Democratic banner., 1847-05-31
A TALE.
by EPES SARGENT.

sAnd why do you thank Fortune for that,
Mr.. Smith?'
Because it gives me the opportunity that
have long coveted, and yet hesitated to
embrace-the opportunity of declaring
that is of-of-
'Of what sir? Pray speak IL (. You
know how fond l am Of candor.'
sIn ore word, then, Josephine, IL love
y,u.'
sAud is thataii? How provoking! I pre-
slIaad you had something interesting to say
something Notwithstanding new
sAh! you are jesting: Josephine. pray
you be serious.'
Then you must change the subject; for
it is one that will not admit of gravity"
sThe season is fastening to its close, Jo-
sephine. Summer is near; and must soon
Join my family at the north. mayn not have,
before my departure another opportunity
Of speaking with you. In friendships name,
if by no tenderer appeal, l besccch you to
give ME a moments earnest attention.
well, sir, proceed
That GOODNESS is assumed, l see it is
All Josephine, your heart can surely dis
tinguish the tones of true affection. 1t is not
the gallantry of the ball room that l proffer
you now, but the homage of my f~crvent,
my unspeakable love. FouchSafe to me
the hope that l may love You hereafter net
merely as the most beautiful of your sex,
but as a wife,
And with these words, Mr.. Smith knelt
at the lady's feet. But she, with a disdain-
full gesture, rose, and exclaimed
'When and how, sir, have given You au-
thority, BY NY conduct. to address language
of this import to me-:
'When and how, J1sephine.' returned
the young man, rising and riveting a gaze
of intense earnestncss upon her, as if doubt
ing whether or not she was making sport
of him by the inquiry, is not the report of
our eng cement current in all the circles,
wherein you visit? st every ball during
the season, have | not neglected all others
present to beStow upon you my undivided
atteDtions-and have not those attentions
been reccived-aye, not only, received but
encouraged? Have not a thousand Zines
protested more eloquently than words could
do it, by looks and actions, that l was Deep
ly, passionately enamored, and have you
not suffered me to repeat, time and again,
those protestations without intimating to|
the world or to myself that they were I'M
acceptable? All, Josephine, do not t~rile
with a heart over which you have such alb
solute sway. let your lips tell me what
your eyes have 50 often attirlncd-tell me
t,at mine IS net a hopeless passion
josephine moved with the step of a trag-
edy queen towards the door, and placing
her hand upon the knob, turned aud said:
'When Mr.. Smith has cured himself of
the folly, which has led him to the dcclara-
ton he has done me the honor to make, l
shall be most happy to receive him once
more as friend.'
And Josephine quilted the room.
1t was true as Smith had asserted, that
she had given him abundant encouragement
to make the offer, into which we have seen
him betrayed. Josephine De Valvillc was
the only daughter of one of the weaithiestI
planters in Louisiana. Few observers
were so fastidious as not to admit that she
was singularly beautiful. In stature she
was somewhat petite, but the symmetry of
her figure was such that nothing seemed
wanting to its perfection. Her features
were just the features to catch the gazer's
attention, even among a crowd Of beauti-
full women. Her eyes Of a dark, rich slate
color, riante, sparkling and animated in
their expression-her mouth is delicately
curved and tinted as the daintiest sea-shell
her exquisitely mounted forehead, over
which: fell curls so fine and thick that they
felt like down to the touch--imparted a
combination of traits 10 her countenance,
Which extorted CALCULATIONS of admiration