Year: 1861

Maria and myself had known each 9TH


er from childhood up, and were pretty


intimate in our friendship. When was


twenty. 1.-TWO years of age, | concluded to


take trip through the States and as


had been indisposed for some time back,


with a loss of appetite, no sleep, etc,


made this my excuse travelled for my
health When ] made this declaration
there was nothing like travelling for
health-everybody recommended it. So


| started with the intention of being alb
sent year or more. Travelling, l must


say, agreed with me completely, for at


The first stepping place, made as hearty


a meal as any ofmy fe.lowpassenger rs; and


when ] stopped for the night, slept as
| sound as a roach. To tell the truth,


feigned sickness to get away from home.


The real motive Of my departure was, my


feelings toward Maria began TO change l
always had foolish longing to be near
her, and a singular feeling of regret when
she was away from home when called to
spend q social evening and then there
was a peculiar sensation about my heart
when ! saw her engaged closely in con-
yersation with any Of my ompauions, or
when she bestowed upon them smile.
In fact began to feel something more
than friendship towards her. / did not
let her know the state Of my mind, but
laughed and frolicked with her rs much
as ever. My affection for her increased
daily. Not knowing, however, but that
my love might prove only momentary,
and wishing to know whether absence
would wear it off-for il had always been
my determination, that when | welded,
il should not be merely union of hands
but union Of hearts, determined,
without binting the object of my journey
to Maria, or even giving her the slight
est reason 20 suspect the nature of my
feelings towards her--to take the journey,
and if time did not alter my heart when
| returned to offer myself to her. | went
on my journey-visited all noted places
mingled in company as much as possible
-trifed with the ladies ia the fashiona-
BILE way still, though surrounded with
beauty in every engaging form-though
hattered and caressed.-after all, a thought
Of Maria caused throb, which none of
the lovely ones around me could create.
Her image kept fast hold upon my heart,
and wouldn't leave H. Finding, after an
absence of six months, that the complaint
that caused me to leave home increased
rather than diminished, l fastened my
return, and arrived home on the aforesaid
first of January.


When reached Maria's place of abode
and began to ascend the steps in front of
the house, my heart quaileG little. /
began to grow faint hearted, and to think
in what manner l should pop the ques-
ton regretted that had not studied
my part before left home. / hesitated
as I took hold of the bell lSnob-my
breath grew shorter, and my nerves shook.
was relinqulshing my hold with the in
tentior of taking a short stroll around
the square to think over what to say
in fact, got half way down the steps,
thinking | would put off my declaration
until another time-when the thought of
George and his wife, and the pleasant
evenings we should have together, fixed
my wavcring heart So, with renewed de-
termination, l turned and ran UP the
steps, opened the door, and proceeded to
the parlor.


AS good luck would have ii, there sas
Maria on the sofa, all alone, looking as be.
witching as an angel, She blushed as she
arose and joyfully extended her hand |
gave it hearty shake and squeezed it
you know how, reader, dare say. | was
almost tempted to do violence by kissing
it, but thinking il would seem sweeter af-
ter the trembling Yes, had been said, L
refrained.


How glad l am that you have return
ed sold she, 'and how improved you
look


This was said in such tone Of affection
that began to coon over an answer,
which would weaken the ice, and give her
a hint Of what was coming.


Yes replied, I feel wonderfully
improved and it appears to me- con-
tinued, there is also an improvement in
your appearance--you-'


But how was you pleased with your
journey p interrupting me, while deli>
cate flush passed over her. cheeks, did
you not meet with some Southern beauty,
who weaned your heart fro n your native
place?'


Here was fine opening.


No, Maria, home is home, and ever
dear. must confess, however, that ]
WIS greatly pleNsed with the ladiss of the