Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1909-01-21
AUT0BI0 GRAPKY
OF A Blu r EAU
(COpyrisht. By Ford Pub. Coz
ny L. p. M'oauley.


~ handsome there can be no doubt,
for whenever new acquaintance is
ushered into my presence l hear such
EXPLANATIONS as: "Oh, how beautiful"
What an exquisite old thing!" and
they gaze with delight at the elabor-
ately carved pillars which surmount
my wonderful claw bet, and touch
with an awed tenderness the shining
glass knobs which ornament my high
ly polished front.
That am old, IL equally truei can
not tell how old--some OF the earlier
events OF my life are not quite clear,
but what chiefly recollect is the hap
py time spent with my beautiful young
mistress How well / remember her
the day first saw her! She had been
away at a finishing school, and re-
turned on glorious summer after.
noon. Through the windows in her
pretty bedroom, In which | stood, the
soft breeze lifted the muslin curtains,
ana stirred a fragrant breath among
the roses which clustered about the
room and offered sweet welcome TO the
Homecoming Of this lovely girl. had
heard the sound of carriage wheels
upon the gravel drive. then affection
ate greetings at the door, and before
long light feet tripping up the stairs.
A bewildering creature Of light and
life entered the room. Throwing her
wide-brimmed hat upon the bed, she
approached the corner where stood
and peeped, for an instant, into the
quaint mirror which hung above me.
All. never did mirror reflect q faIrer
vision Of girIiSA IoVeliness!
A face Of perfect oval framed by
coating masses Of soft brown curls;
and meath delicately Arched brows, q
pair OF innocent blue ayes looked
forth.
Tho happy years passed all too
swiftly. and grow TO love her more
and more. Her being seemed almost
q part Of mine. I shared her sweet
secrets. and though she did not tell
me what those delicately tinted notes
contained. knew them almost word
for word. She would read them again
and again. sometimes kissing them. as
young girls will, and / felt had q
sacred mission to care for those treas.
ures so tsndoriy priced by her. She
had lovers, many OF them, and be-
heve I knew almost as soon az she
which one she would accept.
With what keen delight watched
her make ready for her bridal, and
as the beautiful gowns OF rich bro
cade and shimmering gauze and silk
were carefully consigned to my ca
pacious depths, and the dainty articles
of feminine lingerie. many OF them
fashioned by her own fair fingers, l
was happy to protect
All too swiftly sped the blissful
months; the joyous girl was now a
happy wife, and still shared her Sc
crets. Into her lovely face, once 80
gay and gladstone. had crept a
thoughtful, gentle expression, and her
slender hands were often busy now
shaping tiny, wonderful garments, and
as she bent over her work, there was
an expression in the blue eyes that
was almost divine. How sweet she
looked. as. with an air of shy mystery,
she would lead her husband to my
side and show him how the store OF
httle garments was tncreasing! How
tie two would talk and plan together
for the future Of this Wonderful Be-
ing, who was coming to make giadder
ana fuller their wedding happiness
Bus s1ch bliss was denied this loving
paAT. Her tender breast ne'er knew
the touSh Of baby fingers. nor her brow
tho crown OF motherhood, for she slept
beneath the early vtolets.
LAG was very different for me aft.
g she died. Ths room where abe and
I dweit % happily was closed for q
bOnG ume. and the key wac bat sell
dom turned IN the lock OF ''Letty's
chest" I was regarded as a thing too
saere1 TO b approached earelessly.
Years passed. and q troupe OF young
nAooes made the old house ring with
life again. To them "Annt Lefty" was
only a name. for she, the eldest In q
largo family. had passed from earth
many years before their advent, and
the old chest OF drawers and the moss
grown tomb in the old-fashioned gar
den were objects closely allied, and
awe inspirIng. Az the years went on
some Of the older eiVls were allowed.
as q special reward Of merit, 70 take
q peep into my sacred depths, and
their eyes would ppsa wide with won
der a. faded Tcbe a quaint design.
the wedding gown perchanoe, was
snaken from tts foSda OF yelIowed as-