The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-11-17

I
en- him 10 seek his fortune elsewhere.
We are telling no romantic tale, but one
OF real life, and ~ real life years often
seem as hours, aud hours as cars. We
shall make no excuse, therefore, for pas
sing, over an Interval Of more than two
years.
II was the gloomy hour when Jonnie
aud her father sal AT their humble threshold.
+ The face Of the naden was sud almost TO
tears; while that Of the father wore sud
aud anxious expression. They had been
conversing, and now the old man resumed
their discourse.
Indeed, Jeanne" he said, /" God knows
| would IA urge 20 to DO that which wrong;
but We hae suffered aud suffered much SIN
Willie lcius. iva years and a half. amaist
a third, hae past sin' that day. Do not
greet, my doch,er, an your ould father
may na speak that which is heavy on his
mind, and he ceased, aud folded the now
weeping girl .endorly TO his bosom.
No, no father, 60 on, sobbed Jeanie,
eudeayoring 10 compose herself, an effort il
which she finally succeeded. Her father
resumed.
/ am growing auld. Jeanne, auldcr and
aulder every day, my shadow already fills
up half my grave-ard Tho time cauna be
lar ava, when | shall DO called to leave you
alone in the world.
Oh say not so, sObbed Jeanie, "you
will yel 1--we many year"
Ma, na, he answered, shaking his head,
though il pain my hear, to say 80, We, it
Is best you should know the truth. 1t will
pa be long before the SHOWS shall lie upon nc.
But ! see It makes you greet. | wll pass
on, Jeanie, 10 what lies heavy on my heart
and that is, nhcn am ava, thore will be-
no one to protect YOU. Gould hae seen
you comfortably settled, vi some ono 10
shield you from the cauld world, | could
haze gone TO my grave in peace. But il
maua ma be, 1t maun ma be-"
/ Poor Jeanne had listened 10 her fathers
words with emotions We will not attempt TO
portray. Long after every one else had
given over her lover for lost aud besides a
rumor Of two years standing, that be had
been drowned at sea, there was the fact OF
bis not returning Of the appointed time, to
silence all skcp,lcism-s bad chung 10
the hope Of his being alive, even when her
reason forbid the expression Of that hope.
I She had long read her fathers thoughts
nor could she indeed blame them. Their
poverty was daily growing more extreme,
L 50 that while her parents health was de-
clinlng he was compelled to deny himself
+ even the few comforts which he had hither.
TO possessed. These things Gu, Jeanne to
+ tho heart, and yet she saw no remedy for
them, excep, 10 what seemed more tern.
Die than death. Her affection for her lover
vas ONLY strengthened and purified by his
+ loss. Try as she would, she could not tear
/ thus living or dead, how could she wed
mother how could she take on herself
vows her heart refused 10 fulfill Day nf
Ter day, week AFTER week, and month after
month, had this struggle been going ou in
her bosom, bclwiNt duty TO her father and
love for hun to whom sho had plighled her
virgin VOWS. This evening her parent had
spoken TO her, mildly but seriously, on The
death OF her lover, and Jeanie's heart was
more than ever melted by the self devoted.
ness with which her gray. haired father
bad alluded TO her want Of protection 10
case Of his death, not even saying word
Of tho want Of the common comforts Of life
which his growing infrmites rendered
more necessary than cyc-, but of which
her cnuduci--oh how selfish in that mo.
meni il seemed 10 her--dcptived him. Il
was some moments before Jeanne could
speak, during which time she lay weeping
on her parents bosom. A. length she
murmuTcd.
Do WI me as We wish, father, maun
resist no longer, Gin It we're wicked. But
oh gle me little time to prepare, for the
heart IS rebeiltous and hard to overcome. |
know you do il all for the bcst-bU, |
maun hae soma delay TO tear the last
thoughts o Willie, thoughts which soon
vi be sinful, from my heart and over.
come by the intensity Of her motions she
burst toto flood of tears. Her father
pressed her to his BOSOM and murmurcd,
oh Joanic, Jeanne, could We know how
this pains my auld heart But the thought
tina, when | die 70 will be left unprotected
in the world, is sar within me. Time We
shall hac, darln, '---perhaps, he added of.
tor momenl's pause, it we're better TO
give up the scheme altogether. Aye f.!
Jeanic, will ma cross your wishes even in
this bu, trust in guide God to protect you
when am gone. Say no more, say no
more about it, dear one but do just as ye
WILL
"No, father said Jeanne, looking firm.
" up, while the tears shono through her
long eve. lashes like dew on the morning
grass, "no, will be selfish no longer
Your wish shall be fulfilled. Do not op-
pose me, for indeed, act now as feel
right. Gle me only the little delay for
which ask, and then will do as you say,
and--and and her voice trembled as