Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, September 1847Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, September 1847
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
as she calls me, as she did in her little girl days, and cheers many an
hour that would otherwise be lonely. I find myself forgetting, when with
her, as she so flatteringly does, that I am no longer young; and I very
much fear Kate makes me a little too youthful in dress; but the darling,
bewitching creature, has such a saucy, decided way with her, that I
always yield to her wishes.
“What are you at?” she asked, as she closed the door; “looking over an
old writing-desk, as I live. What piles of letters and old things—that
is, indeed, delightful. Stores of love-letters, I’ll wager a bright,
golden guinea. Come, let me help you toss it over, and tell me the
love-history of each discarded one.”
Saucy girl! her mind seems only filled with lovers. But she would have
her way, and the whole day passed in this occupation. She boldly untied
each package, and resolutely determined I should tell her the little
history appended to each in my memory. The one I held in my hand when
she entered, was first taken up; and we both shed tears over the sad
story it recalled of friendship, love, and a broken-heart. It is too sad
a tale for me to relate to you now, dear reader, for I am not in the
tearful mood. Some gloomy, “_gray_” day, as Kate says, I will again
recall it, and see if you will sympathize with the past as did dear Kate
Wilson. I have digressed so much already, that I will take up one of the
smallest packages now, and relate to you the history of my school-girl
friend, Lolah Lalande, as she was called then. Her name is now more
famous; but I will keep that a secret until I arrive at the end of my
story. It was a small packet, containing only a few French letters, a
tress of long, glossy black hair, and a crayon sketch of a childish
figure in Spanish costume, and in one of the attitudes of a Spanish
national dance. It had a beautiful, girlish face, clear, dark
eyes—long, sweeping hair—arched, delicately formed brows—and rich,
full lips. That face has turned the head of a monarch, it is said—but I
will not anticipate.
“Tell me this, dear Miss Enna,” said Kate, as she looked at the contents
of the package. “It could not have been a friendship of long
standing—so little remains of it; therefore you will only have a tiny,
little story for me, and I will not teaze you again until—to-morrow, or
the next _gray_, rainy day.”
Kate listened with affectionate interest; and I’ll never forgive you,
reader, if you are not as indulgent as Kate. But I will seek your favor
in the words of Spenser:
“Goe, little worke! thyself present,
As child whose parent is unkent,
To him that is the President
Of Noblenesse and Chivalrie;
And when thou art past jeopardie,
Come tell me what was said of mee,
And I will send more after thee.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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