Democratic banner., 1847-05-31
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engaged III WrlllnS when q Knock at Ills dooT
gave signal of another interruption.
well, what is it, Horace" he asked,
somewhat p~etulantly.
1.-TWO women want to see you, naSsa,'
replied Horace. sOne is a white lady, and
the other a colored lady. Wheugh!
st must be some mistake. However,
show them in,' said the lieutenant.
And the females were ushercd in by lfo-
race, who seemed disposed to tarry to See
the result of the interview.
The taller of the females, however, who
was yelled, pointed to the door until lie took
the hint and quilted the room. Then throw
ing back her veil she disclosed the features
Of Josephine De Valville.
The lieutenant lose and uttered an OK
clamation of surprise.
sAnd can you not divine the motive that
has brought me here?' asked Josephine in
a tone at once Of humiliation and tender
ness.
The lieutenant looked inquiringly at the
colored girl, by whom she was accompanied,
She is a deaf mute,' said Josephine; sand
so devoted to me, that / fear not to trust
her with the dearest secrets of my heart.
pray you 10 Oe SSdlCO1 NAASS DO 'ai
ville,' said the lieutenant.
Josephine complied, and then placing
both hands before her eyes, she remained
silent, and with heaving bosom seemed TO
be struggling with an agony of tears. The
colored girl knelt by her side and affection
ately tried to look into her face; but, on a
wave of her mistress's hand, she bctook
herself to distant corner of the room, and
stood there immovable as a statue.
sSir, need no explanation of this Wis
IT, at length Josephine faitcred forth; my
tears, my anguish, proclaim ALL
Proceed, Miss De Valville;' said the
lieutenant, with an iron hearted delibera-
ton of tone and a freezing manner.
% sir, be merciful; be merciful!' she ex-
claimed, in a voice choked by sobs; 'and do
not compel ME to humiliate myself farther
'What is the meaning of all this:?' asked
the lieutenant, with an air Of innocent in
quiry.
Listen to he, then,' she said, curbing'
her emotion by a violent effort of the will,
young as am. l have been nearly ten years
a spoiled child OF society. Ihave had suit
or after sutton kneel at my feet and woo me
with the earnestness of desperation. But
never, affirm to you, was my heart even.
for a moment touched by the ~faintest thrill
of emotion akin to love until
EUntil what, Miss De Valville."
until l saw you; listened to you; loved
you, as never woman loved before. Is it
manly in you to extort from me s1ch a Con-
feSsion.'' And thus saying, Josephine bent
Ger head and wept passionately.
Have | solicited your confidence, mad
am" asked the lieutenant with naughty
GOODNESS.
Lifting her head abruptly, Josephine
looked him in the face, and continued
sHave you not been aware long since of
the infatuation which has possessed me, and
which you have fed by your presence and
your attentions, distant as they always were?
Tell me, have you not been aware of this?'
sYes,'
tAnd you still had the cruelty to encour-
age the fatal passion, which you saw envel-
oping in its inextricable folds my very soul!
You knew this; and you would not sea-
sonably protect me from your presence:?'
Il would mott
FAlas, sir, common humanity
Humanity exclaimed the lieutenant
sPringing to his feet, and bending in her a.
glance whichmade her cower-sHumanity.
Josephine. De Valville, profane not that
word byyour utterance! have heard your
story-now listen to mine. had a broth
era younger brother-the pride of my
fathers household-how dearly l loved him
l will not say, for you have not the heart to
comprehend me. He visited this city,
and daily wrote me a journal Of his advent
lures, his plans and purposes, his hopes and
fears. At length he wrote me that he was
in love. He confded to me a descriptionI
of every look the loved one gave him, of
every word she uttered. sShe MUST lowell
him. | exclaimed as l read. He thought
so too; and, emboldened by my %acquics-
cence in his conviction, he sought an expla-
nation-declarcd his passion, and wasIt
laughed al for what the lady had the heart
l~essness to call his presumption! FrenziedI
with disappointment at finding himself de-
ceived, betrayed, the wealth of his affe
tion wasted, he committed suicide; the news
killed his mother, brought a premature old
age upon his father, and desolated the hap
piest household in the village of his birth. |,
You, you, Josephine De Valville, were the
n