The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-12
From the Racine Advocate.
COQUETRY REWARDED

III was twilight, the ruler of heaven and earth
seemed to have commanded stiffness the sun had
disappeared from view, and fearful silence
relgned. 1t was beautiful time for reflection.
and well might Ophela, the mos, beautiful of her
sex. select snch a time for reviewing the past
and anticipating the future. Ophela had return
ed from schnol tn be once resident at her
fathers, Col. Mayton's. She had strong pas
sIons. quick intellect, and winning disposition
these qualities with proper culture might have
made her all that conld be desired II is strange
that women, those thar pass for gentle and kind
hearted. who you'd not witness the struggles OF
bird nor harm the wings OF an insect, will
wiring the heart and .rample on the affections of
others with reckIessuess of principle which
would spall even themselves, -coBld lhev un-
dcrstand the nature Of their own acts In no
form and under no circumstances can il be harm
less To trIfe with the feelings uf fellow creature
Pardon us, dear readers, we are perhaps rambling
from onr story. AT ihe time it commenced. and
when OPhelia was seated On the trunk of on old
tree, young man was walking for tn To enjoy the.
caimness OF the evening, and as il was usually
beautiful extended his rambles beyond his nsnaI
IontHe. and aecidently met Ophelia. Am / so
fortunate as to- meei Miss Maytun? Happy in
deed am j, that have slrayed from my usual
walk
Indeed is it Henry, or rather, perhaps
shond say, MIR. Landon, that I see? No more
happy can you be at this unexpected meeting
Than myself; will you share my rural seat? In
the days of our childhood we were wont to repair
here, and. after returning The embraces of nv
father, and The salutatIons of few friends, re-
tired to this place fraught with many assucia-
tiuDs' a
May indulge the hope that the name of
Henry is interviewer with lhem all | am en-
couraged by the genieness Of your manner to
unfold my feelings to you, as I am going 10 leave
tomorrow; have waited kong and patiently for
this opportni,ity, which will crown or blast NV
future hopes | have loved yon long and deeply
even from the days of chidbuod and love ynu
stiil-my future and reputation you are we'll
aware oi-and now let me ask You you re-
turn that love and consent To be mine p
THAT yoer love is returned | freely admit.
and l will consent to be yours at some future
time, IT il can be known TO none hot ourselves
am rather opposed TO secret engae emenis
hut be 1t as you will; and now that our feelings
are congenial, it viii serve TO beguile my lime
while absent
They separated with the understanding that
they should write often and that there should be
freedom Of sentiment. We will now pass over
some six months. during which time Henry
wrote ofe@, OpbeIia sometimes
Prepare yourself, dear reader, and we will in
lrodnce you To party of fashionables assembled
al The mansion of one Uf the weathiest Of the
land. Ophelia was cunversinp with oenIJa-
man. MI. Stanton, who had spent several years
IN visiting foreign countries He seemed to he
perfectly enraptnred with the vivacity of his
companion, and he poured forth his hearth warm
est affection, and asked for return of sentiment
Think you she forgut Henry and the past could
II be possible 1t was so and before thew
separated she pledged to him. He returned
to close his business in foreign coantries and then
10 return and claim her as his bride Have
patience, kind reader and we will again intro
dDee you, act to one of the low born. hut TO the
nObIest OF mankind and TO an audience of nIany
hundreds, which was celebrating the national in
Dependence. Before them stood the distinguish
ed Alton he seemed To- be bOrne above earthly
language IN all absorbing theme. This time
Cupid winged his way to Ophelia's heart--for
she was iheTe-and she would have given worlds
to have even an idea that she might be beloved
by him. Then for the first time she asked her
self if such was Henrys and StantOns feelings to-
ward her; then IL was that she repented Of the
past. Weeks passed on /; Ophelia often met
Alton; she seemed 10 live only in his presence,
and aVailed herself of every neans in her power
to render herself attractive. He. at last, charm
ed with her personal beauty and her lively man
ners, asked her to share her fate with him
This time her answer came from the heart and
neither thought nor wish had she Of being IN
faithful. When she lhought Of the past, she
knew 1t would be no more than right that no
should prove tie unfaiihfsl one
Time sped ON swiftly; Henry was accGmula-
ting wealth, that he might more easily support