The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-01


and / was endowed by nature with those
parts that best become a man of letters.
Indeed, during many months my adj
dresses had been received so favorably
that | had come to regard her as al
ready mine. Judge, therefore, of my
displeasure when from my fancied Sc
curity / seemed like to be completely
overthrown. For there arrived one day
upon our village, newly come from Lon
dom fellow named Jack Hardy, FUR
nished with no other credential than an
over-plentiful supply both of money and
impudence.
However, his gallantry prevailed much
with Cynthia. She was forever question
ing him upon the newest modes, lnqulr-
ing whether petticoats were still fuli-
hoped, and whether as good tory
she should patch upon the left cheek or
the right. To all her questions the cum
ming coXcomb devised fiatterinS reples,
vowing that, did she but journey to
London, it would be scarce week be-
fore she had become the toast of the
town. In word, he stood so high IN her
favor that | feared lest on his return
to London he should persuade the de-
luded Cynthia to accompany him. but
by great good luck, he was summoned
hastily to leave at the call, as he said
of business, and | hoped heartily that
we had seen the last of him.
Judging that now was the time to
press my suit, / visited Cynthia without
delay. She and her father, the clergy
man Of our parish, entertained me with
dish of tea in the garden, it being July,
and the weather very sultry. When her
father had withdrawn, being busted
with his sermon for the morrow, | strove
to reason with her afresh.
Ills idle to talk" said She. lis
my fate to live all my years III the dull
country manner to be burdened with
keeping house all day, with a hand at
ombre or piquet of an evening as my
one diversion"
'You can change it when you WILL |
said Were you but my wife, Cynthia,
how gladly would / pass each hour IN
devising new pleasures for you.
pretty pleasures, forsooth.' she cried.
Can you wonder that a gallant gentle
man like Master Hardy attracts me rath-
| err than a dull country 'squire?'
AT least, answered warrington in
| deed her tone angered me-"you know
that | come of good family, while as
/ for that coXeomb-"
/ You shall not speak of him thus!
said Cynthia He is well known and
| esteemed throughout the cities of Lon
don and Westminster. / have his own
| word for it.
! "A pretty pledge. indeed" said |.
And yet, Cynthia, if tits fame that you
desire for your husband, ] myself have
ihopes OF, gaining some share by my
4 writings"
Its slow in coming" she said.
] '"Those ingenious speculations, now,
which you writ last year and proffered
| to the Spectator"
MIR. Addison did not print them"
admitted; but what of that? | shall
yet succeed"
CYNTHIA laughed scornfully. you are
t over modest, sir. Well, | will promise
to be yo,urs an you hut gain 10 guineas
by your writing in six months time
/ "Darlingr' cried l, ''be sure, with such
Il prize in view. l will succeed and
endeayored to embrace her. She slip
ned nimbly away, but as she did so a
necklace Of the finest brilliants fell to
the ground from the bosom of her dress,
wherein it had been concealed.
She made as if to pick it up, but | was
before her. "a pretty trinket! Per-
chance your father gave it to you!'
Cynthia blushed. mo, / had it of
Master Hardy, if you must know. Not
but what your question savors of impert-
inence."
Then" said I. ''you had best return
! it to him. To receive such presents from
gentlemen is not permitted to my wife.
OH she cried with flaming cheeks,
Il am not your wife"
But you will be before month is
passed. On Monday. Cynthia, | set out
/ for London, where l make no doubt
| shall sell my poems for a round sum.
And then / shall return to claim you.
See here, for instance, is trific. !
pulled paper from my pocket and be-
gan to read
AS when the sea, with wild resounding
roar,
Gathers its strength and surges to the
shore,
Though baffIed oft, returning yet again,
II strives TO shake tn mistaken cliff, III
Doomed still to seek, and never to OBJ
tain
So cruel maid, attempts thy swain
forlorn
70 move thy heart and mollify thy scorn,
| Thou as THAT rock"
There was a swish of skirts, and look
ing up j beheld the saucy baggage rum
ming down the garden path, with her
hands clapt to her ears.
| put the poem away thoughtfully.
Did Cynthia indeed disdain me? Pooh.
cried l, taking heart. ''she cannot do SO,
else had she not made that wager. Ten
guineas. forsooth! Twas of her cunning
that she named so paltry an amount.
Ten guineas. Why, these few lines
alone would not be dear at such u
price.
H.
Two days later, being the 9th of July,
in the year 1715, ! set out for London,
hearing with me fair copies of the most
elegant of my poems rolled around
cylinder Of wood to keep them from be-
ing crushed. The journey by the stage
wagon was tedious. | was nightly
pleased to see at last the ruddy glow IN
the sky which betokened the situation OF
T ,1at,