The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-12
A BOSTON ROMANCE.

A BOSTON ROMANCE.
Boston TrdnJcripi.
Twas eighteen; he was ton years my
senior. lilo was my first lover. and !
was convinced that no girl ever had one
80 devoted aud kind, 80 noble and high
minded, and withal possessed OF such
business capacity. This last was, in.
decd, in the eyes OF my mother. sino
qua non: without 1t 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 aud the interest al
lowed to accumulate, go that one day no
might be gentleman OF leisure.
Meantime he was employed at salary
OF 5000 q year, preferring that to be-
ing 10 business on his own account.
We were introduced ono day in Angus.
on the beach, aud for tho 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 tho beach looking at the moou,
shining with ali her might on the
quivaring waves, and then We plighted
our troth on tho beach and left it an
engaged couple. He must return to
town-a fortnight was all the vacation
he ever allowed himself. But we must
say goodby on tho beach. because it had
thus far the sweetest and tenderest as
sociatious for US. So my Jerome in.
sisted that his Lulu should put on her
thick boots and mackintosh and walk
for half an hour where the waves could
talk TO US and murmur their blessing,
and good wishes for our future. l could
vol have dispensed with the benedic.
ton OF the waters just then, but did not
dream OF opposing my lovers request
He had. soon found, masterful way
that caused one TO carry out his sug-
iions acknowledgements, however,
with great gentlene,s Of manner and a
persuasivsness not TO be resisted. The
gloves were so soft that the iron hand
va. successfully hidden. even from
those far more experienced and keen OF
perception than myself. It was some
thing new for me to thus be controlled.
An only child, l had possessed the
knack OF making tho household bend to
my will ever since could remember.
But l had met my match in Jerome
Crocker. - -.----
The middle OF September came. At
this time my mother and l had usually
lei. the shore for beautiful Lenox,
whero We found the social atmosphere
most congenial to us. But this year my
Jerome required my presence in the
city. He was longing for my society.
We could take long drives in the sub
urbs in the late afternoon. walks in the
eyen;ng-in short, we could be together,
which was the proper thing ior tho be-
trothed couple.
To my amazement aud little disap.
pointment. which I did not understand.
my mother agreed with him, and to
town We returned. found now thu, l
was taken in hand with vengeance.
Jerome monopolized nearly all OF my
time. Me planned my employment for
the day by mapping out in black and
white the manner in which he expected
mo to pass the hours when he could
not DO with me.
He informed me that was not me.
thodical in nv pursuiti-which was
true enough, l thought with sigh.
His intention was evidently. to rsvolu.
tionize my habits. tastes and tempera.
meut also, il that were possible. Begin
ming with piano music, he laid down the
rule that ! must practice four hours
each day without fail no more, no less
just that
My reading was next taken in hand.
On being cathechised. it was found that
l was wofully ignorant in regard 10
most OF the standard writsrs.
My will was entirely merged into
that OF Jerome. His calm assump tion
and quiet firmnesa in laying down rules
for mo were like the commandu laid on
tho hapless SIX Hundred.
His voice was rich and melodious,
and his manner polished to courtliness,
with not shade OF sternness, even
when, as was so otter the case. he must
have been sadly disguised at INV lack oil
appreciation Of subjects in which no
found 80 much to enjoy. Strange to
say, no made no adverse criticism on
my style OF dress. 1t is true | was al
ways consumma.ely clothed.
Tho winter passed. and tho spring.
It was arranged that our marriage
should take place tho coming October.
And now l began to lose my appetite
aud strength. My parents wore much
alarmed, and Jerome especially so. A
European voyage was discussed by tho
three most solicitous for my welfare
and finally decided upon. But for some
reason which could not myself under.
stand, my will in this matter assorted
itself. SO Violently opposed the plan
that 1t was given up, though most re-
luctnntly.
had it in mind that wac sinking
into n decline aud wanted to do in
my own country. In dim sort OF way
! iolt that great change was in store
for mo in tho coming summer-somo
crisis in my life-and my languor-and
depression OF spirits caused mo to pic.
ture my own death. had even msn-
tally arranged tho death.bod scono aud
the probable time otmy demise, which
thought would DO cithor in July or
August. l was. in fact. in dcplorably
morbid state OF mind.
My roading md music wore, OF course,
pivon up. had twice tainted whilo nt
tho piano. and tho phyhicinn whom wo
had known since my childhood issued
his mandate that was to do nothing In
music during tho summer, and that my
reading, If l read at all, must DO OF tho
lightost nature. Tho first OF July found
us ngain Mt tho soaShore; At tho place