The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-11-25
miscellaneous.
IL Know It,"

At II years of age / was more of a man
than ever have been since / wore long
tailed coat and boots-to which the appur-
tenaEce of spurs was generally added-a mus
tache was quite visible on my upper lip, and u
consciousness of ripe maturity never left my
mind | was studying for the legal profess
sion, but at the time of which | write l was
spending my summer vacation at my fathers
house in the country.
Though so manly-almost soldier-like, as
fancied-in my appearance, my inner was by
no means so stern as my outer man. loved
my mother with childish tenderness, and
sooner than pain her pious heart i unmurmur-
ingly accompanied her every Sunday to the
village church, to listen to long sermons of
which | could not hear a word, for the trem-
ulous accents of the very aged minister who
conducted the services were so faint. Though
melted by love and duty to subject myself to
this weekly penance-well deserved by my
weekly sins-my conscience did not prevent
me from willing away the time by such
amusement as lay at hand-that, namely, of
observing and specializing on the counte-
nanccs of my neighbors.
The physiognomy which interested me
more than all others was that of n young girl
who sat not far from me- The face, from
first eliciting my careful admiration, grad
ually absorbed my whole attention. 1t was
beautiful, but apart from that, it possessed the
greatest interest for me. Never had | seen
a countenance which denoted SO much sensi-
bilty; each motion of her mind was plainly
written upon IL by its quick, delicate chan
ges nothing was wanting but the key
of corresponding degree of sensibilty in
the beholder, to read her tender innocent
soul like an open book. For hours gazed
and specialized on that fair young face. l
thought how sad would be the lot of so SEN
sitive being should fate unite her to one
who would not know how to read her Alright {;
to whom the varying expression ofthat sweet
countenance would be but blank; who
would be able to see in it only its coarser part
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 | was gaz-
ing at her, and wickedly delighted in MOTTO
ing the blush which deCpened her cheek until
| withdrew my eyes.
One Sunday happened, in coming out of
church, to be close to my lovely neighbor-
Immediately behind her-my hand actually
| touched herunconscious garments felt an
| irresistible desire to force her in some way to
notice me,-to speak to her, to occasion one
of those charming blushes-anythng, knew
not what In short, like an impertinent cox
comb as was, | stepped forward, and with
insutierable insolence, which | blush now to
remember, l whispered in her car
| you are very pretty"
| Never was Imore surprised than when she
calmly replied:
II know itH
was absolutely startled. ! had expected
silent, conscious blush, an indignant glance
anything rather than this cool 81 know it. ,
AS much as | had heretofore dslked at
tending the village church, the next week
seemed to drag along slowly enough and when
Sunday again came my mother and | were
early seated in our pew, and | impatienty
waited for the arrival of my lovely enigma
l tried to prepare myself for disappointment
81 have been thinking and dreaming about
an idea," said to myself-"doubtless wher
the young lady herself appears, all my flint
imaginings will vanish-there can be ne
doubt my fancy has been playing tricks will
me, investing mere country maiden will
transcendant graces and charms"
While was reasoning thus with myseftht
young lady appeared.
"Worshipping an ideal |" My most charm
ing remembrance did not begin TO do justic,
to the beautiful reality. A soul full of ten
derness and sensibility seemed to have founC
a fitting home in person and face of perfec
loneliness and grace.
She blushed when, looking round sh,
CHANGED to see me, and again the play of ex
preston on her features, which had so inter
ested me formerly, charmed me.
The more | studied her face the more
seemed to see into the pure depths of her soul
l could have staked my life on her as nobl
ofthought and deed.
AS we returned home described my fai
neighbor and asked my mother who she was
"Her name," my mother said, sis Grac
Denny, and she is the most superior youn,
woman have ever in my whole life met with
1t is too soon to think of such things vet !;
she continued, smiling, "but some year
hence it would make me happy to see my dea
son married to just such woman"
mot quite so fast, mother" said laugh
ing good deal to hide little boyish embar
rassment, which l was anxious to conceal
found that Grace had become constan
visitor at my mothers, and | did not fail t
improve the opportunity of becoming bette
acquainted with her.
Grace-sweet, noble Grace, with her chile
like simplicity and sensitive woman's heart
who could resist her ?" / could not; my Who'll
soul was hers. In vain l struggled; in val
! l called upon my vanity (of which l ba
plenty to invoke) to save me from the mort
fication of loving without return. / coul
not stem or control the passion whicl
: strong as o mighty whirlwind, had seize