The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-11

| when | called on you l could not sleep
the night previous, was so excited The
day passed tediously. 1 attired myself
with great elaboration, and an hour before
the time when had agreed to call I was
| restlessly pacing the streets, glancing at
my apparently motionless timepiece, but
the important hour arrived at last AS
entered the gate my courage began to fail.
/ feared lest some favored sutton might al
ready be installed, and I should prove an
unwelcome intruder. | wondered who
would open the door, whether servant or
some member of the family. I dreaded
lest it might be the governor himself, for
| suspected that he did not regard me with
favor. The great watchdog barked saw
agely as walked toward the house. You
had laughingly assured me that he was al
ways securely chained to a strong post. I
mounted the stairs with a bold step, rang
the bell fercely and waited in state Of
nervous dread. How agreeably was I sur
prised and how completely were my fears
ulspelled when you opened the door your
self, looking perfectly beautiful in the
lighted hallway! Your cheeks were slight
ly flushed, and your eyes were as bright as
stars. That evening my love for you in
creased hundredfold.
Do you remember the boat ride on the
river? 1t was the only time we were
really alone. Maybe you don't imagine
how near / came to proposing to you that
day? Do you say that you half expected
several times I would? Well, you were
right. The truth is that I had decided at
the first opportunity to tell you that 1
loved you. I thought that the boat ride
would be the very occasion; so, with min
gled hopes and fears, looked forward to
that eventful day. I cannot tell you how
many times rehearsed my part in the ex-
pected drama, nor what beautiful speeches
had prepared, never to be uttered. Yet T
regard that little journey up the winding
river as the brightest episode in my life
AS rowed along I could look at you. You
sat in the stern and had on the pink gown
liked so much. We passed by weeping
willows dipping their branches into the
water, the cemetery in the woods on the
hill and the mysterious island with it's
deep woods. We did not talk much. Your
eyes were cast down most of the time as
though you were in pensive mood, but
occasionally saw them glance shyly at
me. don't know why should have been
SO sure but felt positive that you loved
me, and I was on the point of telling you
how adored you dozen times as we pro-
ceeded up the still river. At last trowed
into little streamlet which met the river
in the woods, Green leaves were spread
over its quiet surface and pure white lilies
foated here and there. The light was soft
and subdued. / felt my heart beat violent
ly. trembled, and know that my face
was pale as leaned toward you and seized
your little hand in mine.
Just then we heard voices in the woods
You snatched your hand away instantly
as two ladies, one of whom was your aunt
appeared at the bank of the stream. They
were delighted to see US, for they had lost
their boat and would have been obliged to
walk several miles but for our timely ap-
pearance We hu1nbly took them in as
passengers, and rowed back down the
river in the twilight, talking to your aunt
and her friend in as entertaining man
ner as I could, while you reclined in the
stern, silent, but occasionally smiling shyly
at some of my efforts to sustain CONVEX
sation with the two ladies. We all walked
up the hill to your fathers gate, and was
obliged to say goodby without telling you
my wonderful secret.
Soon after that grand ball was to take
place at the tavern. All the country was
excited. | sent you an invitation and anx-
iously waited for reply. feared that
your parents would not approve of me as
your escort, even if you should be so kind
as to prefer me to other suitors who would
doubtless extend you an invitation. More
than anything else, I dreaded that the
charming young officer would be the fa-
vored one. When I rode to town for the
mail on the day following, I received a
dainty little envelope. opened it with
trembling fingers, but rode home feeling
in the gayest mood, for the little note said
that its beautiful writer would be pleased
to accompany me to the grand ball at the
tavern.
Do you remember that few days before
the ball you were taken ill with fever?
When heard that my lovely partner was
sick, called at once. You told me how
disappointed you were, because, although
you felt well enough to go, your mother,
you feared, would not allow you to attend
the ball. was sorry enough to give up
the idea of appearing there with the gov
ernors beautiful daughter, but agreed
with your mother that it would be dan
gerous to yourhealth to go. Icheered your
sad spirits all that could, while secretly
1 resolved that, instead of attending the
pdall Ily6S4l, WOulu Sp61u Uu0 evening
with you, and if the chance appeared that
I would ask you to be my partner forever,
whether you were sick or we'll
The night of the ball was later than
expected in departing for town. The
tavern was gayly lit up, and it's roof was
shining in the moonlight. was SO eager
to see you that did not even stop to OBJ
tain glimpse of the assemblage, but
rode rapidly away beyond the sound of the
music. When arrived at the gate of tho
governors mansion, I was surprised at the
gloomy appearance of the house. Not a
light could see. I dismounted, hurried
to the door and rang the bell. There was
an appalling silence. Twice more rang
the bell and waited. No one came to the
door. Almost paralyzed with astonish-
ment and wonder, turned and slowly
leaving the house mounted my horse and
started back on the road to the tavern. I
felt certain that you would not have been
left sick and alone in the house.
Horrible suspicious tortured my heart
as / rode along faster and faster till
reached the tavern. I rushed into the
building and took one glance into the ball
room. The brilliant assenblage and
bright light dazed me for a second. A
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