The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-11-13

| something is very wrong with you, my
dear boy-very wrong. For several weeks
! L have noticed that the fine edge of your
appropriateness was blunted your feeling
! for the force of the niceties of the Greek
| language gone, and your verses to day
are absolutely intolerable, contemplate.
If you go on in this way, you will make a
failure at Commencement. What Is the
matter Wjh yOW?'
Hooked up into the professors face.
could not say Love is the matter" but
felt the force of what he said, and the
necessity for making desperate effort |
was ambitious, aud was particularly
anxious to make fine figure before Laura.
Therefore tried again, and with success.
| i sat up all the next night over my Greek
verses, and got them right; and in the
course of the next few days l had com
| pletely reinstated myself in the good
graces Of the Faculty" Perhaps the fact
that Laura began to smile upon me, and
that | was little easier in my mind, had
something TO do with my improvement,
but at any rate l did well.
Some six weeks before Commencement
Laura and L were really engaged. There
was no reason that we should not have
been formally engaged, had we wished as
there was not the slightest objection to our
marriage on the part of our respective
parents, but it suited US to keep up a kind
of mystery, and probably for the same rea-
son we wrote to each other every day.
Reams of paper melted away in this CORE
spondence, and what we could have had to
say can not imagine, particularly as we
met daily. L3ura was staying with an
aunt of mine, with whom l dined every
evening, and on those occasions held long
conversations. The amount of time we
wasted over each other seems to me now
quite inconceivable, and can truly say
that for a month preceding Commencement
never slept at all. Between love-making
the preparation for examination, the re-
hearsal of my speech, the daily interviews
with the florist, and my translations from
Sappho had not time to close an eye
The Horst gave me a great deal of trouble
Several of the other fellows were in love
with Laura, and were in the habit of send
ing her flowers every day, and that brute
of florist made use of my determination
TO surpass their offerings in the most I'M
blushing manner
"Malmaison roses, Mr.. Raymond? Well
| don't know about whole basketful. Mr..
Reynolds he was in to-day and he wants
season, and heliotrope's awful dear if you
want it with long stems. And Mr.. Smith
he wants some flowers too, and"
This sort of thing repeated daily is apt to
make man reckless of expense, and in an
incredibly short time l had run up bill
of four hundred dollars. which l had no
immediate means of paying and about
which was being perpetually duuned.
Then the TRANSACTIONS from Sappho to
which l have alluded, drove me nearly
mad 1t seems sublime impertinence for
youth of twenty-five even to attempt to
translate Sappho, and it was an absurd
piece of presumption on my part, but
was of rather preSumptuous disposition
in my youth. and then, | was in love.
However. enough of my translation. Such
as it was l worked at it with enthusiasm,
having, in addition to any poetic fire | felt,
% -l.A.-
Sappho was in u way expressing myself
to Laura.
About three days before Commencement
had all my work prepared. Ny Sapphic,
| will call it, for blush to say upon which
of the divine fragments ! had tried my I'M
practised hand-was copied in my best
hand upon the very finest cream-laid
paper-the paper which l reserved especi-
ally for my love-letters. My speech was
committed to memory and rehearsed. my
examinations duly prepared for Very
weary and worn, with an aching head,
but-eXcept for the florists bill-wth
light heart, | went out to spend the after
noon with Laura. | found her sitting in
the garden under tree, dressed in white
her broad white chip hat hanging back on
her shoulders, and forming charming
background for her beautiful head. In ac-
cordance with the fashion of the day, she
wore her hair knotted in simple massive
coil at the back of her head, and hanging
in rich ringlets on each side of her lovely
face. | dare say that l was more than
usually silly that afternoon. | know that
she was cruel, and after aggravatng me
in various ways, told me that was tire
some"
How can any one be tirasome who loves
you with his whole heart and soul!" l
stupidity inquired.
You think Mr.. Reynolds stupid, don't
you:" was Laura's not very relevant reply.
''Of course; he is as stupid a donkey as
ever lived"
"Butnot to me-at least according to
your theory. He loves ma too with all his
heart and soul, 50 he tells ma"
And you listened to him." 1 replied
glowing with Indignation.
Yes, l listened; but as yet have not re-
piled" answered Laura, with cool impu-
dence, shaking her curls back.
How can you torture me so:" exclaim-
ed weakly.
How absurd you are, Guy You used
to be much nicer when We were childrenn
(IhiS may observe, was a favorite re-
proach.) why should not listen pray.
Mr.. Reynolds, Mr.. Smith, Captain Drayton,
Willie Powell-5hev have all told ma that
they loved me, and they have all said that
it was torture if GheV ware not listened to.
What can / do?'
''Do as l tell you darling" said, Selling
her pretty little hand and kissing it.
How tires w nab perfect goose you
are to-dayr" answered Laura, coldly, with
drawing her hand, and admonisding me to
keep my distance.
Did You like the moss-roses n l inquired,
humbly had sent to New York because
she had expressed fondneSs for them.
II like them very much, thank you,"
replied Miss Laura with cold firmness.
why are you 50 cold today" | asked,
desperately.
At this iIncturs my auut'S two maids
appeared, on bearing amagnifi ,ent basket
Of japanese lilies (then rare tlower,) and
the other four beautiful bouquets.
with Misther Reynolds compliments"
said the first, trjumphantly.
"Misther PowelPS compliments and
Misther Smiths, aud Captain Drayton's,
and Misther Lawrence'S'' chin sd in the
other, handing over the bouquets with, l
thought, rather defiant glance at me.
"How lovely Do look, Guy. You know
how have longed for Japanese lilies"
said Laura, rather reproachfully thought
II tried to get them for you " faltered.
Laura burst into u lit of laughter. 20, if
you could know, Guy, how silly you are
when you put on that lackadascal airl"
"LackadaisicalM
Eyes, lackadaisical; and-ha ha hap
there she laughed convulsively)- did my
handkerchief cure your headache the other
dayW
''Of course it did, darling" l answered
tenderly, trying to take her hand; but she
repulsed me AMI continues
The handkerchief you took out of the
ivory box in the drawing-room