The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1849-11-17

clare himself one evening when a favorable oppor-
lunty presented.
Sophy listened to his ardent protestation with
burning cheak and beating bosom, but when he
ceased. she slowly raised her eyes from the ground
and said: a# rr-fs
Before / can consent to become your wife, will
you answer me one question p and fixing her eyes
searchingly on his face, though her cheek crimson
ed deeper as she did it, do you know Eveline Val
iiere p
Had spectre started up before him, Harry
would not have looked more aghast What could
she mean? Had she heard of his attention and de-
sertion of Miss Valliere? Did she resent the lat
ter? or had she NEARLY learned the former, and
wished to solve her doubts before answering? This
last idea the most fatterng, and therefore the
one adopted. He smiled as he replied:
yes, once knew lady of that name.
Once knew her. said Sophy, with marked en-
phasis, and you know her no longer?'
4 can scarcely say do,' said Harry, his embar-
rassment returning at the decided manner of his
questioner, but she has long forgotten me, and
have ceased visiting her.
There needed only this baseness said Sophy ris-
ing, with flashing eyes, the whole expression of her
face changing to indignant scorn, TO make you as
contemplate in my eyes, as you were before GRIM
inal Know, false and tickle man, that have heard
the history of your acquaintance with Miss Vaiere
uOW ny SLOW anu dltSuLQOu1 you pUSSoSSGQ
yourself of her heart; how, when you met another,
who for the time pleased your selfish nature better
you became attentive to this new acquaintance -
how, Notwithstanding you knew the love Miss Val
lare bore for you, you atlength left her to pine in
dependency, until her life is now despaired of by
her friends. And yet, you come here and dare to
insult me with an offer of your love-; she spoke
this word with bitter scorn; 'you the almost muir
derer of the woman, and the wronger thereby of
the whole SEX
'Ay! more; you hesitated long, because, for
sooth, was too poor, if love- that holy sentiment
of which such wretches as you can know nothing,
was to be profaned by base thoughts of lucre. I
tell you Harry Colbert have known all this for
weeks, and have waited patiently for this hour,
STOPPING to deception which despise, that might
redeem my sex at last You seek woman's love |!
why you know no more of that pure sentiment than
the meanest hound that crouches at the masters
whip. A true woman scorns the hand of man
like you, who for the qualification of petty vanity,
or of his own selishness, would desert heart that
he has won. The time was when might have
loved you, but it was when | thought your heart
noble now see its baseness duplicity and little
ness, and bad you are cannot hate you from
very seorn Go! and 90 knowing this, woman
can avenge her sex even at the cost of so pretty
lover as Yourself
The withering contempt with which these words
were spoken the last drop in the cup of the low
er's shame. While Sophy continued speaking he
had stood abashed before her. not daring to lift his
eyes but once to her face, and then the indignant
flash Of her eyes, and the bitter mockery on her lip,
were no temptation to renew the experiment And
when she ceased, he rose and almost rushed from
the room, too utterly confounded TO reply though
boiling with rage and shame. He reached his
room in tempest of emotions indiscribable. But
his passion was too high to allow him to see the
business of his fate.
Curse the girlsE was the first exclamation, she
raved like a Pithoness; but why did not retort
scorn for scorn? To refuse me when she is not
worth cent, and all because of Eveline,' and he
breathed maediction on her as the cause of his
dscomeiture, and with bitter maledctons strobe to
and fro in his room.
Gradually, however, his passion camed itself, and
desire for revenge possessed his mind But how
should he be revenged? Should he WOO and win
some other lady at once, or go back to Miss Val
lere and secure her? After pondcring long he
decided on the latter course.
'Yes!' he said, if marry Evene, to whom it is
known l have been attentive, this termegant will
never dare tell of my proposal for we had no wit
nesses, and no one will believe her. if it should be
announced soon, say tomorrow or next day at far
thest, that am engaged to the heiress. She loves
me no'doubt-there this vixen was right-and will
Oe RlaQ 10 accept me. Will QeSpdtcn a nOL6 AT
once A little dissmilation to conceal the cause OF
my neglect little penitence adroitly thrown in,
and a little ardor will win favorable answer
know nothing of the trusting nature of Eveline Val
liere'
The proposal was written and sent, but the next
day and the whole week passed without an answer
Harry began to repent his precipitancy, and wish
that he had never seen Eveline or Sophy But at
length came the long looked for reply. He open
ed it with renewed hopes, which however, were
crushed on its perusal. The answer was short and
cold, and contained refusal couched in terms
which forbade second attempt Miss Valliere,
the note ended with saying, declines all further ac-
quantance with Mr.. Colbert
Stung to the quick, the rejected lover vented his
| rage on both the women he had abused, and deter
mined to avenge himself by speedy marriage
But he soon found that his conduct was known in
society, though not from reports originating proba-
bly, with their relatives and gained strength from
what had been observed of Harrys conduct At
length the tide of scorn and rebuke became strong
that he left the city and moved to another part of
the country, IS s. .-.-.s-.. .e..+
Harry never knew the struggle in Evene's heart,
nor the noble 6rmness with which she conquered
it His letter reached her on sick bed where she
had been laid by his perfdy, but though her weak
heart pleaded for him. her convictions of what were
right, prevailed and she rejected him. because she
felt that she could find happiness with one SO
base, tickle and selfish. Both she and Sophy Greene
lived to love truly and worthily, and the friendship