The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-05-19


Miss Aureiia Hastings was five-and
twenty = maybe six and-twenty = bu
still OF an exceedingly romantic turn o
mind. AT that age, perhaps, we shoul,
pardon a girl a little anxiety on tn
score of getting mate and, no doubt
Aurelia had felt that anxiety, but al
unfortunate popularity had, so far
prevented her from realizing an,
matrimonial hopes she may have enter
tanned.
This peculiarly grew out of hel
romantic nature, and was no more MOI
less than desire to we'd with a mar
who had never loved anybody, and who
loved her entirely.
Now, considering that it is quite i'm.
possible to find man of marriageable
age who has not loved at least half q
dozen girls, it cannot be at all surprising
that Aureha, at five of six-and-twenty,
remained single.
But, ON the occasion of a small and
select party, at the house of neighbor,
she was much impressed with the beauty
of pair of dark and splendid eyes
belonging to a gentleman whom she
had never met before-a Mr.. Dudley
Shaw--a gentleman of limited means,
DIdlIlS, some If8Sle ana an nOrQl-
nate amount of vanity.
he had seen good deal of what
people call " the world" but which I
find means, in plain English, dissipation.
In this festive pursuit be had disbursed
what little money he had started in life
with, and at the age of three-and-forty
found himself with q dozen gray hairs,
plenty of elegant garments, and vul-
garlv sDeakln0 Hnary red "
Az such an estate in life is not very
hilarious, Mr.. Dudley Shaw felt it to
require some variety.
Marriage" he reasoned, "impart-
eth respectability and position. If I
marry, / may find a fat opening for re-
munerative business somewhere. But I
rejoice not in the acquaintance of any
heiress whatsoever, and my case de-
mandeth Immediate attention therefore
j will marry the first eligible maiden
who presenteth herself, with Just a little
money, and then-we shall see what We
shall see"
1t was with this conclusion fresh and
firm IN his mind that he went to Mrs.
Bentley's party, and met Aurelia Hast
ings. She maneuvered little, as young
ladies of 90 can maneuver, and soon
caught an opportunity for an introduc-
tion to the possessor Of the splendid
eyes.
BE, shrevd, keen rascal that he was.
saw through her innocent little tactics
ut once, and commenced thereupon q
counter-series. Very shortly, too, he
discovered her penchant for @ first love.
In conversation he endeavored 10 show
her that he was very favorably i'm
pressed with her, and she did not con-
ceal that she was-well, will say, much
interested in him.
But she observed that he seemed a
little sad He rolled lis eyes, he sighed
furtively, he bit his lips and evidently
had :" secret sorrow" somewhere un-
der his waistcoat In short, he enlisted
her sympathies, and thus laid the found
ntion OF stronger feeling than pity,
though one akin to it.
As for her, she seemed on the straight
path toward captivation. Mr.. Shaw's
neck-tie, his manner. his whiskers, and,
above all, his eyes, had dinsinuated them.
selves into her admiration in a wonder
fully short time and to wonderful ex-
tent.
The only thing she feared was, tnat ne
must have indulged In the tender pas
sion before. And, as we have seen, she
scorned the thought Of accepting heart
that had been defaced by the image OF
another than herself.
When the party broke up that night,
after Aurelia and Shaw had been mo-
nopolizing each other to a scandalous
extent, the gentleman offered her his
arm, and they walked together to her
home.
"Respectable-looking house, thought
Mr.. Shaw, as the door closed upon Au-
relia- Bespeaks respectable family.
Got little money, fancy. i might do
better. maybe. but it would be blessed
sight easier to do worse. think I'll go
IN, by jngoi
As Aurelia had invited him to call, he
soon found occasion 70 enter this res
pectabIe-looking mansion, and to ex-
hibit his secret sorrow" once more to
Aurelia, in the best parlor..
II is odd how fond people are of show
ing their private griefs. / knew fell
low who captivated three separate girls
by disappointment in early life, that
he never got over-so he AYERS. Indeed.
/ have made rather good thing myself
out Of widowerhood Of the heart, !"
before now.
For pity 10 akin 70 love.
And love II akin to amusement.
And people nke amusement
Wherefore, people like to get pity for
their private little griefs.
There you have them-the postulate,
two middle terms and the deduction
in short, . complete syllogism. @. e. ID.
Dudley Shaw understood all this as
well as could be. When he had become
= HAL ,~~>1 A. A.~>ls~s- -