Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-02-05
Printed and Published BY
COLLIER 4 PORTER.
TERMS on ADVERTISIyG.
From Godcy's Lady's Book,
The SkCptie in Love; a story for COquCtteS,

scphine." =,
And why do you thank fortune for 'hai' Mr.
Smith,"
"Because it gives methc opportunity that have
long coveted, and yet hcsitaIed to embraee-'he
opportunity Of declaring-Ihal is ot-oi-
"Of what, sirl Pray speak out. You know
how fond lam Of candor."
sin one word, then, Josephine. II love you.
"Apd is that alll How provoking! lPresum-
ed YOU had something interesting 10 say-somc'
thing misunderstanding new"
"4h! YOU are jesIing, Josephine. ! pray you,
be serious"
"Then YOU mus, change the subject; for il is
ono that will not admit Of gravity"
"The season is hasteningto its close, Josephine.
Summer is near; and must soon rejon my fam
ily at the north. may not haye, before my de-
parture, ,anotheropportuni of speaking with you.
In friendships name, if by no tenderer appeal,
beseoch you 10 give me amoments earnest ailen-
tion."
"Well, sir, proceed"
"That coldness is assumed, see it is. All,
Josephine, your heart can surely Distinguish the
tones of true affection Itis not the gallantry of
the ballroom that profler you now, but the no.
mage of my ferveut, my unspcakabIe love-
Vouchsafe to me the hope that | may love you
hereafter, not merely as the most beautiful Of
your sex, but as wife,"
And with these words Mr.. Smith knelt at the
lady's feet. But she with disdainful gesture
rose and exclaimed:
''When and how, sir, have given you autho-
rity, by my conduct, to address language of this
Import mel"
'.When and how, Josephine!" returned the
Young man, rising, and rveting gaze of intense
earnestncss upon her, as if doubling whether or
not she was making sport of him by the inquiry.
sis not the report Of our engagement current in
all the circles, wherein you visit! Atevery ball
during the season, have not neglected all others
present to bestow upon you my undivided aten-
tions-and have not those attentions been received
--av, not only received, but encouraged! Have
not thousand times protested more eloquenty
than words could do it, by looks and actions, that
was deeply, passonately enamored, and have
YOU not suffered me TO repeat, time and again,
those protestatons, without intimatngeithcr to the
world or to myself that they were unacceptable!
All, Josephine, do nottrilewith aheartoverwhch
YOU have such absolute sway. Let your lips tell
me what your ewes have so often affirmed--tell
me that mine is not a hopeless passion"
Josephne moved with the step of a tragedy
queen towards the door, and placing her hand
upon the knob, turned and SAID:
"When Mr.. Smith has cured himself Of the
folly, which has led him to the declaration he has
done me the honor to make, 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 Valve was the only daughter Of
ono Of the wcalthiest planters in Louisiana. Few
observers were so fastdious 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 per-
fecton. Her features were just the features TO
catch the gazer's attention, even among a crowd
of beautiful women. Her eyes of dark, rich
slate COLOR riante, sparkling and animated in their
expression-her mouth as delicately curved and
tinted as the daintest sea-shell-her eXquisitely
moulded forehead, over which fell curls so fine
and thick that they felt like down to the touch
impaired combination of traits to her counte-
nance, which extorted CALCULATIONS of admiration
from the most obtusc judges of the beautiful.
Josephine was>i the habit Of passing her win
ters in New Orleans. Deprived of her mother
while yet an infant, she had entered society at an
age when many young ladies have hardly left the
nursery. The consequence was, that long before
her heart could learn to distinguish between real
and fictitious affection-between the common
places of Aauery and the utterance of true feeling
she had become so accustomedto the adulauon
of ballroom danglers and men Of the world
that what an unsophisticated girl would regard as
formal offer on the part of an admrer, Jose.
phine would laugh at as the rhodomontade of a
halfiesting spirit. Often when mere child with
pantaletteS and braided hair, her fathers friends
would make love to the little lady in sport, until
Josephine came to look on love- which is a very
serious matter to some people, as Joke rather
the worse for wear. All her heart had never
been touched.
"But who is Smith," asks the reader.
All that know of Smith is, that he came tc
New Orleans from one Of the great northern ci
ties as the agent of mercantile house. Combi
ming with the vocation of the man of business the
habits, tastes and appearance of the gentleman, he
easily found access to the choicest society. |
was at her fathers ownhouse that he first met Jo
sephine; and thenceiorth he embraced all oppor
tinitles, and they were numerous. of enlargin,
the acquaintance. There were few voung men
who could morefuently discourse on topics grate
full to a lady's ear; and Josephine ENCOURAGED hi
attentions without troubling herself to inonire in
10 his motives. But what was amusement to he
was death to her victim. He was all the Will
adding fuel to the flame that she had kindled; bu
Josephine's heart was as innocent of love as al
iceberg is of vegetation
After the interview, of which the reader ha
already been informed, Smith resolved to seek
final understanding. He made an early mornn!
CALL expecting to find her alone But one Mr.
Fitz(ool, an oPulent dangler, was present in tn
drawing-room; and JOSEF phine was apparently lis
tcnng with pleased attention to his innocen
babble about the newest firations, the last gres
ball, and the merits of the walters. She bowe
carelesslY to Smith as he enterod-addrosOol !,