Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-03-11

period. his conscience reproached him for his con.
duct to Evehe, and he resolved to forget Sophy:
but again he yielded to the temptation, and ne.
elected his first love. He could no longer con.
ceai from himself that Miss Valliere loved him,
sioce her. every look and action when in his pre-!
sence, and her despondency at his absence and
neglect revealed it. His heart smote him, when
he thought this was his work; but, he asked him.
self, ought he to wed one whom he did not love
Should he sacrifice happiness with Sophy, who
had an intellect to sympathze with him, for indif-
fen,nce with Evelinel He did not remember
when he thus reasoned with himself, that he had,
at ono time, thought Miss Vaere better fitted for
wife, by her geDtleness and unIeserved devotion.
than one of u more brilliant, but less amiabe cha.
acter. He forgot, too, that her affections had
teen yielded slowly; and only in return for the
most ceaseless attentions. But, like too many of
his sex, he tired of an object when won.
But the struggle at length was terminated, and
with the fickleness which characterised his con.
duct terminated In favor of the newer object of
his love. He resolved to cease visiting Evelino,
and devote himself wholly to Miss Greene. His
visits accordingly increased in frequency at her
house; and he soon became satisfied TINT her at
tentlons to him were more marked than those she
bestowed on other young men. Thus encouraged,
he did not hesitate to declare himself one evening
when favorable opportunity presented.
Sophy listened to his ardent prdestations with
a burning cheek and beating bosom; but, when
he ceased, she slowly raised her eyes from tho
ground, and said.
"Before can consent to become your wifo,
will you answer me one question p and fixing
her eyes searchingy en- his face, though her cheek
crimsoned deeper as she did il, she asked, .'do you
know Eveline Vallere z"
Had spectre started up before him, Harry
would not have looked more aghast. What could
she mean! Had she heard Of his attentions to
and his desertion of Miss Vaiere ? Did she re.
sent the latte. FOR had she merely learned the
former, and wished 10 solve hor doubts before an
swerlng. This last idea was the most flatterng,
and therefore tho one adopted. He smiled as he
replied,
"Yes! once knew lady of that name.
"Once knew her," said Sophy, with marked
emphasis; sand do you know her no longer 20
81 can scarcely say do" said Harry, his en-.
barrassmont returning at the decided manner of
his questioner. 'But she has long forgotten me,
and have ceased visiting there.''
''lhere needed but this basencss,' said Sophy,
rising. with flashing eyes, the whole expression of
her faca changing TO indignant scorn, 'to make
you as contemplate Ia my eyes, as you were be.
fore criminal. Know, false and tickle man, that
have heard the whole history Of your acqua;n-
fance with Miss Valiere--how, by slow and win.
ning attentions, you possessed yourself of her
heart-how. when you met another who for the
time pleased your selfish nature better, YOU be.
came attentive to this new acquaintance-and
how, notwithstanding the love you knew Miss
Valliere bore for you, you at length left her to
pine in despondency, until her life is now despair
ed OF by her friends. And yet you come here
ana dare to insui, me- with an offer of your love-"
she spoke this word with bitter scorn-"you +! the
almost murderer of one woman, and the wronger
thereby OF our whole sex. Ay! more-you hesi.
tated long because. forsooth was too poor, as if
love, that holy sentiment of which such wretches
as you can know nothing, was to be profaned by
base thoughts of lucre! tell you, Harry Colbert,
have known all this for weeks, and have waited
patiently for this hour, STOPPING to q. deception
which despiss, that might revenge my sex at
the last. fon seeli woman's ove!-why you
know no more of that pure sentiment than
the meanest hind that crouches at his masters
whip! A true woman scorns the hand Of man
Ike you, who, for the qualification of petty van
lty, or OF his own seishness, would ,scrt heart
that he had won. The time was when mioht
nave loved you, but it was when thought YOUR
heart noble. now see its baseness, duplicity,
and littleness, and, bad az you are. cannot hate
you from very scorn. Go! and 60, knowing this,
that woman can avenge her sex even at the cost
OF so petty lover as YOURSELF"
Inc whitening contempt with which these last
words were spoken, was the last drop in the cup of
the lovers shame. While Sophy continued speak.
ing, he had stood abashed before her, no. daring to
Mt his eyes but once to her face and then the in.
dlgnant flash Of her eyes, and the bitter mockery
on her lip, were no temptation for him to repeat
the experiment. And when she ceased, he rose
and almost rushed from the room, too utterly con.