The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-15
A BOSTON ROMANCE.

was 49, He was ten years my senior
He was my first lover, and | was con-
WINGED that NO girl ever had one so devoted
and kind, so noble and high minded. and
withal possessed of such business capacity.
This last was indeed, in the eyes of my
mother sine qua non. Without it the
other qualities combined would have been
utterly worthless. He was owner of an
ample fortune, which he had inherited,
but it was well invested and the interest
allowed to accumulate, SO that one day he
might be gentleman of leisure
Meantime he was employed at salary
of &c. 600 year, preferring that to being
in business on his own account. He had
travelled extensively and appeared in many
ways much older than his years. In con-
versation I have never met his superior,
seldom his equal We were introduced
one day in August on the beach, and Tor
the next two weeks we walked on the
beach, we drove on the beach, we sat on
the beach watching the flowing tide come
in. we stood on the beach looking at the
moon shining with all her might on the
quivering waves, and then we plighted
our troth on the beach and left it an en-
gagged couple.
He had I soon found, masterful way
that caused one to carry out his sugges-
lions instinctively - overlaid, however
with great gentleness of manner and per-
suasiveness not to boiresisted. Tho gloves
were SO soft that the iron hand was sue
cessfully hidden, even from those far more
experienced and keen of perception than
myself. 1t was something new for me to
be thus controlled. An only child, had
possessed the knack of making the house
hold bend to my will ever since could re-
member, but I had met my match in .1er-
ONE Croker.
The middle of Septembe came. AT this
time my mother and had usually left the
shore for beautiful Lenox, where we found
the social atmosphere most congenial to
u.s. but this year my jerome required my
presence in the city. He was longing for
my society. We could take long drives
In the suburbs in the late afternoon, walks
in the evening-in short, we could be to-
gether, which was the proper thing for the
betrothed couple.
To my amazement and-shall ] confess
tia little disappointment, which did
not understand, my mother agreed with
him, and TO town we returned. I found
now that I was taken in hand with
vengeance. Jerome monopolized nearly
all Of my timr. He planned my employ
Inont for tile day by mapping out in black
and white the manner in which he expect
ed me to pass the hours when he could not
be with me.
He informed me that was not method
ical in my pursuits, which was true
enough, thought, with sigh. His in
tention was evidently to revolutionize my
j 1co
that were possible Beginning with piano
music he laid down the rule that l must
practice four hours each day without fail,
no more no less-just that.
He prescribed two hours for five finger
exercises and the remaining two on one
of Beethoven's most difficult sonatas,
which he had selected, and which he
wished me to make a special study. Now,
l had been in the habit of practicing when
and how liked, and though had studied
for three years or more with one OF the
most competent instructors my playing,
judged from an artistic standpoint, was
careless and slipshod, but having great
musical intelligence I was enabled easily
to master difficulties of execution, and 1T
was necessary for me only to apply myself to
steady and conscientious practice to attain
fair degree of excellence in the mechan-
ical part of the art at least.
My reading was next taken in hand On
being catechised it was found that l was
woefully ignorant in regard to most of the
standard writers.
Carlyle? No? had never read SEN
tence of that virile, dognatic old worthy.
Accordingly dose of the French Reyo-
luton was administered. One hour
day was to be spent in gazing at the series
of lurid pictures thrown off at white heat
by this grand impressionist, fired with in
dignation at the slow, sad years OF in5us
tice and tyranny.
Jerome spent nearly every evening with
me, and I was fully questioned as to my
progress Alas, disgraceful pluck too of
ten awaited me! I had seldom made out
my four hours of practice, owing to call
ers, engagements with dressmakers or
headaches. The last 1 began to have iii
plenty. And the French Revolutionr'
could not grasp the situation or under
stand two consecutive sentences and wac
helpless to make out in the least what all
those people who seemed &c terribly in
earnest were trying to do.
That ponilerous work was accordingly
replaced by David Copperfeld," which I
should have heartily enjoyed had ] not
felt that was regarded by Jerome in tho
light of another Dora Spenlow. had an
underlying conviction that the story was
given to me that might see how small
and insignificant poor little brainless
woman can be in the eyes of bright. in
tellectual man. I am of the opinion to
this day that Jerome had an Interior OIL.
ject in selecting that charming book just
at that time. AS I look back on that
strange year of my youth, which was a
veritable storm and stress period, marvel
at my blindness and complete infatuation.
My will was entirely merged into that of
Jerome His calm assumption and quiet
firmness in laying down rules for me were
like the commands laid on the hapless Six
Hundred
His voice was rich and nelodious, and
his manner polished to courtliness, with
not shade of sternness, even when, as
was so often the case, he must have been
sadly Disguised at my lack of appreciation
of subjects in which he found so much to
enjoy. Strange to say, he made no adj
verse criticism ON my style of dress 1t is
true was always consummately clothed
not alone by my own taste, but because
ono,rad e, IN ~ tho host 6roccpo Ok