Democratic banner., 1847-05-31

winters in New Orleans. Deprived of her
mother while yet an infant, she had enter
ed society at an age when many young ladies'
have hardly left the nursery. The conse-
quence was, that long before her heart
could learn to distinguish between real and
fictitious afiection-bctwcen the common
places Of hattcry and the utterance Of true
Efecling-she had become so accustomed to
the adulaticn of ballroom danglers and
men of the worid--tIat what an unsophis-
Gated girl would regard as a formal offer on
the part of an admirer, Josephine would
laugh at it as the rhodomontade of a half
jesting spirit. Often when a mere child
with p0ntaIettes and braided hair, her faith
er's friends would make love to the little
lady in sport, until Josephine came to look
on love, which, a very serious matter to
people, as a joke rather the worse for
wear. All! herheart had never been touch
ed.
But who is smith!3' asks the reader.
All that l know of Smith is, that he came
to New Orleans from one of the great north
crn cities as the agent of a mercantile
house. Combining with the vocations of
the man of business habits, tastes and ap-
pearancc of the gentleman, he easily found
access to tie choicest society. 1t was at
her fathers own house that he first met Jo-
sephine; and thcccfOrth lie embraced all
opportunities, and they were numerous, of
charging the acquaintance. There were
young men, who could more huently
discourse on topics grateful to a lady's ear;
and Josephine encouraged his attentions
without troubling herself 10 inquire into
his motives. But what was amusing to her
was death to her victim. lie was all the
while adding fuel 10 the danes that she had
kindled; but Joseai:ire'S heart was lnno-
cent of love as an iceberg is of vegetation.
After the interview, ofwhich the reader
has already bccn informed, Smith resolved
to seek a final understanding. He made
al. early morning call, expecting to find her
But one Mr.. Fitzfool, an o~pulent
dan.icr, vas present in the drawing-room;
and Josephine was apparently listening with
a pleased attention to his innocent babbic
about the newest l~lirtati ms, the last great
ball, and the merits Of the walters. She
bowed careIess!y to Smith as he entered.
addressed to him a common place obscrva-
ton Of ordinary courtesy, and then resUm-
ed her conversation with F!tzfool, who had
raised his cye-glass upon the entrance of
The intruder. Smith took up a French copy
Of 'Picciola' and tried to bread; but lis brain
was in a whirl, and his thoughts were all
with Josephine. Every time she laughed,
the sound chilled Lislscart, as if "nice-cold
Land had been laid upon it. SIS it not APP
palling'-hc murmured to himself, 'the ex-
tent to which | love this woman?' And as
the Interrogation passed through his mind,
another laugh from her was the response.
Atlcngth FitzfooI took his leave. Smith
down the book he had been holding,
and drew near to Josephine, and looked
her in the face.
sJosephine,' he said, may l ask it of your
friendship, to answer me one question with
the most perfect ~frankncss and sincerity?'I
do dot doubt, Mr.. Smith, was the reply,
that If | give you any answer, it will be a
true and candid one.'
IF you knew how much rested upon the
answer, Josephine, | am sure it would be
an honest one. DO not suppose that am
u~ttering the rant of an ordinary lover. AS
is above us, I speak no idle or I'M
meaning words. This is the most critical
moment of my life. Nay, my life hangs
upon it.
REALLY, Mr.. Smith, l am growing quite
curious, pray, what is your question:
'Do you, Josephine, positively forbid my
entertaining even the distant hope of ever
winning your consent to be my wife?'
'Yes, Mr.. Smith, most positively, most
concIusively, most irrevocatly.'