Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-09-04
LOST AND FOUND.

The following manuscript came into
my hands about 80 years ago. My
friend John Williams, the writer of 1t,
was at my house on q visit. / should
rather call him the friend of my father,
as he belonged to generation previous
to my own. He took great fancy to
me when / was boy and often told
me his story. Ono day, when he was in
peculiarly communicative mood, /
persuaded him to write it out, which he
did, on condition that IL was not to be
published during his lifetime As he
has been dead now 40 years and all the
members of his immediate family have
passed away, there can DO no impro-
priety in Offering it to the public. 1t Ia
scarcely necessary for me to say that,
after a lapse Of 90 years, 1t was neces-
sary to make copy Of 1t. an the origi-
nal ink had faded very much.
l, John Williams, had just completed
my college career, which had been
neither better nor worse than that of
thousands of others. A slow, plodding
mind was all that nature had given me
within, and red hair, freckled face
and u rather ungainly figure were what
ahe had bestowed upon mo without.
John will never set the river aflre. :"
was what my father had once said of
me. Dear, kind old man, he did not
know that / was within hearing dis
lance or he never would have said 1t.
But, although tho remark was gall and
NORWOOD to me at the time, II spurred
me ON to excrtion, and / made much
better use Of my time at college than
would otherwise have done.
Mary Mercer. daughter Of near
neighbor and intimate friend Of my
father, had been my lifelong companion
and friend. We were opposites in every
particular She was beautiful, and
was as has been described. She was
graceful, and | was not; but, owing to
our secluded lives, we had been thrown
much together, and her charitable dis
position had been accustomed to over
look many of my imporfections An ad-
miration amounting almost to worship
had risen in my mind when / saw her
after my four years absence at college.
had left her sweet, attractive child,
and found her on my return woman
such as my fancy had never pictured.
OF course there could DO but one re-
suit. II had never been in love before,
certainly was now. and was not long
in making known to Mary my feelings.
Mary conduct on the occasion afforded
the first instance In which had known
hor to swcrve in the least from what
was the obvious truth. She was con-
fused, blushed slightly and declared
that I had taken her go much by sur
prise that she did not know what to
say; she had never thought Of me in
that light. and must really give her
little time to think tho matter over. !
knew at the time that Mary was flb-
bing
No woman was ever born with one
half Of her sense without finding out such
things long before they were ever spoken
to her. But there was no help for 1t.
Sho had tho game in her own hands and
evidently intended to play IL to suit her
self She asked for week to consider
the matter. / insisted that two days
WtID Dui bIlb "hS
with WY face, had to submit.
One stipulation was that / should not
attempt to rec her during that time. l
though this was rather hard and said
so, but she WAS even more positive than
before, and yielded with the best
grace l could.
In order to give her no excuse for
further delay set OF the next day to
visit college friend and staid at his
house five days. 1t took day TO reach
his house and day 10 return. Thus the
week passed away. slowly enough for
me, and / am afraid my friend found
me dull companion. Promptly ut the
end Of the specified time presented
myself at Mary's house. To my dis
may found IL full Of company. had
been there only few minutes W hen l
learned that the friends had been there
ever since the day after left. Iscanned
Mary's face, actions manner and recep-
ton, but could make ont nothing. She
was kind and agreeable, but that had
been her ordinary manner, and no con-
illusions cosld be drawn therefrom.
found no opportunity to say n word
to her in private until my visit was
over. As went to the front door ON my
way out to my horse, which was tied In
front Of the house, she came out on the
porch with me, ms had been her habit
on previous occasions As / babe her
goodby asked, ~ calmly as 1 could,
though heaven knows my heart was
beating 80 loud that ! knew she must
hear it:
well. Mary, what is my fate to Der"
Really. john" she said, you must
give me one day more. and ! promise
you to give you my final answer then.
The house has been full of company and
my time has been 30 fully occupied that
have scarcely had time to sleep. Every
night since you were here / have gone
to bed so weary that went to sleep as
soon as my head touched the pillow.
Ny mother has bcen sick, too, most Of
the time, and my hands have been full,
] assure you"
suppose she must have seen my
blank look Of Disappointment, for she
added in her softest tones-and no voice
could be softer than hers: Come, John,
be 3 good boy now. and I will send you
my answer tomorrow by letter"
And thus we parted. I went home
with hope deferred The next day came