Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-27


Montfort-then he was scarcely known,
but now he ranked among the most emf
nent members of his profession Her glow
ing Imagination made shin what it would"
An approaching footstep reused her from
her reverie, and looking up she beheld Lin
coin standing before her. He had just ar
rived Unexpectedly on a visit to his native
place, and had come to see Neolia, but not
finding her in the house, had followed her
to the arbor How her heart fluttered, and
her bosom beaved at the sight of him!
He remained with her short time. He
was kind, affectionate as ever, but still he
was only friendl Friendship, when we
wish for love, is like the fragrance of dis
tant flowers--the odour is but family in
hailed, yet its sweetness makes us wish more
ardently to possess the flowers whence it
emanates.
at is yourattachment to study" said Lin
coin, as he rose to go. switch gives your
character that tinge of romance that makes
i, so pleasing to me. How much should
be pleased to see you enjoying every social
pleasure, and at the same time reveing in
all the delights which cultivated mind en-
Joys. But, continue he, taking up a vol
ridge, Shelley and Keats, perceive you
have just been reading. The poetry of
each one is excellent; which do you pre-
fer?'
SHELLEY" replied Neolia, "as his poetry
is repete with intellect and lofty feeling.
And then what author has surpassed him
in the choice of language, so forcible, so
harmonious. 1t has truly been remarked
that SheIlry's imagination seemed to rise,
like the eagle, towards the suns eye, and
enter the depth Of its blaze and glory! As
| have contemplated him, the victim Of
detraction; the solitary exile; I have felt
that the possession of intellect does not en-
sure ha ppiness to the possessor. Shelley
revelled in the glorious world of magma
ton. His mind was deeply imbued with
spirit Of poetry, but the mass of man
kind did OF appreciate his high intellectual
attainment s'."
Lincoln, who had been listening with
pleasure to this enthusiastic defence of the
lofty and ETHEREAL poet replied,
Il am delieh ted to find in you such an adj
mirer of Shelley. He is my favorte. Do
you know l have often thought that in dis
position, or rather feeling you somewhat re-
semble him! Your nature is too generous,
too ardent, too spring to permit you to
enjoy happiness. You have no feelings in
common with those around you-you are
not happy! He sa id this earnestly-the
blood mounted to her face--a moment and
it was deadly pale. A sudden thought
flashed over his mind Could Neolia love
him. But wholly occupied by ambition ne
was little skilled in the female heart, and he
dismissed the idea as Impossible.
at cannot be-" sald Lincoln. as he de-
parted, "she loves me onl Y as friend. Yet
she is not happy, and | sometimes have
thought that she nourish es an unfortunate
passion for some one; that fear, too, has
prevented ME from urging my own suit, for
feel that love her differently now from
what once did Would knew whether
she thinks of me differently from friend.
Yet her letters are so cold and formal. No
it cannot be. Ambition must still be my
mistress, thought" and he paused, and then
added, if | succeed in my schemes. and
can offer home worthy of her to Neolia,
will yet sue her for wife, and learn my
fate. Till then, love must yield to glory"
Such were the words of Lncoln as he
slowly left the presence of her he loved
Oh! had he but have trusted intimacy with
Media, and that moment retra ced his steps
to her, what agony might both have been
spared. But blind to her love for him and
swayed now by ambition and now by love,
he yielded in the struggle to the former,
and departed.
And Neolia was equally deceived. She
gazed after the retiring form Of Lincoln
until it was lost to sight, when her emotion
overpowered her and She burst into tears,
1T is in vain, IN Udin," she sobbed, land
nv fairest prospects are blghted. Those
little words an rain, how they have chang'd
the whole aspect of my life Why am
despoiled of my fairest hopes! 1t is ever
thus Desoation is mine. How soon have
sorrow-disappontInent clouded my sky
Hope once so buoyant is now pale watch
er over departed Joys. Do find a congo
NAL spirit How soon does the merciless
hand of fate deprive me of it, Does a
bright CLEAN of hope illume my pathway?
1t is swept away as an evening coud--it
vanishes as the morning vision. My dreams
are over. This deep, this fatal passion"
she exclaimed energetically, "it consumes
my heart"
Meanwhile, Lincoln returned home, and
was soon wholly occupied in his political
schemes. He was candidate for high
Office in the gift of the people, but the op-
position to him was violent, and it needed
all his powerful energies backed by the in
thence of his friends to insure his success.
) Plunged into this contest, he had time for
In l.