Year: 1874

all my life Iahnd loved her.


Ourmothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first recollections are
of boy, in red frock and morocco
shoes, rocking a cradle in which re.
posed sunny haired, blue. eyed baby,
not quite asyear old. That boy was
myself-Harry Church; that baby
Mary Moore. ~


Latersstill I sec myself at the old
school house. drawing my little chaise
up to the door that Maryemight ride
home. Many beating have gained
on such occasions, for other boys be-
side me liked her. and she, / fear, was
something Of a flirt. even in her pima.
fore. How elegantly she came tripping
down The steps when I called her name
how sweetly her blue eyes looked al
me, how gaily rang out her merry
laugh No one but Mary could evel
bring her heart SO near her lips. ]
followed that laugh from the days of my
.childhood I'LL ! grew an awkward,
blushing youth I followed it through
the heated noon of manhood: and now
when the frosts of age are silvering nv
hair, and many children climb upon nv
knee and calf me "father," I find that
the memories of youth are btrong, and
that even in gray hairs, I am following
tho music still. n@


When I was fifteen the first great
sorrow of my life came upon my breast.
1 was sent away to school, and was
obliged to part with Mary. We were
not to see each other for three long
years. This to me was like sentence
Of death, for Mary was like life itself
to me. But hearts are tough things
after all. "a


I left college in all the flush of my
nineteenth year. was no longer awk-
ward or embarrassed. I had grown
into tall, slender STRIPPING, with q
very good opinion OF myself both in
general and particular. II Ithoughto OF
Mary Moore, it WIS how could dazzle
and bewilder her with my good looks
and wonderful mental attainments,
and never thinking that she might aaz:
le and bewilder mo still more. Twas
a coxcomb, I know, but as youth and
good looks have fed, I trust That Imay
be believed when 1 say that self -conceit
has left me also. ~ .r9s;2A =: = I JILL


An advantageous proposal was made
at that time, and accepting it I gaze up
all idea of profession, and prepared
to 60 to India. In my hurried visit
home of two days saw nothing of
Mary Moore. She had gone to q board
ing-school at some distance, and was
not expected home until the following
May. uttered a sigh to tho memory
Of my little blue:eyed playmate, and
then called myself "a man again.


In a year, 1 thought, as the vehicle
whirlea away from our door-I will re-
turn, and if Mary is as pretty Us shc used
to be, why then, perhaps may marry
her.


And thus I settled tho fortune of q
young lady whom I had not seen for
four years. l never thought of the
possibility of her refusing me-ncver
dreamed that she would not condescend
to accept my offer.


But now know that had Mary met
me then she would have despised me.
Perhaps in the scented and affected
student she might have found plenty OF
sport; but as for loving me, should
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India was my. salvation, not merely be-
cause Of my success, but because my
laborious industry had countcracted
the evil of my nature and had matle me
q better man. When ut tho end of
three years prepared to return, I said
nothing of the reformation of myself,
which 1 knew had taken place. They
loved me as was, I inurmured to my
self, and they shall find out for them
selves whether avn better worth loving
than formerly.


picked up many a token from that
land of romance and gold for the friends
I hoped to meet. The gift for Mary
Moore I selected with a beating heart
it was ring of rough virgin gold, with
my name and hers engraved inside
that wassall, and yet the sight of the
little toy STRANGELY thrilled me as
balanced it on the tip of my finger.


To tho eyes of others it was but q
small plain circle, suggesting thoughts,
perhaps. by it's elegance, of the beauti.
full wliite hand that was to wear it. But
not to mellow much was embodied
there-all these things were hidden
within that little ring Of gold.


Tall, bearded, and sun-bronzc.l, ]
knocked ut my fathers house. The
lights in the parlor window, and the
hum of conversation and cheerful
laughter, showed me that company was
assembled there. I hoped that sister
Lizzie would come to the door, ,.n,l
might greet my family when no strange
eye was looking carclcs.ly on.


But no, servant answered my sum
mons. They were too merry in til,
parlor to heed the long absent one wAt