Daily Republican., 1885-01-26

A DELAWARE ROMANCE,
by ID.

tAry 70 the DeiAWare BAY, having q
local reputation for its v lid picture. que
scenery, AMI the many shady and 70.
mantle spots along Its banks, stands
one Of the largest and most beautiful
towns in this State, Its inhabitants fig-
uring conspicuously In agriculture, man
utacture. the learned professions and
affairs Of State. A lew , ears ago there
lived here n young lady OF more than
ordinary attractions, whs could claim
about an equal number of friends and
enemies among her own sex, but AT the
same time possessing certain charms
which but few could re,isl, and which
had caused more than one young man
IN that community To ackpow edge her
as the object OF his idolatry. Among
the many who would have been glad to
throw then. selves at her feet, there WAS
not one who considered her beautiful,
but all looked with loving admiration
into the sprightly face and brown eyes,
which had proved so fatal to them, and
watched with An eager fondness the
dark auburn hair glisteD in the sun
light, as the summer breezes blew the
stray tresses down upon the smooth,
broad foreht ad. Her graceful form
moved with a quick, elastic step, which
her youth anu gay spirits inspired.
She greeted every one with . cheerful
worn and q PHEASANT smile, and was
always ready with her kind sympathy
for those In distrrss. But, notwith.
| standing the amiahle qualities which
| she poHs-ssed, there Was about her
whole d. meanor certain reckless and
independent air, which Often vented
L itself In q manner i'll becoming her
| usual good nature, and which had
caused many broken friendship and
given rise TO strong denunciation on the
part of those who we're unwilling To
make any allowances.
Her petty quarIels were chiefly with
her lady acquaintances, as her friends
among the other sex generally yielded
10 her In every respecf, and .hrAak
from a contact with her evil spirit.
About the time this story begins, rumor
said that she WAS bt trothed to certain
lair hah ed youth, who, more from
force of circumstances than from any
other cause, mingled but little with
the y, uDg men Of the town who lived
for the enjoy ment of the present only,
and gave no thought to the years that
were ~ follow. Very little notice wa,
taken of him except by the young lady
herself, and the story OF their engage
ment was as strongly denied by some as
1t was affirmed by others. BIT, wheth-
or II wss true or false, he had long been
frequent visitor At her fathers house,
and many summer evening they
strolled together In places only r.snrted
10 by those who desired to be undi.-
turbed.
About the beginning of the Summer
In which the tact herein related trans
pired, the young lady began to receive
the marked attentions of another young
man, who differed in every particular
from the quiet and unsophisticated
youth " no had been her constant at.
tendant for 70 long.
His male associ Ates were found am nR
those who furnished food tor idle COS.
sips and cared but little for their opin.
ion. He had been engaged before In
several love affairs until his sincerity
had begun to be doubted. About the
most that any one said of his general
appea rance and character was, that he
was rather loose in his ca rriage AZ we'll
AZ his morals. The lady apparently re.
ceived him with favor, and their many
walks together created much com ment.
Some said that he was simply trying to
torture the other admirer, some that his
devotions were sincere and earnest,
while others believed that he was atten-
tive merely because 1t delighted his
fancy to be 30. While affairs were In
this unsettled condition the former
sn tor was called away from home to he
absent for an idefnite period, and after
taking his departure, the intimacy be-
tween the other two grew still stronger.
The walks and rides became me
fr' quent, and AZ the weeks rolled BY he
told her the story of his love with proba-
bly, more feeling than truth, which was
r. ceived by her in the same way in
which IL WAS given. Sh. listened to-
HIS vows and promises, understanding
how much of them to believe and car
ing not whether the little Irritation was
right or wrong. The happy summer
days flew by and still her former friend
d,u not return. In the meantime, how
ever, he had received several anony-
NOUS lett. rs from officious persons in
forming him of the state of affairs, and
every fort toward hasiy return WAS
made by him. Among the many
places which had been resorted to dur
ing the young mans absence was the
little river that ran by the town. Here
there were hundreds of places where
they could be shut OFF from the gaze of
idle gossipers, and many quiet hour
had 1een whiled away along it's leafy
banks. One still, calm evening, which
seemed to be adapted to the events
which were 10 transpire later, they
started In small row-boat down tbe|
stream, the moon, nearing its full,
just rising above the tall trees ahead
of them.
Several parties, with whom both were
well acquainted, were returning to their
home after few hours sport, but be-
sides a passing salutation they needed
them not, but rowod lightly over the
smooth surface of the water until 81