The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1890-09-19
A CURIOUS LOVE STORY.
HE LEARNED A LESSON IN ETIQUETTE

names OF the actors, since the story is
true, and some of them may yet survive.
In the autumn of 49, was returning
home from Tennessee, riding horseback,
as was the fashion of young men in that
day, and stopping for the night wherever
| happened to be-
was in - County, western North
Carolina, the land of beauty and unwrit-
ten romance, and my road lay through
the most beautiful country | ever saw.
Such low lands and meadcwsl Why,
they were the very FL Dorado of cattle
and stock-raisers. Asudden and violent
storm drove me for refuge to the first
house in sight, which proved to be that
of General c..
A splendid place it was, kept like an
English lords.
Such timber, such meadow lands, such.
wide stretches of cultivated fields! Why,
1t was q perfect picture. Inever saw such
superb domain in all my life. The
house, too, fairly matched the land in
which it was set. TWAS aperfectly ideal
home in all its appointments
General c. was the soul of genial
hospitality. A tall, handsome, courte-
ous, and very scholarly man, lit lord for
so fair manor.
We seemed to take mutual fancy to
each other, and stayed on from day to
day until / had spent month with him.
One night, over our walnuts and wine,
1 happened to be struck by the neon
gruity Of such beautiful home being
only bachelors den, and looking up
suddenly said:
How comes it, general, that so we'll
gilded a cage holds no singing-bird
Why don't you put a fair dame as mistress
in this lovely housed"
A deep flush rose as swiftly as sheet
lightning in his face, and he answered
rather roughly
4" Do 1 look like man that fair wo.
man could lover"
| looked him over critically, A tail,
stalwart. well-preserved man Of ffty-five
or sixty, with rather stormy, but very
handsome face, every inch man, and a
gentleman-one who could be loved and
well loved t0o And ] said quickly:
9 think you are aman who could both
win and hold lady's loving favor. if you
cared to try"
He laughed harshly and then said
Do you? Then to prove the fallacy
OF a young mans option III tell you q
story that have-never told to mortal cal
except my fathers.
When was young man-youngel
than you are--I lived with my father
across the road yonder, where my sister
now lives.
We two were my fathers only chill
dren, and he never let us leavehim. We
were educated together by an English
tutor-an Oxford graduate-and though
had never gone to college was fairly
well educated and had the tastes and hab
its of gentleman.
Zone summer, thirty years ago thii
year, our quiet was invaded by some cous
ms Of my fathers from the eastern par
of the State, who brought with them i;
young lady who was cousin OF theirs
With their arrival a new life dawned TO
me. laura, the young lady visiting will
them, was the first unmarried woman 0
our own rank that had ever known
She was a beautiful woman; and thu
sweetest, loveliest, most lovable creature
ii all Of Gods great universe.
II fell in love with her at sight, and
am in love with her now. We were al
ways together, riding, walking, boating
reading-all the time.
II asked her to marry me without
'ear OF refusal--she seemed to be SO abso
lutely part OF my life--and she accepte'
me as frankly. And swear before Heav
en- never doubted that our future live
we're 10 be passed together.
They returned 10 the low country il
October, and was to go down in Apr
to be married.
"As soon as they left began to buili
this house as home for my wife ant
every hour OF my waking life was absorb
ed in the thought Of her. L seemed to b
so absorbed in the consciousness Of he
thai ! did not miss her actual presence
About four months after she left, on
day my father said: Charles, when di
you hear last from Laura?'
II don't understand you, sir; =
answered stupidity enough.
go Why my question was very simple
When did you last hear from the woma
who promised to marry your
'o'I have never heard from her, sir
." Never heard from her Why, whs
the matter2 Has she any foolish scrr
Sic aQainst answering your letters
~ have never written to her, sir.
"'' Never written to her 1 Why, goo
Beavens, my son, what do you mean
Simply that have never written
ser, sir. never thought of it..
80 Do You dare to say that you haN
crown indifferent to that sweet youn
crea .ure, and are trihing with the ate,
lions that you won2 Do you no long'
love her2
"'Iove herp ! broke forth. = wo
shin aer, sirl' :.
Then, why in Heavens name di
"a rot write to her?'
don't know, sir; except that ne
IS ught Of it; that is all | can sa,
Bnt swear meant no slight or indifte
senca I love her as my own soul, and
have no wish in life apart from her.
Il .f.~t~ .,ns - mn