Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-12-12

10 sng-MiSs LeSlle-that might have been
inspired by such dreamy landscape as this y
he continued recoIecting himself, "may
presume 10 ask Tor it!'
II would have accorded with Alice's assumed
indifference to have at once and as if careless
ly, complied but she had 80 often sang il in
other days for him, that it woke too many old
and tender memories in her bosom, and she
feared it might lead her into an emotion that
would reveal what she would die rather than
belray. The exclamation too he had just ut-
tered, and more than all its apparent fervor
went to her heart, and dissipated all her resolu-
lions to seem reserved and cold. She could
not sng--shr begged to be excused.
"Miss Leslie has surely not forgotten it,
said Harry, as if hurt, shut perhaps there are
Io'hers-"he paused, not knowing how to end.
"lndeed cannot sing tonight" said Alice,
dropping her eyes, "some other time ii you
please" and the low, touching voice said more
than her words.
"lou don't seem WE'LL" said Harry, looking
irelingly into her face, "havc you been long
so?"
''Not very" she scarcely gasped--for the
tone in which he spoke, and the calling her by
her name as Of old, was almost too much for
her overcharged mind.
81 hope you have not been very ill--strange
that never heard of it," said Livingston, mu-
singy.
ut is only a coId--that has staid longer than
common" answered she with difficulty, in her
soft, musical voice.
"Alice!" said Hurry, after a mo.3..t's pause,
"there is something greves you--et me claim
the privilege ofan old friend, to enquire what
is. know it is unusual for our sex to speak
thus, but we were brought up from childhood
together, and feel there is something preying
on your mind that causes your illness. You
are paer, thinner, sadder than you used to be,
and even your voice is mellowed down to an al
most ethereal soNness--what is the matter,
AIicern
Perhaps, at another time, mindful ofhis con
duct the proud beauty would have repealed his
questions with indlgnuy, and walked silently
'away--bul now she felt mysterious influence
chaning her to the spot, like the weird power
which our oden fathers tell US often fixes our
doom.
The tone ofinterest 100 in which Livingston
spoke, touched the tendereSt chords of her DO.
SON, and though she struggled to answer, the
words choked in her throat. Little she thought
did he suspect the cause Of her illness, and oh!
--She would have given worlds that he never
should. Yet it was agony TO hear him thus
speak, when after all il was only the common
interest of friendship. She knew he had for
gotten her, and she had long made up her mind
to forget him--why then were they thus
thrown together to call up old times again, and
open alrcsh the wound long months OF suffer.
ing had scarcely healed? She turned away
her head--for she could mol endure it--and the
thick, binding tears sweed one by one into her
eyes, and d!mmed her long, dark lashes.
"AIice!" SAID Harry, in low voice.
She answered not,--but lie thought he heard
her sob.
"Alice!" said Harry, gently taking her un-
resisting hand, as light flashed suddenly upon
him at once to put his fate upon the cast / a die,
dear Alice !"--and he felt her hand trembIe I'M
his own like leaf as he proceeded, "why have
we been so long separated! God knows,
would coin my blood to save you momenPsI
sorrow, and though have seen you so little oil
late, it was only because dared not trtie with
1ne loved like you. You are wealthy heir
ess--I am a pennless orphan, and lelt there
was no hope for me in aspiring to the hand Tor
which so many contended. Dare | even now
lope?-you are weeping Vice." and while
rush OF ecstacy, which we feel but once in our
ives--and that is when for the first time we
know ourselves to be beloved--he stole his arm
.round the waist of the trembling girl, and
rev her gently, yet unresisting, and weeping
IS she was toward his bosom. 1t was a holy
moment, and Tor awhile she sobbed as If her
,eart would break. What would not Harry
ave given 10 have spared her that seconds
ngush! At last he whispered,
"AIice!- am lorglvenW
There was no answer--but as the lovely
,r raised her head from his bosom, her deep
uo eyes looked at him timldly moment
Trough their tears, and then, as 1t afraid even
i herself, she nestled her head again in his bo'
ON. 1t neeIed nothing more. That look hud
DID volumes. All! sir, there is nothing 50 de-
cous AS The first moment Of unreStralned con
dence from one we love!
"And you will tell me, now, why you were
g whispered Harry, kissing away her tears,
$ he raised her head gently from his shoulder
"Hush !--hush lot US 60 INTO the house
hey will miss u.s." whispered the beautiful
irI, as her dark eyes fell TO the ground, and
he turned her head partially away But even
hen Harry could sec that she bushed from
row TO bosom. |,
"And so her heart was not broken after all,
blood!-- but was afraid 1t would
C at limes--you almost made me cry, my old
oy--but it told on the sherbet and how" Is
.No. il was not broken-lor from that night
Ilice grew better, and when, after some de-
nurring from the old gentleman, they were at
asst married, she looked lairer and more beau
lCul than ever Egad, sir, old as was, dane.
IL