The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-12

osity Edward Leslie could not be Indifferent to
| the remarks be heard and there was something
| in his heart which made him willing to believe
that the parting of Lizzie and Charles was final
one. More than this he was determined to kn0,U.
| Lizzie believed him her friend, and had always
| been candid with him.
They had been dancing together; Lizzie was
| fatigued he drew her to a cool recess where the
open window admitted the pleasant air. His man
| ner was kind and this she appeared to feel.
81 am very tired she said, let me sit here,
where none will seek me; go back to the company,
| Edward will stay alone
g No. Lizzie, that | cannot allow suffer me to
remain with you while you stay. think you are
not well tonight; you have danced too long,
Edward, do they think | am not well!" and
Lizzie raised her lovely eyes imploringly to his.
Do not tell me | seem ill -
| g No, Lizzie only to M"
There was a pause. ''Are you not well, Lizzie
| you who are so candid-tell me, are you not very
haPPy?"
Edward, you are my friend-I shall never be
well or happy more Now leave me.
Oh, Lizzie! tell me what has happened
| Charles-s he the cause -
Never name him to me again. We shall see
each other more"
"And loe-oh, Lizzie may not the love have
long cherished so mrequited, so lonely-may it
not comfort you %
The look she gave him was full of pain. 1t was
| enough.
81 will not mention it to you again, Lizzie. We
understand each other fully
eyes, Edward; thank you. Go now''
He did leave her tears were rising in his eyes
they for her: and she too shed the first since
Charles left her, the night when her strange Joy
| began. 1t was over then, and Lizzie wore the
same quiet look again. but from that time her bloom
| faded.
Within Charles Ashford's splendid habitation
there was a new resident. A lovelier young bride
never smiled than she who now sat there, in his
ancestral halls, so brilliant in her youthful bloom
He had brought her to the home Of. his parents,
they had opened their arms to receive her, and
| blessed her. Henceforth his Meta was to be the
sunlight of the little sphere where Charles had gar
nered up his happiness. native of neghboring
| state, and nurturned under the same glowing sun,
| their habits, tastes, and impulses were all congo
NAL, and their union seemed to promise the extent
| of earthly bliss. When Charles took Meta from
her mothers arms, he felt that she surrendered to
him precious trust, for the lively, happy creature
had been to that invalid mother her dearest comfort
Bring her to often,'' she said never let
us be long parted"
Meta kissed away her mothers tears and
promised to visit her whenever she was needed
! ''Write, mamma, when you are lonely or i'll we
can be with you Immediately | shall have tioO
| homes now.''
We have spoken of their reception under his pa
rental roof and Meta, as we said, was seated there
! the very representation of love and joy.
Sweet one, is this home pleasant one to you!
| We have arranged all things as we thought would
1
She only wound her arm more closely round his
| neck and laid her jeweled hand amid his curls.
And Lizzie was forgotten.
Charles, oh Charles, this letter is from nv
own dear mother. Thank you, love, a thousand
! times
'There, Meta calm YOURSELF and give it to me-
| dear, that may break the seal. Prepare yourself
for some good news-this may announce visit
How proud and happy shall we be to welcome her
! here.''
''She sad Charles you remember, we were to
return to her; you know mamma is feeble, and
seldom leaves her home. A journey Of a few days
is in her mind thing to be dreaded But come,
| let me read my letter.
| ''Well love, have you finished 20
g i was right, Charles mamma cannot come
! She wishes to see us, and soon. A friend, early
friend of hers she says, is to visit her from the NORTH
and we must come to assist in making Oakville
! pleasant for them. She says tool will read:
"' Ny friend has a sick child, who has been adj
vised to visit The south as last remedy for dis
ease which it is feared must prove fatal. She will
now embrace'the long-standing invitation, extend
ing from school days. and will bring her suffer
/ ing daughter, perhaps, she says, to die with me-
yet this is her last Lope Come then, Meta, with
| Charles am not strong, and your presence must
enlven the home which has been all too lonely
since you left it. My friends expected daily"
SIS there no name, Meta-who are these expected
! guests You have heard your mother make men
ton of this school friend before?"
! g Oh, yes she has many; but among them all
| | cannot think who this can be- Strange, even
the place where she resides mamma has neglected
to mention; she has been much agitated when she
| wrote We must prepare Immediately.
9 Yes, Meta, we must 60.
8 But what ais you, dearest! you are pale, and
| do you not wish to leave home T"
'|Certainlv Meta; we will prepare to-day. Our
parents here will care for all things till our return
They will be lonely without their pet sweet ones
g Yes, Charles, love them. But, my own dear
mammoth shall see her soon ~
And Meta, in her Joy, forgot the cloud upon her
husbands face, and thought not of the dying crea-
ture who was the immediate occasion of her visit to
her childhood's home. Meta longed to see her
mother once more.
Did Charles forget? No. The letter of Metals
mother had a strange effect upon him, which he
| could not account for. There was no clear idea on
! Charles mind of what he had to dread yet an in
definable sense of horror was taking possession Of
! him, which he vainly strOve to conquer.
The preparations were completed, and they left
| their home for a season. Charles was still moody
and absent; Meta was all joy.
Lizzie Carlton, the sweet, PALE dying Lizzie, lay
on silken pillows, in the luxurious dwelling of her
mothers early friend The southern breeze blew
! gently in through the opened easement, but she
| breathed it as if in pain sweet southern flowers
lay around her, and Lizzie saw their beauty, but
they woOed her back vainly to a world on whose
borders she only fingered. White as the magnolias
that she gazed upon, she lay awaiting the last EN-,
| braces OF decay. Near her sat her n0theT, anu
her mothers friend. Neither spoke to the other OF
hope they knew that for Lizzie it was vain word,
and they looked only for death.
Sooner, by day, than they had been expected,
the daughter and her husband arrived NO one
met the carriage at the doorstep, and the pal
Meta bounded in without word, 10 he[ motners
favorite parIor. Her husband followed. Meta,
ouick as thought. was folded in her mothers arms
Charles Ashford followed his young wife, but
| paused when he had reached the centre OF the
apartment Fascinated, spell-buund, he stood and
| gaZed.
g Lizzie y
'sCharles E"
A dark red stain flowed over the white folds on
| Lizzie's bosom, and her mother shrieking, fell
helpless by her side. Charles became suddenly
nctira he L-naalirr in rnnrnerI hu the emf