The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-04-07

me, seemed TO know or feel that | was
gazing at her, and I wickedly de-
lighted in noting the blush which
dcepcncd On her check till 1 with
drew my eyes.
One Sunday l happened, in COM
ing out of church, to he close to my
lovely neighbor-immediately be
hind hcr-my hand actuallyt ouched
her unconscious garments. l felt an
irresistible desire to force her i'll
some way to notice me-to speak to
her-to occasion one of those charm
ing blushcs-anything-I knew not
what. In short, like an impertinent
coxcomb as was, I stepped forward,
and with insuffcrahle insolence,
which I now blush TO remember, |
whispered i'll her ear:
"You are very pretty!'
Never was l more surprised than
when she calmly replied:
81 know it."
l was absolutely startled. I had
expected silent, conscious blush-an
indignant glance-anything lather
than this cool II know it,"
As much as I had heretofore dis
liked attending the village church,
the next week seemed to drag along
slowly enougt, and when Sunday
again came my mother and / were
early seated in our pew, and impa-
,icntly awaited for the arrival of my
lovely enigma. l tried to prepass
myself for disappointment. 81 have
been thinking and dreaming about
an ideal" I said to mySelf-"doubt-
less when the young lady herSa ap-
pears, all my fine ,magina will
vanish-there can be nfl my
fancy has been playing tNNs with
me, investing 4 mere country maiden
with transccnlant graces and
charms" While thus reasoning
with myself, the young lady appear
ed, leading her old relative with ten
der care.
Wor>hiring an ''ideal," indeed
My most charming remembrance
did not begin to do Justice to the
beautiful reality. A soul full of ten
ierness and sensibility seemed to
have found fitting home in per
feet loveIiness and grace.
She blushei, when, looking round,
she chanced to see me, and again tn?
play of expression on her features
| which had so interested me formerly
charmed me.
The more I studied her face the
more l seemed to see into the pure
depth of her soul. l could havs
staked my lite on her noble purity o
thought and deed.
As we returned home | described
my fair nei.hbor and asked mother
who she was.
"Her name," my mother said, sis
Grace Denny, and she is the love
liest, the most superior young woma,
that 1 have ever in my life me
with. II is too soon to think of sucl
things yet," she continued, smiling
"but some years hence it would maxi
me happy to see my son married t'
just such a woman"
"Not quite so fast, mother" said l
laughing a good deal to hide a littl
boyish embarrassment which | wal
most anxious to- conceal.
| found that Grace had become
constant visitor at my mothers, ant
I did not fail to improve the oppor-
tunity of becoming better acquainte,
with her.
Grace noble Grace, witt
her childlike simplicity and sensitiv'
woman's heart-who could resis
her? I could not; my whole sou
was hers. In vain had l struggled
in vain had 1 called upon my vanit
(of which had plenty to invoke) t.
save me from the modification o
loving without return. | could no
stem nor control the passion which
strong as a mighty whirlwind, ha
seized me.
One evening I sat by the plan
while Grace sang to me. The cous
in was not there, and dear Grace
varying cold and glistening ewes sue
gested sweet hopes to my vanit.
/ fancied / saw love in those brigf
dewy eyes and on those soft music
breathing lips.
It was the last evening of my va
cation, and surely I read a ge Mt
FAREWELL thought in Grace's eye.
, was beside myself with joy at tn
idca-I was as if in blissful dream
~ a sweet delirium-a rapture of 10y