The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-26

Bachelor Owing, possibly. to nv r9lst
tr a.ag, have never been a galI4
50 or, ia the sense Of possessing br1,i
eoarase, which appears to win with III
gentler sex even were s'brutal car
dor fails. But it is hard to get ava
from ones environments.
Ny nearest approach to a matrimo
nial alliance occurred some three wear
ago, under peculiar, not to say distress
ing, circumstances. L have sufficient,
recovered from the ''recoiI" of that epi
sode to tell the story with eomplacency
le was, through the conniYance Of nv
Old friend Bob White, whose farm iains
mine, that | first met this particular
affinity
y hste gave a social party. and Thus
brought US together. She was a youuo
ana very pretty widow Mrs. Bessfe
So1le, and was visiting relatives in tba
neighborhood. My recollection is thar
/ fell IN love with her immediately. AZ
least, | recall that my constitutional
weakness was unusually apparent on
fhat occasion. | managed to convey The
sbaJe OF my feelings TO her in the course
OF fhe evening mainly by means az
pant0mime and eloquent facial confor-
lions At the last moment she made me
teInP9rarily miserable BY announcing
slat she intended leaving for home the
next day; but her good night was
almost caressingly tender; and
promptly resolved to write to her. This
WIS Ulle last saw Of Mrs. Boole until
but must not forestar :. so-a,,,,,,n
After Imaotic: phe dellouihsH
,p,ota ~ 90 for a few days |
oonf.gs q Brief letter, stating tae
-szesa Of the weather and noting
Ssres general el5od health Of the neig'h-
borlIei0d, with a cautiously W0rded re-
quest for a correspondence, with view
to mutual improvement in spelling and
syntax, Three or four days later, was
delighted at receiving a modest an
swer, granting my wish and hoping
the health Ag the community Womb re-
MAIN go0d.
After fev more exchanges / grew
boldeg', and ia due time breadhed a
somewhat higher degree OF tenpera-
Eure into my sentences. At the end of
a month / mustered up courage to send
ner a sonnet on Beauty" which elicit
ed from her q very graceful and eneour 1
aging, eompI merit. 1t was then that I
conceived the thought Of a trip across
the commonwealth to pay her visit.
speeded my proposition to her in the
next mail, and her answer inspired
ehree fresh sonnets- one on Love,
another OH Affinity, and the third on
welded Souls.
She said / might come, designating
IL dat
Aet3ter. which was September ], 1898. !
kissed the signature, which was "Bes-
she. and went out to overhaul my bike;
for / had already decided to make the
trip on that vehicle.
She acknowledged the receipt Of my
sonnets, saying each consecutive read
ing had brought moisture to her eyes. |
I felt as happy as man of my age
could afford to feel, and kept the son.
net, mill grinding night and day.
Six of the weary days passed-for
they dragged heavily. For even before
that time / had my little grip packed
and my wheel creased for the occa- |
sion She was as bright as a gold peck |
et-pieee and fully equipped for the
Journey. / prayed for god weather, and
gswore every time / saw a cloud. my /
frankness shows the customary moods |
Of the typical loyer.)
listen: The evening before the morn
ing set for my departure, / received d
1gsttsseT from my idoiized Bessie that took
4he breath out Of me for a full minute.
Hrenradace it herewith, and the reader
can nudge Tor himself how it made me
feel. Ut read as follows-literally;
ssFeeder Station, Sept. 9th, 1893.
"My Dear Mr. Oversmith: write 70
you this morning in great distress Of
mind. / have learned to regard you 50
dearly that Ican't bear to deceive you
longer. I yyfIl tell you the whole truth |
1t IS this: j have another accepted suit
or. Mr.. ssagittarius Moon, Of Hatha-
way. this State. His claim is older than
YOURS. burt what you have lost in time