Connecticut western news., 1897-02-04
LOST AND FOUND.

The following manuscript came into my hands about 50 years ago. My friend John Williams, the writer of it, was at my house on a visit. I should rather call him the friend of my father, as he belonged to generation previous me when was a boy and often told m bis story. One day, when he was in ! peculiarly communicative mood, I persuaded him to write it out, which he did, on condition that it was not to be published during his lifetime.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 be no impro- priety in offering it to the public. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that, after lapse of 50 years, it was neces- sary to make copy of it, as the origi- nal ink had faded very much.
 I, 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 rather ungainly figure were what she had bestowed upon me without. John will never set the river afire, 1" was what my father had once said of me. Dear, kind old man, he did not know that was within hearing dis tance or he never would have said it. 0ut, although the remark was gall and wormwood to me at the time, it spurred me on to exertion, and I 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 md friend. We were opposites in every particular. She was beautiful, and I vas as has been described. She was yraceful, and I 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 imperfections An ad- miration amounting almost to worship | had risen in my mind when saw her after my four years absence at college. 1 had left her sweet, attractive cEild, and found her on my return woman | such as my fancy had never pictured. Of course there could be but one re- suit. If 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 I had known ner to swerve in the least from what was the obvious truth. She was con- fused, blushed slightly and declared chat I had taken her so 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 the matter over. l knew at the time that Mary was fib- ping.
 | 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 it. She had the game in her own hands and evidently intended to play it to suit her. self. She asked for week to consider the matter. I insisted that two days were enough. but she was resolute, and, with wry face, had to submit.
 One stipulation was that should not attempt to see her during that time. though this was rather hard and sai6 90, but she was even more positive than before, and yielded with the Lest grace 1 could.
 In order to give her no excuse fol further delay set off the next day tt visit college friend and staid at hi house five days It took day to reacf his house and day to return. Thus thu week passed away, slowly enough fol me, and 1 am afraid my friend found me dull companion. Promptly at thu end of the specified time presented myself at Mary's house. To my dis may found it full of company. 1 hat been there only few minutes " hen learned that the friends had been ther' ever since the day after left Iscannet Mary's face, actions, manner and recep tion, but could make out nothing. Sh, was kind and agreeable, but that hat
 been her ordinary manner, and no con clusions could be drawn therefrom. found no opportunity to say wort to her in private until my visit wa over. AsIwen to the front door on m.
 way out to my horse, which was tied il front of the house, she came out on tn
 porch with me, as had been her habi . on previous occasions AS bade he ; goodby I asked, as calmly as I could
 though heaven knows my heart wa
 beating so loud that l knew she mus 3 hear it:
 Well, Mary, what is my fate to be?' Really. John" she said, you mus
 give me one day more, and l promis
 you to give you my final answer then
 The house has been full of company an
 my time has been so fully occupied tha
 have scarcely had time to sleep. Ever
 night since you were here l have gon Il to bed SO weary that l went to sleep [ 1t soon as my head touched the pillow y My mother has been sick, too, most ( r the time, and my hands have been ful
 l assure you.
 I suppose she must have seen n }, blank look of disappointment, for st
 added in her softest tones-and no vol'
 could be softer than hers: "Come, Johl be a good boy now, and will send ye
 my answer tomorrow by letter.
 And thus we parted. I went hon