Crystal River current., 1886-10-16
The Romance of True Love at
Long Branch.

Correspondents New York World.
-Four years ago there came with the
blaze Of summer society = beautiful
young southern lady. Her form was
fragile, her face was pale and spirituelle,
almost angelic in expression, but up
on her cheek was the hectic rose that
bade soon to blossom for the grave.
She was rich, well educated, and pos
sessed of many. friends. Courtiers?
Yes, lots. She turned them all away
kindly. Her principal charm was a
sweet, mournful, lute-like voice, that
touched the melancholy chords in the
hearts of all her hearers. She rather
shrank from using it, but it was called
into use with overpowering effect at
several quiet cottage parties. To
sing was but to charm.
A little over a year before one OF the
most beautiful bellies in all Southern
Louisiana became betrothed with the
gallant son of a still more gallant plant
er. They lived but for each other.
They lived but to love. Changes came
and made it essential that the plant
er's son must seek livelihood for
himself. He received .fattering offer
toenter into business inChicago. Part
ings are always sad, but when miles
separate heart from heart that twine
as closely to each other as the ivy
and the oaken tendril, it is plunged
into the very abyss of sadness. Well,
they parted; mutual promises to write
early and often, Of course. For a
while letters flew thick and fast; but
not too fast for the lovers. Then came
a silence, strange, unaccountable si-
lence. The silence OF day lapsed into
that of a week, a month, six months,
yes, year. And all the while away
down there where the knocking bird
sings and. the southern breeze blow,
there was fond true heart that was
breaking. Father and friends saw she
was slowly fading. In alarm for their
loved one they hurried away to this
far-offresort.
One evening the young lady above
alluded to attended cottage party.
She had sung twice to an admiring au-
dience, when brief anonymous note
was thrust into her hand, with the
request that she sing her favorite song.
She trembled as she recognized a well
known chirography. The piano re-
sounded with a soft prelude. Then 8
sweet, dove-like voice floated out up
on the air with the words "Must we,
then, meet AS strangers?'' How the
listeners were charmed with the pa
thos of the warbler. The poor girl
struggled bravely through the first
verse. and essayed second. She turn
ed chastity pale and her form trembled
convulsively as she finished the FIRST
limo. Then, turning her eyes, she met
those laden with reciprocal love, and,
with pitiful cry, she sank senseless
to the floor. Loving hands raised her
gently, and her form rested in manly
arms. She soon reeained conscious
ness, and-well, let's draw the veil.
The affair, OF course, created a great
sensation among the guests, and one
gentleman remarked that he never
heard Bales gem sung with as great
effect.
To-day l dandled baby on my
knee upon the sands near the West
End. Beside me sat lady upon
whose cheek there bloomed no hectic
rose. Can you guess who the lady
was? Can you see through the whole
story? There is moral in this tale.
It's all well enough for objecting par
'ents to intercept some girls letters,
but circumstances alter cases. Also,
love is a wonderful panacea at times
for aching hearts and hectic cheeks.