, but waited until, at
nv mothers summons, she spent the eve
ming with US. Even then, though my
heart was full of tenderness for her, af-
fected coolness.
I had made up my mind to play part,
and suffer as [ might, [ would act it out.
There was young lady staying with my
o. oa1 .,o, onito roodr 70 contr;bnta
- hor omusomont T devoted myself to
hor tho uboIo ovonino and foIt tbc sweet
49, i T ouor ovnor;n,ood whom saw
H. = .ooo,, door nbono;,o Sontitivo face
~ o.