The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-26
elf she will, she will,
If she won't, she won't
And there's an end on't"

So, my sweet sister, keep your syllo-
gisns for some one else and leave me
to abuse George Alcott, otherwise !
shall take to quizzlng you, and every
body el.e mast numerically. The fact
is, he serves as sort of safety valve to
me --as long as have him to ridicule,
you are all safe-but, forbid this, and
there will be general explosion in
which every one will suffer-"
Kate accordingly went on as she
had begun. She was beautiful and ac-
complished, and had Aatterers without
number, so that she could do many
things with impunity that would not
have been overlooked in girls less ad-
mired. She deceived many as to her
true sentiments for George Alcott.-
Her lover cared little for this; but he
really was annoyed at the severe things
which often came to his ears as having
been said Of him by Kate. He was too
proud to demonstrate; but he showed
BY his manner how much he was hurt.
At such times, by few concessions,
Kate would restore him to good humor;
but, perhaps, on the very next day,she
would commit her old fault again.
"Ah! Kate, you are found out at last,
sly us you have been,' said one of her
companions to her. "You are enga-
ged to George Alcott-you needn't
curl your lip, for you can't deceive me
any longer i had it from his own Sis
ter
Now if there was.any one whom
Kate wished to conceal her engage.
mehts from, it was this gossipping girl,
who had often annoyed her excessive
Iy by trying to pry into her affairs. She
knew if Caroline Wharton once be-
came acquainted with her engagement,
the news would be common topic ev-
cry where before night. Thinking on
ly of this, Kate, withou, exactly deny
ing her engagement, began to ridicu'e
Geol &c Alcott. and did it so bitterly and
so efectualIy that Miss Wharton was
convinced she had been misintormed.
81 know it is not true" said the gos-
sip, on that very evening, in large cir
Gle of listeners. "You should have
heard what fun Kate made Of George
Alcott, how she mimmcked his voice,
and quizzed his bow, and initiated his
way of shutting his eyes, just like a
mole, as she said--you know he is
short-sighted. And now onl ly TO think
that no later than this morning, Mr..
Alcott's own sister told me they were
engaged--how could she be so regard
less of the truth?-but then you know,
the Alcotts would all give their little
fingers to bring about the match"
Just at that instant, unperceived by
the speaker, George Alcott himselfun-
expectedly entered the room. His face
became livid when he heard his mis-
tress's abuse of himself thus freely
commented on--but he actually trem,
bled with passion when Caroline Whar-
ton proceeded to charge his sister with
wanton falsehood. His first impulse
was TO break into the group, to defend
his sisters fame, and then TO renounce
all claim to Kate's hand. But, after
a moments reflection, he felt he could
not control himself sufficiently for this,
and, aware that violence of tone or ges-
ture would only make him laughing
stock, he turned on his heel and left the
apartment.
Once in his own room, however, he
became calmer. Yet his Indignation
against Kate did not decrease, for this
last insult was the drop that made the
cup run over. He felt that he had
borne much from her--more, indeed,
than high spirited man ought-but
his love, which amounted to adolatry,
had constantly invented excuses for her
hitherto. Now, however, the long ac-
cumulated conviction that, with such
woman he could never be happy, for
ced itself IRE esistibly upon him. "No,
| must be loved by one, who will never
make jest Of mel shall cease to
respect her, if she can mock me-" he
SAID. "Henceforth, Kate, though once
SO dear, you and must be only distant
acquaintances. Even if could forgive
you the injury to me. ! cannot over
look the insult to my sister,"
He did not write TO Kate that even
ing, but waited until the next day in
order that he might not be asty;when,
being more than ever assured of the
necessity Of this course Of conduct,he
penned her long letter, in which,after
telling her how much her habit Of ridi-
culing him and those he loved had an
noyed him during their long acquaint-
ance, he concluded by narrating this
instance offatal practice, and the man
ner in which it had come to his ears.
GA lar Lau;rex aaIaI ILL.,. g L. .l