Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-02-05

"WeII, what is II, Horaccl" he asked, some
whs, peulan,lv.
"IwowOmen want 10 see YOU, massa, replied
Horace. "One is a white lady, and tn o,her a
colored lady. "Wheugh!"
Ill must be some mistake. However, show
them IN" said the lieutenant.
And the females were ushered 10 By Horace,
who seemed disposed 10 turry TO see the result Of
the interview
The taller Of the females, however. who was
yeed, pointed TO the door until he took the hin,
and quilted the room. Then throwing back her
veil she disclosed the features Of Josephine Dc
1 Navie.
! The lieutenant rose and uttered an exclama-
tion of surprise.
"And can You not divine the motive that has
brought me hsre!" asked Josephine in tone at
once Of humiliation and tenderness.
/ The lieutenant looked inquiringy at the color
cd girl, by whom she was accompanied.
/ "She is az deaf mute," said Josephine; "and so
devoted to me, that fear not 70 trust her with the
dearest secrets Of my heart"
! Il pray you to be seated, Miss de Valyille,"
said the lieutenant.
Josephine complied; and then placing both
hands before her ewes, she remained silent. and
with heaving bosom seemed 10 be struggling with
an agony Of tears. The colored girl knelt bv
her side, and afTectonately Tried to look into her
face; but, on a wave of her mis,ress's hand, she
betook herself to distant corner of the room,
and stood there mmovable as a statue.
"Sir, you need no explanation of this visit" al
length Josephine fatered forth-"my tears, my
anguish proclaim ALL"
"Proceed Miss de Vavie," said the lieu,en.
ant; with an iron-bearted deliberaton Of tone and
freezing manner.
so sir, be merciful-be mercifu!' she ex-
claimed, in voice choked by sobs-''and do not
compel me TO humiliate myself farther"
"Whatis the meaning Of all thisl" asked the
lieutenant, with an air of innocent inquiry.
"Listen to me, them" she said, curbing her
emotion by violent effort Of the will. "Younp
as am, have been nearly ten years a spoiled
child Of society. have had sutor after sutor
kneel at my feet and woo me with the eearnestness
of desperation. But never, affirm to you, was
my heart even for moment touched by the fain.
test thrill Of emotion akin 10 love, until"
! "Unul what, Miss de VavIe!"
"Untl saw you-listened to you-loved YOU
as never woman loved before. Is it manly in you
, TO extor from me sucha confesson!" Andthu.
saying, Josephine bent her head and wept pas
? slonately,
"llave solicited your confession, madam?'
I asked the lieutenant with naughty codness.
Lifting her head abruptly, Josephine looked
him in the face, and continued:
"Have you not been aware long since Of the
lniatuation which has possessed me. and which
you have fed by your presence and your auen.
tions, distant as they always were! Tell me
have you not been aware of this!"
"Yes."
Sand still you had the cruelty to encourage the
fatal passion, which you saw enveloping in it
incXucabe folds my very soull You knew th
and you would not seasonaby protect me from
your presence!"
81 would not"
"Alas, sir, common humanity"
"Humanity!" exclaimed the lieutenant spring
| ing to his feet and bending on her glance whicl
5 made her cower-"llumanity Josephinede Val
= vile, prolane not that word by your utterance
have heard your story-now listen to mine.
had brother--a younger brother-the pride. III,
joy of my fathers household-how dearly low
: ed him will not say, for you have not the hear
, to comprehend me- He visited this city, anc
4 daily wrote me Il journal of his adventures, hi
S plans and purposes, his hopes and fears. A
length he wrote me thathe was inove. He con
t fided to me description of every look the lovec
one gave him, of every word she uttered. 'Sht
must love him, exclaimed as read. Hethough
so too; and, emboldened by my acquiescence il
: his conviction, he sought an explanaton-decla
red his passion, and was laughed at for what tn
lady had the heartessness TO call his presump
. ton! Frcnzied with disappointment at fndn
il himself deceived, betrayed, the wealth of his al
5 iection wasted, he committed dsuicde-th new
: killed his mother, brought premature old az
: upon his father. and desoated the happiest house
hold in the village of his birth. You, you. Jose
o phne dc Vaville, were the needless creator of a
1 this misery!"
With groan Josephine sank dcspairingly up
If on the floor. "Forgve, forgive!" she murmul
: ed; 81 knew not you were brothers,"
: "Revenge has come to me unsought for" rc
sumed the lieutenant. "ltwas through no delit
crate design thai crossed your path. No on
can accuse me of seeking to ogainyour affections
Il have never overstepped the limits of frgd It
II spect in my intercourse.
"True, most true!" sobbed Josephine. ("
l. was nmy madness that | accused YOU. Yol
Il conduct has been generous, noble, and the oppC
y site OF mine. But torgiyeme-say, that you 70
give mel"
, 81 do, Miss de Valville, most unreservedlv.-
2, Rise, beseech you; and now that you ha,
e found that you yourself have a heart, let n
g hope that you will manifest some considerable
g hereafter for the hearts Of Others"
e 30 fear notI shall again put myself in the wa
of temptation," sighed Josephine; 'but NAL
ut this allowance for me, sir, when you recall tn
i. unhappy meeting: remember that | was bred
e skeptic in love, and never believed in it till ft
F. too plainly its power. Enoughl You have 70
III given me. | have bat one favor more to ask
is is, that you forget me-"
u The lieutenant bowed; and Josephine beckor
le ing her attendant to her side, leaned upon her fc
1t support Then nerving herself for the eefort, sh
i i