The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-04-09
s Seleet gturp.
LOST AND FOUND.
From New York Evening Post.

hands about 80 years ago. My friend
John Williams, the writer of it. was at my
house on a 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. One day,
when he was in peculiarly communica-
tive mood, | persuaded him to write 1t out,
which he dld, on condition that il was not
to be published during his lifetime.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 be no improperly
IN offering it to the public. 1t is scarcely
necessary for me to say that after lapse
at 30 years, IL was necessary TO make a
copy Of it, aS the original ink had faded
very much.
I John Williams. had just completed
my eoliese career, which had been neither
better nor worse than that of thousands Of
others \ 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 afre, 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 it,
But, although the remark was gall and
wormwood to me at the time, it spurred
me on to exertion, and made much bet
ter use of my time at college than | would
otherwise have done
Mary Mercer, a 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 disposition had been accustomed
10 overlook many Of my impe9tections
An admiration amounting almost to wor
ship had risen in my mind when | saw
her after my four years absence at col
lese bad left her sweet, attractive
child. aud | found her on my return
goman such as my fancy had never pic
tured
OF course there could be but one result.
If had never been IN love before, Ger
taiuly was now, and | was not long in
making known to Mary my feelings.
Mary conduct on the occasion afforded
the hrst instance in which had known
her 70 swerye in the least from what was
the obvious truth She was confused,
blushed slightly aud declared that had
taken her 50 much by surprise that she did
not know what TO say; she had never
thought Of me in that light, aud must
really give her little time to think the
matter over. | knew at the time that
Mary was hbbins.
No woman vas ever born with oue-halt
Of her sense without finding ont such things
long before they were ever spoken to her.
But there was no help for ii. She had
the game in her own hands and eyiden;ly
intended 10 play it to suit herself She
asked for 4 week % consider the matter.
insisted that two days we're enough, but
she was resolute, and, with a WHY face, |
had TO submit.
One stipulation was that should rot
attempt to see her during that time. /
thought this was rather hard and said so,
but she was even more positive than be
fore. and yielded with the best grace |
could
In order to give her no excuse for further
delay | SGT of the next day to visit a col
leze friend aud staid at his house five days.
Il took a day to reach his house and day
TO return. Thus the week passed away,
slowly enough fer me, and am afraid my
friend found me dull companion Prompt
Is al the end Of the specified time pre-
seuted myself at Mary house. To my
di,uay found it full Of company. | had
been there ouly 4 few minutes when |
learned that the friends had been there
ever since the day after left Iscanned
Mary's face, actions, manner and recep-
tlou. but could make out nothing She
was kind and agreeable, but that had been
her ordinary manner, and no conclusions
could be drawn therefrom
found no opportunity to say 4 word to
her in private until my visit was over. As
went TO the front door on M way out TO
nv horse. which was tied in front Of the
house, she came ont On the porch with me
A. had been her habit on previous occa-
sions. rs babe her goodby | asked, as
calmly a | could, though heaven knows
my heart vas beating 50 loud that | knew
she must hear it
Well, Mary, what is my fate to be-
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 so fully occupied that | have
scarcely had time 10 sleep. Every night
since You were here | have gone TO bed 30
weary tha, | went to sleep as soon as my
head touched the pillow My mother has
been 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 toues-and no voice could be
softer than hers: Come, John, be a
good boy now, and | will send YOU my an
swer tomorrow BY letter.
And thus We parted. | went home
with hope deferred. The next day came
and went and | heard nothing The sun
sank in the west and my heart sank with
it. My heart was in my boots for many
a day, but pride finally came to the rescue,
and determined to try to forget Mary
and the whole female sex.
Feeling that it would be impossible to
have any peace Of mind with Mary so near,
| planned a long trip to Europe. 1t had
always been my father wish that |, his
only son, should take this trip, but had
always opposed it, thinking that he could
not afford it, for he had two daugh
ters both younger than myself and longed
to see them take that position in society
which good education only can give.
And, while this European trip would not
have seriously interfered with my wishes
for my sisters advancement, | knew that
it would entail an amount of economy at
home that did not like to think Of But,
seeing my depressed spirits and perhaps
..,,,-.;n,r tbn o,.,sa my fat bar ranawad his