Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-02
.- IR FIFTY YEARS.

A4AO l. IL L L ALAAOhO'
Ycs it is nearly so years since have
cap is as white as snow. Then it was black
and glossy as jet. You had no wrinklc'
then. Your checks were smooth ant
white There was dimple in the LETT one
Your eyes did not peer out of gold trimmed
glasses then. They were bright as stars
dark blue, sparkling with merriment
Your figure is little bent, but you wcrl
quite tall then for a woman, and graceful
thought you were queenly. Indeed you
were the pretticst girl in all the land
What, are you blushing? Well, it is true
I can close my eyes and see you in my soul
as you were then, as sweet and lovely as q
water lily. You have never changed there
remember the first time ever saw you.
was walking through the shady streets OF
the little town. 1 passed by grand old
mansion. 1 saw beneath q great elm whai
thought was a beautiful angel. 1t was
you lying on the lawn. You had on a
tpink gown. You were reading, and whom
lyou heard my footsteps you raised youl
eyes and met mine. We were both con.
fused. I walked away feeling as though
had entered a new world. After that
thought only of you. You told me after
ward that you were reading a romance OF
q handsome young prince, tall, fair haired
and daring; that when you looked up and
saw me you were startled, I was so like
the ideal you were dreaming of. Do you
remember?
J i hurried back to my uncle's home be
yond the town and eagerly questioned my
cousins concerning the beautiful vision
had seen. They told me that you were the
governors only daughter; that you werd
but IS years Of age, but that you already
had several suitors for your hand. They
warned me not to fall in love with you, az
handsome young officer of the garrison
near by was said to have won your heart.
1 found that you were the belle Of all the
land.
This information only made me love you
more. 1 felt certain that l could not live
without you. l could not imagine thai
any one else could love you as 1 did. Ev-
cry afternoon after that 1 rode to town in
OAhSA w lItb'o ~ bliO SSON1lAAOL llltilolpIi'
During the evenings paraded back and
forth on. the sidewalk like a sentinel, and
all the time l kept repeating your name.
During these feverish evenings it was not
very consoling to note the regular appear.
ance of visitor nightly passing under the
trees to the doorstep. When the door
opened, I could see his TALL erect figure
standing in the light. Then tho door
would close, and there would be sounds
from the open windows of laughter and
music. l knew that the visitor was tho
young officer. He and were introduced
one day in the town, and remember how,
seemingly by instinct, we conceived deep
antipathy to each other. Even on our first
meeting we approached close to the border
of insulting language. He was q hand
some, dashing fellow was forced to con-
fess. Splendid, soft dark eyes and
heavy silken mustache were his two most
seductive attractions. To know that this
hated but dangerous rival was enjoying a
tete-a-tete with the beautiful girl whom
in my unreasonable love already regard.
ed as my sweetheart, while was Obliged
to promenade the sidewalk alone seemed
very bitter and cruel to me.
A week passed before saw you again.
was riding along the high bank of tho
river where it curves like q horseshoe
around some meadow land. was gazing
down at the waters, dreaming Of you, when
heard a sound of laughter and of horses
hoofs. l looked up and was startled to
see you riding toward me in the company
of several young ladies and gentlemen
My handsome friend, the officer was
among them. My heart beat violently
and my face flushed as 1 passed close to
you. You wore a dark green suit, and
your face was so white that thought at
the time you were like water lily. 1t was
then that 1 noticed your long black lashes
l could scarcely see your eyes You told
me afterward that you peeped at me- and
that you thought looked like gallant
knight on my spirited horse. Do you re-
member?
was so excited that day that could
scarcely eat mouthful. My uncle asked
me if 1 had seen the governors daughter
again. He was wise NANNY uncle.
1t was not long afterward that you and
became acquainted. 1t was at party
that l attended with my cousins. You
were there. saw nothing else that gold
en- night. You were dressed in cream coll
ored silk. Your beautiful white arms and
shoulders werP care. You wore q necklace
of pearls, and there were yellow roses
pinned to your dress. was dazzled by
your beauty when you entered the room,
and when 1 was presented to you lost all
control of myself. / stammered and tried
to clasp your hand, stopping in my attempt
abruptly, but you, smiling kindly, shook
hands with me- You told me afterward