How I fell in love.
I fell in love when I was passing a summer at Saratoga. She, the woman I adored, I mean, was lair enough to plead my excuse for the truth. She had soft fair hair, which she wore in the most glossy of braids, wound round a small, exquisitely shaped head; she had large black eyes, making a most bewitching contrast to the light hair, and a clear pale complexion, white as snow; black eyebrows and lashes completed the piquant contrast.--She was neither tall nor petite — just about the size that is the most tempting for the caresses of a tall man — just tall enough for the head to lay confidingly against my shirt front, and the lips to be within kissable distance by a slight bend of my head.‘"Mr. Graham, allow me to introduce you to my cousin, who joined our party this morning."’
‘"Thank you for the offer."’ And I bent my arm to accommodate the tiny hand of a saucy little brunette, with whom I had been carrying on a desperate flirtation for three weeks.
‘"What is her name, Miss Stanley?"’ I inquired.
‘"Elizabeth Stanley; but as she is fair and slender, we call her Lily."’
Lily Stanley ! it was a name to fall in love with. I only took one look, and my heart was gone. I distinctly felt the void it left, when it sprang from under my vest into Miss Stanley's possession. I don't know what she wore, but her fair face and slender throat rose above clouds of soft white lace. There were pearls here and there; and, altogether, if I had fallen at her feet, I should have only acted out my sensations. It broke in upon this rapturous dream to hear my first flame, Miss Stanley, say.
‘"The Redowa. I am engaged to Capt. Hawley, and here he comes."’
Did I ask her to dance? I am sure I don't know. I recollect only that, five minutes later, we were gliding lazily through a slow, dreamy Redowa, and I held a tiny white gloved hand in mine, and found my idol was not the spiritual form she looked, by clasping my arm round a substantial waist — a slender, graceful waste — still made of flesh and blood, like wise silk, whalebone and lace.
I wished to have gone home next day; but I could not do it. Leave Saratoga ! Leave the paradise that contained my angel ! I could not endure the idea. My partner wrote the most appalling letter, threatening bankruptcy, ruin, all sorts of horrors, if I did not appear immediately in the counting room; but I wrote savagely back that ruin was Heaven compared to absence from--, and there I stopped, because the carriage waited for me to take my angel to ride.
Dick pondered over the blank, but considered I must be engaged in some speculation and wrote warning letters accordingly.
Pink silk and roses, blue silk and forget-me-nots, lilies of the valley if a white bonnet, and other attractions too numerous to mention, succeeded the white lace; and as my senses came slowly back to me, and I had eyes for decals, I was charmed with the neatness of every dress, from the glossy braids to the tiny slipper. The silks were deliciously fresh; the lace always snowy white; the skirts and stockings, sometimes displayed by the raising of a dress, were always so pure, so fine, and smooth, that every day found me more deeply in love.
Parting time came at last. Miss Stanley went to visit her aunt in Boston — I found out that we both lived in Philadelphia — and I returned to the counting-house and my disconsolate partner.
A month of separation fanned the flame the mouth of intercourse had lighted in my heart. The face was in all my dreams — now with drooping lilies falling from the soft braids, now set in the fine lace of the most bewitching blue bonnet, now wreathed with pale pink rose buds, now under the shadow of the drooping white plumes of her riding-hat.
Walking down Walnut street one lovely September morning, I saw a lady step into the cars. One glance at the neatly-gloved hand sent the blood to my heart; the little gaiter made it give a sudden bound, and then a fair face made it palpitate till I nearly choked.
She was at home. I should hear again the soft, low voice, whose every modulation told of her angelic temper. I should see the sweet smile that always greeted me, and again be-in Elysium. Ah, me!
I could not call until the following morning; then I left Dick groaning over neglected Western customers, and went home, donned my white suit of linen, with a narrow, black neck-lie, smoothed my bluest shirt over my broad chest drew on my most intense pair of pale buff-kids, set a becoming straw hat over nicely-arranged curls, and sallied forth.
I ran lightly up the steps of 1617--street and rang the bell, gave my card to the girl who opened the door, and went into the parlor. It was in that semi-dark state, fashionable in the warm months, and coming in from the glaring sunlight — I could see nothing — I groped my way to a seat.
‘"I say I won't."’
A shrill, harsh voice in the next room gave forth this sentence with an angry vehemence that startled me.
A low, sweet voice answered:
‘"Lily, my dear !"’
‘"Your dear ! I don't want to be coaxed,"’ answered the first voice. ‘"I will go, and there's the end of it."’
‘"But you have been away all summer, and Jennie has not left home a tall."’
‘"Jennie ! What does a great ugly, red-faced thing like her want at a watering place?"’
‘"She is your sister."’
‘"Well, let her wait till I'm married, and then she can rule here. I have set my heart on going to aunt Nell's and I'm going."’
The folding doors were thrown violently back, and I saw into the next room.
Upon the sofa lay a pale, delicate-looking lady, evidently an invalid. Near her stood a tall, rather ugly girl, with a high color, probably ‘"Jennie;"’ but the most prominent figure stood in the opening she had made by throwing back the doors. A faded calico wrapper, torn under both arms, fell in uneven folds to the floor, a rent here and there making an ungraceful festoon; the pretty feet were thrust into old slippers, and the stockings were — were --well, the word will out — they were dirty ! Dirty stockings on a lady? Faugh ! The light hair I had so much admired was gone, except a little knot at the back of her head, which was tumbled, and had a dead, dry look; the glossy braids probably reposed upon her dressing glass. She did not see me, as I sat in a dark corner; and, crossing the room, she hit her foot on a stool.
‘"Confound the thing!"’ was her lady-like exclamation, and a vicious kick sent the stool spinning across the floor.
I rose. ‘"Good morning, Miss Stanley."’
A scream, a dash for the door, darkness came again over the parlor, and I was alone.
I fell out of love as rapidly as I had fallen into it, and took my white suit and blasted hopes out of the front door.
Dick is delighted, vows I am as thorough a business man as himself, and I have almost resolved to retain him as my only partner through life.
