Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-26
ALIC5 FIRST COURTSHIP.

My first courtship, like that Of many
Others, seemed TO me to be great success
IN its iDeipiency, but did not eventuate as
well as it began, and as had reason to ex
pect. 1t occurred in Southern Kentucky,
and the finale precipitated itself upon me
IN midsummer.
Some months previous / had met a
blooming young lsdy at the wedding of q
friend. Whether weddings promote court
ship as much as kissing does, affection is a
thing that have never philosophical upon
very much, bHs in this particular instance
this wedding worked TO that end.
/ returned 10 my home after the ceremo
ny decidedly under the impression that
was in love. At that time had bat little
experience in love symptoms, and conse-
quently didn't know much about them.
became fond OF music and of poetry, be-
came absent-minded and dreamy, was con-
stantly building castles in the air. Wheth-
er l had the toOthache or the stomach or
headache, / concluded that they were nat
ural cOncomitants and all sprung from a
common cause. Well this ran on for sew
eral months, and IN the meantime 1 was
loading the young lady down with books
and music and other little reminders of
thoughtfulness.
At last I could stand it no longer, so 1
packed few things in travelling sack and
started down the river to meet the object
of my affections.
If any one mas ever been in Southern
Kentucky in midsummer it will not be
necessary for me to state that it is with
great difficulty they find thermometers
long enough to register an ordinary short
one has no show at all. The heat down
there melts affection until you weep it from
every pore 10 your body. The fact is,
believe, that I had not been there but a
few days when it appeared to me that every
drop had oozed out
Still was encouraged to keep up bold
front and told to pay no attention to the
weather. I did the best could and worked
so hard at it that when / opened my mouth
to talk, love drops would actually drip
from the end Of my tongue. l concluded
to 90 home and come down at more pro.
pitious season but friend hearing of my
intention advised me to contrary course,
telling me that the lady and her friends,
knowing the object of my visit, would be
greatly disappointed unless made a square
declaration.
W - Ii a. ~ " d. 4 uEkStAlluCu " IAAhC
the effort. I eaparisOned myself in my best
and sailed forth.
reached the house, hung my sombrero
on the rack and was shown into the back
parlor, where my expected soon joined me.
/ sat beside her and talked at great rate
as bashful young man will do about ev-
erything else in the world except the sub
jeot which he came to breach. Hours of
absolute misery hoated away so slowly on
the wings OF time that it appeared to me
as though I had all of sudden struck
eternity.
At last rallied and commenced to unite
my burden. / had scarcely finished the
prologue when she struck vociferous dia.
pason and made of me the shortest distance
between two points she completely straight.
ened me out by saying that she would
be " glad to have me as friend but moth
ing more, SPECIFICS was nothing, dizzy
was but faint expression Of my condition.
/ bounded from my seat and without a
word started for the front parlor. An un-
lucky rug which had stationed itself be.
tween the two rooms caught my foot and
sprswling went upon the floor. l picked
what was left OF me up as. quickly as pos.
sible and made for the door at FORTY gate.
/ found had too much steam on and rang
my slow bells just as had placed my foot
upon mat near the door. The mat slipped
ami the seat of my pants shook the entire
house when I sat down on them.
l arose with as much dignity as my jolted
condition would allow of and marched out to
filters in the back parlor, which reminded
me of the long roll st night when fellow
is about half asleep.
The front door closed behind me and l
found myself about mile from my lodg-
ing-house and in 3 driving storm. The
night was black, with intervals of fash
lightning, as usual, every fash making
darkness tangible, as it were, Immediately
afterward. | CROPPED and staggered through