The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-12-29

Florence TO party ct Mrs. B--'s. Eg
cry thing was gay and brilliant, aud there
was no lack either Of vii or vine. Elliot
was standing in little alcove, spread with
refreshments, with glass Of VINE IN his
hand. 81 forbid It; the cup is poisoned, :
SAID voice 10 his ear. He turned quickly,
aud florence was a, his side. Every one
was busy with laughter aud talking around,
aud nobody eaw the sudden start and iiush
that these words produced, as Ellio, looked
earnestly IN the lady's face. She smiled,
and pointed, piayfully, to the ring but after
all, there vas 10 herface an expression Of
agitation and interest which she could not
suppress, and Elliot felt, however playful
tie manner, that she was in earnest and as
she gided away in the crowd, he stood with
bis arms folded, and has eyes fixed on the
spot where she disappeared.
ais it possible that | am Suspected
that there are things said Of NE, as # were
10 danger 2" we're the first thoughts that
flushed through his mind. How strsuge
that man may appear doomed, gwen Up,
and los, to the eye Of every locker On, be
fore he begins 10 suspect himself TINS
vas the first tine that any defined oppre.
hrGsion Of loss Of character had occurred TO
Elliot, AID he was startled as If from o
dream.
"H bat the deuce is the matter With you,
Eliot ? you look as solemn as hesfse y
SAID young man rcar by.
Has Miss Eiuore ou'you r said ano'h.
or.
Come, man, have glass, said bind.
L.: BIN a!oue--he's bewRched," sald
a fourth; saw The spell laid 90 him
None Of Us can say bus our turn lasy cone
next"
An hour later that evening, Florence
vas talking, wih he. u,ua! rpIrt, 70 a
group who acre collected around her, Wien,
suddenly locking o. she ssN Elu,, stand
ing IL an abs,fdcled manner al che Of the
Windows that looked out INTO lae balcony.
" lie is offended, dare saw" she
thought; but Nby should care For once
10 my life have tuet 10 90 right thing,
good thug; have usked giving offence FOR
less than this. macy tune" Shil, Flor
euce could not but feel lremulous when,
iea moments after. Eliot approached her,
aud offered bus arm Tor promenade. They
aa.krd up and down the room, size talking
so!ubly, aud he answering yes aud 10, aud
auy thiug Else, at cross purposes, ul al
length, as II bq accident, be drew her into
the balcony ~b,ch oserhuug the garden -
The moon was SHINING brightly, aud every
lhns without, 10 rs placid quietness, eon
tasted strangely with the busy, hurrying
scene within.
Z" Miss Gilmore" said Elliot, abruptly,
may ak you, sincerely had on auy de
sign 10 remark YOU made 10 me In the ear
~ part Of the evening
Florence paus d, and though bsbitualy
the most practised and self possessed OF wo
men, the color actually receded from her
che K, as she answered
" Yes, Mr.. Elliott must confess that
bad.
e" And is i possible, then, 'ba, you have
heard any thing
3" have heard, Mr.. Elliot, that which
makes me ttea,bc for you and for those
whose lie | know Is bound Up 10 you and.
tell me, were I, we'll, or friendly 10 ne IL
knou that such things were SAID, that such
dagger existed, ard not 10 warn you Of it. ;"
Ethot stood for few moments 10 81.
leuce.
:" Have offended Have taken too
great liberty - SAID Florence, gently.
Hitherto Elliot had only seen IN Florence
The se.s possessed, assured, lighihearted
woman o. fashion bet there vas a reality
and depth Of ire!ns "a Che tca words she
had spukru to blm, "a this interview, that
opened to Lim cuucely rev view ~ her
character.
No, MIss Elmore," said he earnestly,
after some pause % may be pqiRed, Of.
tended cannot be. To tell ;he truth,
have been thoughiIess, excited, dszzled /;
ny spirits, naturally buoyaui, have carried
the, often, tGn FAR, and, lately, have often
painfully suspected my own powers Of re
ssslaucc; | have really felt that needed
help, bot have been too proud to confess, even
TO myself, that ! needed IL. You, Miss II.
more, have done what, perhaps, no one else
could have done. am overv hclmel with
gratitude, and shall bless you for !, to the
latest day OF my life, | am ready to pledge
myself to any thing you may ask on this
subject
" Then" said Florence, do not shrink
from doing ~hatll IS safe and necessary aud
right for you 10 do, because you have once
SAID you would not do il. You understand
me-"
" Pseciscly,' replied Eliot "anI you
shall be obeyed."
II was not more than " eek before the
news was circulated, that even George FL
bot had signed the pledge Of temperance.
There was much wondering at this sudden
turn among those who had known his utter
repugnaBce 10 any measure Of the kind. and
the extent tn Which he haI :, igt{gJ ., ,,,,,,,