Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-11-18
"You are stranger here then, are


your"
} Somewhat; / have been in Florid
but few weeks"
: II believe we have met before-i
, the lighthouse"
YES | shall always have pleas
ant remembrance of that evening.
have never had an opportunity to be
come further acquainted with you
though | have desired very much I,
do So"
I'VE were thrown together there BY
accident as well as here. T remembei
very well when l called a pleasant
stranger up into the tower. | have a
pleasant remembrance of the whole af
fair, not because it is SO rare that
am permitted to be in the company Of
American gentlemen, but from pleas.
ures connected with it | will not men.
ton just now"
"While with you, Miss Peoripa-
such l have learned to eyour name
felt disposed to tell you hoped that
that would not be our last meeting. /
afterward feared that it was, when |
learned the eccentricities of your fla.
the"
At this she half suppressed a sigh
and said:
"My father borders a little on the
cruel in this. | have had the pleasure
of becoming acquainted with few gen.
tlemen except those from my native
country, Italy"
"But would you objectto an acquan-
lance with an Americana might saw
myself%
"No; | feel that we are acquainted
now. There has been no ceremony,
but let us consider it said"
Il already have possession of your
name. Mine is l.. So we have
that matter settled. shall now feel
more at liberty to express myself"
From what State are you, Mr..
l.. p
IL am from -. | came here to
spend the winter, and to enjoy the
biessingSo this@deiightfuf climate. 1t.
has not been merely bliSsful dream
of pleasure since l have been here-it
has been pleasure in reality. l have
been SO much interested in the seem
cry this country affords that believe
it the happiest time of my life."
"Ihis certainly is delightful place
in winter. | cannot say that / enjoy it
SO much in summer. 1t is half de-
serted then. Even the water fowls de.
sert these shores to great extent, so
that they present lonesome aspect"
"With the pleasure | have met, now
increased by the addition of friend |
esteem so highly, this land will certain.
ly be doubly dear to me-"
81 trust this addition to your friends
may prove as happy as you anticipate
1t will. But let me warn you, it can
only be in secret for if my father knew
OF it he would hurry me back to Italy,"
81 pledge you my honor it will never
be known from me-" said, extending
my hand, which she clasped warmly,
and looked earnestly into my face.
1t would be imposing on the reader
to detail conversation of three hours
length. 1t is enough to say | held her
boat fast to mine and conversed till
noon, the hours passing as minutes.
During this time gazed on the most
exquisite beauty l ever beheld, and
listened to the sweetest voice that ever
greeted my ears 1t would be hard
for me to think the beauty and accom-
pllsnments of any princess of earth
could surpass that of this child of the
sea. My ideal beauty had come to me
in the real
We agreed to meet again at 8 o'clock |
the next morning. We parted with
many expressions of regret. Shesteer.
ed directly to the lighthouse, and
made circuitous voyage to the wharf.
| stepped ashore the happiest man on
earth, believing | had won The greatest
victory.
| related the occurrence to no one.
| walked the streets, thinking only of
my beautiful Paorina. ] lost all inter.
est in everything else.
Next morning by daylight l was on
the waters. The wind rose to a sharp
breeze, yet by nine o'clock was ten
miles away, | had waited but a few