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Article LOVE'S MASK. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Love's Mask.
him The wishes of his friends , and his own inclinations , determined him ' to the military profession , in which he rose rapidly . Wherever he went he was loved and esteemed . His excellent temper seemed to exert itself only for the well-being and advantage of others . And without being conscious of it , he was right glad at heart at having lost the only adversary nature had ever appointed him . _ The rirl the other handstepped at once into a new position ; her
< on , years and her increasing stature , and , still more , a certain inward feelmo- withdrew her from the boisterous sports in which she had hitherto delWed . On the whole , there was something wanted to her — her existence seemed a vacuum-there was nothing around her winch appeared to be worth the trouble of hating or loving ; she had yet found
no one . . „ , - , , A young man , older than her voung antagonist , of rank fortune , and character , a favourite in society ; and much sought after by those prudent mothers who had daughters to dispose of , fixed upon her his exclusive regard . It was the first time that a friena , a lover , a servant , had made h ! s court to her ; and the preference he gave her over many older and richer than herself was gratify ing to her vanity . His attentions constant , but never importunate , his suit to her parents quiet , yet his favourfor than
explicit enough , prepossessed her in ; more a year this negative kind of courtship continued . She had so often , during that penod , been called affianced , that , without reflection , she really became so ; nor did it occur to her that any trial was necessary when she exchanged rings with the individual whom the world had so long considered as her destined husband . The quiet course of the affair was not much accelerated by the betrothment . All was allowed to go on as before , for the parties were still young , the passion on either side was not VM-V n « W . and thev were disposed to enjoy the present fair weather as
the " vernal season of their existence . Meanwhile the absent youth had cultivated the opportunities afforded him , and obtained merited promotion in the profession he had chosen . Leave of absence being accorded him , he returned home to visit his family , and once more stood in the presence of his fair neighbour and enemy . She had lately been entertaining none but friend ike , quiet domestic bride-like sentiments ; she was in harmony with all that andafter
fashioncersurrounded her ; she believed herself happy , , a , tainly was so . For the first time since his absence something was again opposed to her ; it was not hateful ; she had become incapable of hate - nay , the girlish hatred which , properly speaking , had been but the bland recognition of inward worth expressed itself now m glad astonishmentin delighted looks , and oblig ing confessions . A long separation gave and frequent discoursesEven their former childish
occasion for long . hatred now served the enlig htened pair as an amusing remembrance , antl it seemed to be regarded as a matter of necessity that they should atone for their past folly by mutual kind attentions . On the youth ' s side all this was kept within the bounds of a wise moderation . His military rank , his pursuits , his ambition , found him such abundant employment , that he accepted the friendship ot the fair bride addition to bis leasureswithout regarding her with
as a grateful p , any personal views , or envying the bridegroom , with whom he was on the best of terms , his possession . With her the case was very different ; she seemed to herself to have awakened out of a dream . Contention with her young neighbour hatl
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Love's Mask.
him The wishes of his friends , and his own inclinations , determined him ' to the military profession , in which he rose rapidly . Wherever he went he was loved and esteemed . His excellent temper seemed to exert itself only for the well-being and advantage of others . And without being conscious of it , he was right glad at heart at having lost the only adversary nature had ever appointed him . _ The rirl the other handstepped at once into a new position ; her
< on , years and her increasing stature , and , still more , a certain inward feelmo- withdrew her from the boisterous sports in which she had hitherto delWed . On the whole , there was something wanted to her — her existence seemed a vacuum-there was nothing around her winch appeared to be worth the trouble of hating or loving ; she had yet found
no one . . „ , - , , A young man , older than her voung antagonist , of rank fortune , and character , a favourite in society ; and much sought after by those prudent mothers who had daughters to dispose of , fixed upon her his exclusive regard . It was the first time that a friena , a lover , a servant , had made h ! s court to her ; and the preference he gave her over many older and richer than herself was gratify ing to her vanity . His attentions constant , but never importunate , his suit to her parents quiet , yet his favourfor than
explicit enough , prepossessed her in ; more a year this negative kind of courtship continued . She had so often , during that penod , been called affianced , that , without reflection , she really became so ; nor did it occur to her that any trial was necessary when she exchanged rings with the individual whom the world had so long considered as her destined husband . The quiet course of the affair was not much accelerated by the betrothment . All was allowed to go on as before , for the parties were still young , the passion on either side was not VM-V n « W . and thev were disposed to enjoy the present fair weather as
the " vernal season of their existence . Meanwhile the absent youth had cultivated the opportunities afforded him , and obtained merited promotion in the profession he had chosen . Leave of absence being accorded him , he returned home to visit his family , and once more stood in the presence of his fair neighbour and enemy . She had lately been entertaining none but friend ike , quiet domestic bride-like sentiments ; she was in harmony with all that andafter
fashioncersurrounded her ; she believed herself happy , , a , tainly was so . For the first time since his absence something was again opposed to her ; it was not hateful ; she had become incapable of hate - nay , the girlish hatred which , properly speaking , had been but the bland recognition of inward worth expressed itself now m glad astonishmentin delighted looks , and oblig ing confessions . A long separation gave and frequent discoursesEven their former childish
occasion for long . hatred now served the enlig htened pair as an amusing remembrance , antl it seemed to be regarded as a matter of necessity that they should atone for their past folly by mutual kind attentions . On the youth ' s side all this was kept within the bounds of a wise moderation . His military rank , his pursuits , his ambition , found him such abundant employment , that he accepted the friendship ot the fair bride addition to bis leasureswithout regarding her with
as a grateful p , any personal views , or envying the bridegroom , with whom he was on the best of terms , his possession . With her the case was very different ; she seemed to herself to have awakened out of a dream . Contention with her young neighbour hatl