The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-11-16
A Love Story.

"a ia INA ALION ana L ma
~. loved each other from chilC
S0N hood. AT first it was a mel
G)&(3 childish passion, but it ripene
and strengthened with mature
years. Many castle built we, tina
lowered in the air, and many a shi
was sent out to sea-ships that wer
laden with hopes and fears, whitha
4 precious freight.
But whatever the future held il
store for us we were in the presen
contented in our own little way
Together we studied our lessons anC
rambled over the green fields. 81
great was our attachment, so mucl
our happiness concentrated in Ont
another, that we never thought O
separation. But fate decreed tha-
we must part.
Aggie was left an orphan, and hel
Uncle Thornton, who. was very
wealthy, was coming to take her tc
his house. l can remember wei
what n dislike I formed for hin
simply because he was coming t.
take her from me.
How shall 1 ever forget the last
walk we took before her departure
1t seems but yesterday, that happy
morning in the glorious spring time
of birds, and sunshine, and flowers
the last time we were together in
childhood.
"You will think of me often,
Aggie, will you not?' l said.
ooh, yes, Robbie" she replied.
Il shall never forget YOU"
What sweet words they were, and
how happy they made me! re-
member how she promised TO be my
wife some day, and gave me a keep
sake, one little golden curl, in return
for which 1 placed on her finger
plain little ring, which had been
given me by my mother, many years
before.
But now 4 mist steals over my
eyes, and a dreary blank seems to
come between Aggie and me.
Ten years had come and gone
since our parting-years that had
wrought great changes in the lot
and surroundings Of each of us.
The boy of Is was now a man of
%. 1 was only a clerk, but L worked
steadily on, with only one desire in
of once more seeing
Aggie and claiming her as my wife.
But still, doubt and anxiety con
corning her came to trouble and |
perplex me.
"She is rich and grand now," L
said, for her uncle had died, leaving
her all his vast wealth, ''and no |
doubt has long Size forgotten the
playmate of her childhood"
l had never seen or heard directly |
from her since the day we parted,
although her image had never been
absent from my mind. l tried to
picture to myself the changes ten
years had wrought in her; but, in
spite of every effort, a sweet, mild
face, with its mild blue eyes, little
ruby lips, and snow-white brow, over
which many a golden curl had found |
its way, came before me and dis
persed all other visions.
Yes, ten years had wrought
many changes. My parents had
lied, the old homestead had been
sold, and 1 left the scenes of my
5oyhood for the noisy, busy metro
polls, friendless and alone, hoping
but one hope, and laboring for but
one end-that of making myself
worthy to meet Aggie on terms of
equality and claiming the fulfillment
Of the promise made when we
roamed the green fields of our
country home together.
l met with many difficulties at the
outset, but at last 1 found a situa
5ion-one that proved inferior to my
tastes; but which left me some time
TO devote the cultivation of my
mind, and to the pursuit of litera
5ure-my chosen profession.
Night after night did l toll un-
ceasingly until the work 1 had in
view was completed. 1t was novel
my first ambitious production.
very flattering, were the
praises bestowed on my work, and
soon found friends, powerful
who encouraged me in the
most substantial way, and-what
Ionged for most of all-introduced |
me into the society in which my !
Aggie was a reigning queen.
My hopes, my dreams, were at |
length about to be realized-we |
were again to meet-Aggie and l.
The stately mansion known rs
Thornton house was ablaze with |
light. 1t was the evening Of grand |
reception, the elite of fashion were
to be present, and l had been in
vited. But the glare and glitter Of
all surroundings had no charms for
me, for / thought Of but one thing
that of once more seeing Aggie face
to face. Bat L could not help ex
pericncing a thrill at my heart when
/ thought Of her as the mistress of
this proud mansion, the possessor
of all this wealth and grandeur.
Again, when 1 thought Of the
numerous train of admirerers which
must necessarily follow the rich
and beautiful heiress, my heart grew
sick with jealousy and despair, and
cursed myself for being such an
idiot as to suppose that she would
have waited all these years for the
obscure lover of her childhood's
years.
At last my dearest wish was
gratifed. 1 was presented to her,
not as the friend and companion of
other days, but merely as the poet
and novelist, Mr.. Desmond She
did not recognize me, but paid a
graceful compliment to my works,
which at once convinced me that
she was not only familiar with the
standard works of the day, but was
a woman of remarkably good judg
ment and cultivated taste.
1 was prepared for all this, but
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