The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-03-02

lduy Oy looks anu .Ouesi WHICH, tnOu8b uo'
explicit, in one sense, are susceptible of but
a single definition r asked his friend
searchingly.
"Oh perhaps sometimes girls do lose
their hearts thus but us only when they
know nothing of the world. Gentlemen
will be attentive 10 the ladies', and so-and
So
And so sometimes a heart will be bro
ken by the criminal coquetry of our sex, y
Indignantly interrupted the other. There
was pause, during which Harry regarded
ms friend in surprise. At length he spoke.
"Why, really, you look at the suhiec,
TOO warmly; but calm your fears neither
Sophy nor Miss Nalllere will break their
at all smi,,en." and he complacenily pulled
the smoke slowly from his mouth, "she
would never be the worse of 1t, even II |
shouldn't marry ber-a mere preference,
nothing more, believe me !"
! "Well, | hope So" said his companion,
and here the conversation ceased.
DAYS and weeks passed, and still Harry
was torn by conflicting emotions, one while
inclined toward tho heiress, and another
while yielding 10 the iasclnalions OF her r.
val. OIten, during this period, his con.
science reproached hm for bis conduct 10
Eveline, and he resolved TO forget Sophy
I but again he yielded 10 the temptation, aud
neglected bis first love. He could no long.
er conceal from himself that Miss aihefe
loved him, since her every look and action
when in his presence, aud her despoudeucy
at bis absence and neglect, revealed L.
I His heart smote han, when he thought tbs
was his work but, he asked himself, ought
he TO wed one whom he did not love -
Should he sacrifice happiness with Sophy
who bad 40 intellect 10 sympa;hlze wila
him, for indItfereuce with Eveliue lie
did not remember, when thus reasoning
with himself, tina, be had at one time,
thought Miss Valliere better fitted for q
wife. by her seotleness and unreservej dc
vo,ion, than one Of more brilliant but loss
amable character He forgot, too, tha,
her affections had been Yielded slowly md
only 10 return for the most ceaseless alien
lions. But, like too many Of bis sex, be
tired Of en- object when won.
But the struggle at length was ,ermiua
ted and with the ickleness that character.
ized his conduct, terminated in favor Of the
newer object of his love. He resolved "a
cease visiting EVeline, and devote himself
wholly to Mss Greene. His visits accord.
ugly increased 10 frequency a, her house
and he soon became satisfied that her al.
lentions TO him were more marked than
those she bestowed on other young men
Thus encouraged he did 90, hesitate TO de.
clare himself one evening when favorable
opportunity presented.
Sophy listened 10 his arden. pro,esta,ions
with burning cheek and beating bosom
but, when ho ceased, she slowly raised hei
eyes from the ground, and said
Before can consent to become your
wife, VII you answer me ono question 2
and fixing her eyes searclingIg on his face
though her cheek crmsoned deeper as she
did it, she asked, do you know EyelIne
Valliere ~
Had spectre started up before him, Har.
~ would 20, havo looked more aghas,.--
Wha, could she mean! Had she heard Of
his attention TO, and his deser,iou Of, Miss
VALERIE Did she resent the latter !-or
had she merely learned the former, and
wished to solve her doubts before answer.
ing! This last idea was the most hlt;er
log, and, therefore, the one adopted. IL
smiled as he replied,
"Ies once knew a lady BY that name
Once knew her !" said Soohy, with
marked emphasis, and do you know bcr
10 longer Y
:" can scarcely say do, said Harry
bis embarrassment, returning at the decided
manner Of bis qnes,ioner. " But she has
long forgotten the and have ceased visit.
ing thero."
"Fhore needed In, this baseness, said
Soply, rising, with flashing eyes, the whole
expression Of her face changing to indignant
scorn, " to make you as contemplate IN my
eyes, as you were before criminal. Know
false and tickle man, tina, have heard the
whole history Of your acquaintance with
Miss VaIliere-how, by slow aud winning
attentions you possessed yourself Of her
heatt-how, when you me, another who, for
the time, pleased your selfish nature better
you became attentive TO this new acqualn
tance--and how, notwithstanding you kuew
The love Miss VALERIE bore for you, YOU a,
icngth lett her to pine IN dependency. IN.
I'll her life ls now desparcI Of by her friends.
Aud yet you come here and dare to iusu
me with an offer Of your love-" she spoke
this word with bitter scorn--" you the al
most murderer Of one woman, and the
wronger, thereby of cur whole sex. Az
more you hesi,a,ed long because, forsoolh,
vas too poor, as II love, that holy sen,l-
rnent, Of which such wre,ches as YOU can
know nothing was to be .prolaned by base
thoughts Of lucre tell you, Harry Col.
bert, have known all this for weeks, and
have waited patiently for this hour, STOPPING
to a deception which | dosplse, that might
revenge NY sex a, the last. You seek a
yornauIa love '--whv yru bnotu m ,,o-a. ~