Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-02
sEMEWEEKLY BANNER, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1894

OEMI-W Ell
that you were a little confused yourself;
that you could scarcely speak at first. Do
you remember?
1t was astonishing, though, how soon
we were eagerly conversing. Our thoughts
flowed ON together like two brooks that
meet in the forest and go dancing together
through sunlight and shadow. 1t was
that night that l thought that your eyes
were as black as Goals, and that noticed
how fresh and red your lips were. That
bright evening fled so fast that did nos
realize till the affair was over that l had
entirely monopolized the society Of tho
belle of the evening" When 1 bado you
good night as you left the company with
your parents, 1 noticed young man
standing in the hallway, with gloomy
expression on his handsome face. 1t was
my friend, the officer, and he gave me an
ugly look. Little did 1 care for the officers
anger. was mad with happiness tha5
night. What dreams, what fancies filled
my soul! You say that you, too, wero
transported that night? l wish l had
known it then!
How well l remember that first evening
when called on you'll could not sloop
the night previous 1 was SO excited. Tho
day passed tediously. l attired myself
with great elaboration, and an hour before
the time when had agreed to call l was
restlessly pacing the streets, glancing at
my apparently motionless timepiece, but
the important hour arrived at last AS l
entered the gate my courage began to fail.
feared lest some favored sutton might al
ready be installed, and l should prove an
unwelcome intruder. 1 wondered who
would open the door, whether n servant or
some member of the family. 1 dreaded
lest it might be the governor himself, for
I suspected that he did not regard me with
favor. The great watchdog barkod saw
Rgely as walked toward the house. You
had laughingly assured me that he was al
ways securely chained to a strong post. 1
mounted the stairs with bold step, rang
the bell 1icrcely and waited in q state Of
nervous dread. How agreeably WIS SUI
prised and how completely were Ily fears
/ when you opened the door your
looking perfectly beautiful in the
listed hallway! Your cheeks wero slight
is flushed, and your eyes were as bright as
stars. That evening my love for you in
creased hundredfold.
Do you remember tho 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
dayP Do you say that you half expected
several times l would? Well, you werd
right. The truth is that I had decided at
the first opportunity to tell you that ]
loved you. thought that the boat ride
would be the very occasion; so, with min.
gled hopes and fears, 1 looked forward to
that eventful day. l cannot tell you how
many times / rehearsed my part in the ex-
pected drama, nor what beautiful spccchCi
had prepared, never to be uttered. Yet /
regard that little journey up the winding
river as the brightest episode in my life.
AS rowed along 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 tho
water, tho cemetery in the woods on the
hill and the mysterious island with its
deep woods We did not talk much. Youl
eyes were cast down most of the time, a:
though you were in a pensive mood, but
occasionally / saw them glance shyly al
me. l don't know why should have been
so sure, but felt positive that you loved
me, and was on tho point of telling you
how l adored you u dozen times as we pro.
ceeded up tho still river. At last rowcd
into little streamlet which met the river
in the woods. Green leaves were spread
over its quiet surface and pure white lilici
1oatcd here and there. The light was soft
and subdued. 1 felt my heart beat violent
ly. tremblcd, and know that my face
was pale as I leaned toward you and seized
your little hand in mine.
Just then we heard voices in the woods.
You snatchcd 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.
pearancc. We humbly took them in as
passengers, and 1 rowed back down the
river in the twilight, talking to your aunt
and her friend in as entertaining man,
ner as 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 wa.
excited. l sent you an invitation and anx
iously waited for reply. feared that
your parents would not approve Of me as
your escort, cvaa if you should be so kind
as to prefer me- to other suitors who would
doubtless extend you an invitation. Mort
than anything else 1 dreaded that the
charming young officer would be the 70,
vored one. When 1 rode to town for the
mail on the day following, 1 received g
dainty little envelope 1 opened it with
trembling fingers, but I rode homo feeling