The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-21
THE TWO LOVERS.
How My Skeptical Views of True
Love Were Removed.

l was tired. l had worked in the
school-room until, now that vacation
had come, l felt that / had earned a
rest, and determined it should be had
where l would not be hampered by
formal regulations and conventional
rules. | wanted to ramble in the green
fields, among the wild-fowers WANTED
to linger by the riverside and watch
the ripples, or read my favorite books,
or listen to the song of birds and feel as
free as they. l would sketch little.
perhaps, or catch fish if could. Iwould
forget care, be a happy child once more,
and rest.
| knew just where to go. l had been
there once, and two days after my
school closed | was there again. 1t was
quiet country town. The surround
ings were picturesque and romantic.
There were bluffs crowned with trees
On the north and east; rolling hills,
adorned with wildfowers, on the south
and west, and beautiful little river,
fed by numerous springs under the
bluffs, almost encircling the town.
These were the general features, but
there were numberless grassy slopes,
messy, glens, rocky caves and coy
hooks. Here it was that | proposed to
spend the greater part of my vacation.
/ had passion for painting and sketch
ing, and here brush and pencil would
find use.
But my two lovers! They were on the
hotel piazza when l arrived, though
did not know then that they were
lovers. l merely noticed the respectful
attention with which a gentleman
listened to some remark of a lady and
the kindly smile with which he re-
sponded. | changed my dusty garments
and sat by the open window of my room
to enjoy the beauty without. There
were people on the piazza, but did
not heed them. l did not even glance
at them until heard the landlord NUT
ter: Two loversr' He stood in the
doorway, and | wondered what had oc-
casloned his comment. l looked around.
Two gentlemen were smoking and talk
ing politics in tones which precluded
the idea of their being lovers. A group
OF schoolgirls were laughing and chat
ting with the hosts daughter. They
may be lovers" thought l, but there
are more than two
Several little children were PLAYING
on the walk just beyond; of course, the
landlord did not mean them. and | was
about to conclude that l had mistaken
his words or that they had no connec-
ton with what was transpiring on the
piazza when my eyes fell on the couple
i had noticed on my arrival. They were
sitting little apart from all the others,
conversing in low, tender tones and ev-
identity very much interested in each
other, and almost aloud | echoed the
landlords words.
Lovers are to me very attractive
class of people, and though gazed with
enjoyment at the bluffs, the trees and
the sunset clouds. thought and glance
would turn involuntarily again and
again to these lovers. The lady was
beautiful, with beauty that seemed in
creased at every glance. That broad,
pure brow, those earnest, soulful ewes.
that sweet, quiet smile, the whole face
radiant in the rosy glow of light,
seemed made to bless the beholder.
What beautiful face! o! that | might
see it daily. What an inspiration it
would be! No wonder he loves her.
could not see her companions face
so we'll, but tone and attitude were elo-
quent, and 1 remembered the gentle,
kindly expression of his face when
had noticed him first. Just the eX-
preston one would naturally acquire in
such presence, l thought, and my
glance again sought the lady's lovely
face. A sudden determination seized
me. l would make a sketch of her
face, and it should hang where 1 could
see it always, and 1 reioiced in the con-
seriousness of possessing gift which
rendered so precious an acquisition pos
sible.
l began Immediately and worked as
long as | could see, but the results were
unsatisfactory. l could not obtain the
desired expression. l decided to take
time to study her face. l did not see
her again until the next afternoon. She
was sitting in the ladies' parlor, read
ing; and, mindful of my sketch, 1
looked for the beauty that had so
thrilled me on the previous evening.
To my establishment, it seemed to have
vanished l could scarcely recognize
her. She looked quite ordinary. had
seen hundreds of women fully as beauti-
full. was disappointed and puzzled,
and started for ramble, almost ready
to adopt the theory that beauty was
merely subjective; not the quality of an
object, but an emotion of ones own
mind. concluded that did not care
to make sketch. ..