Nevada County picayune., 1889-06-26
MIRIAM DOUGLAS.

MIRIAM DOUGLAS.
 Many years ago-so many that do not care to partlcularize-l was engaged ill preparing for college under the tuition of clergyman 1T a small village in eastern New York In the same place was a young ladies seminary, at which, during severa months of the year, there were gathered from scventv-iiVc to one hundred young women.
 The son of farmer in the vicinity | ignorant of the world and unused to society other than such as was af. forded by the muscular girls of the sparse farming community, it may easily be fancicd that the seminary students seemed to me, with their fine dresses, their sprightly faces and engaging manners, to be beings of q superior order. They were, in my esteem, veritablc hOuris. unc- quallcd in their charms and surpass- ing in their attractions.
 For months 1 was content with a distant worship. To stand on the piazza of the tavern on Sunday mornings, and watch the long, double lines of youth, as they moved on their way to the church, was q fclic- ity that for the time gratilied my most ardent expectations. At the outset my vision was so dazzled that saw only a winding, sinuous line of exquisite color and beauty. In time the glowing whole began to be resolved into details; black eyes and blue; golden and raven locks |; blondes and brunettes; laughing mouths and slender forms manifested themselves as single stars in nchula under the inspection of q telescope. Many of the girls were common 1 place in appearance, and others be- came so onl y after long observation. Many of them were possessed of average charms. while there were q half-doZen or so of supcrlativc attrac- tions. One of this class attracted my especial notice, not merely on account of her beautiful face, grace 1 full motions and tall, slender figure, but mainly on account of . sadness that almost perpetually pcrvaded her oountenance, Her hair was black as ink, her complexion that of an octo- room, her eyes of species of purple black, all of which was a sort of set ting of mourning for the melancholy face.
 Certain evenings al the seminary were given to social diversions, at one of which made the acquaintance of the possessor of the triste coun- tcnancc. Her name was Miriam 1 Douglas. She was about l7 years of age; and, as l later discovered, an accomplished singer, linguist and conyersationalist.
 She was so unlike others in her appearance, so marked in her mclan- choly, so gentle in her converse, and so brilliant at the piano, that ! be- game powerfully attracted to hor, and whenever circumstances permit ted we were together, l do not now think that our acquaintance matured to the ripcness of love, on my part at least, and yet the liking con ceiyed for her was not remote from a profound affection. ! think that my sympathy with her sadness, the mys= tery of her life, my respect for what saw to be pure life and beau titul nature, may have approached in warmth and tenderness very near in appearance and the manner of ex- hibition to ardent love.
 No actual declaration of passion was ever made. She seemed toneed me, to lean against me, and tQ prefer me to all others of my sex. II there was no actual announcement of love in words, it was suggested i'll looks, attitudes, tones, and thnly yelled delusions,
 When the time came that her school term ended, we parted one night on the piazza of the seminary. All the other pupils had gone and we were alone. tried q score of times