The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-11
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY IL, 1850

resumed their seats, and then, FOR the FIRST time
Louis noticed her sullenness.
"What is the matter, Susan?" he inquired
nsivsly.
"Matter nothing replied Susan, more dis
turbed than ever.
"But there is, my dear Susan. have never
no-never seen you so agitated
Susan's brow flushed to crimson, and sh'
turned her head aside Louis took her hand
pressed it, and bending forward, looked search
ingly into her eyes.
"Susan, never had sister, but you are dear
to me as any sister could be-my loved Susan
tell me what disturbs your
:" am 20 sorry that you rsked your health by
exposing yourself TO this stormlp replied Miss
Somerville, with benevolent evasion.
Louls pressed again, nna uroppe.s -
The clock struck ten. Louis then arose and re
sumed his cloak-and took his hat
Miss Someryille started mp. "Whstl Louis
you do not think of venturing out in this horrible
tempest!o
"But you must not, indeed Pull off your
cloak sit down, remain here / will have q fire
lighted ia my grandfather's room for youp
"Do you not understand that | must return
Susan.n
@Nof mol yon are mad to think of It, You
should not have come at frst-but being here
you SHALL NOT depart in the midst Of the nigh
and Storm
"But my dearest Susan -
"But Louis, it as much as your life is worth
Sit down-be quiet-don't idget mel have had
trouble enough on your account alresdy-so SIT
down. | am out OF breath J"
Instead of sitting down, Louis opened the door
hut violent blast Of wind and sleet nearly blew
him down, and again il took all his strength 10
force 10 the door. He shut IL, and throwing of
his cloak, sat down. 1t was literally impossible
to reach the Isle Of Rays that night.
"Do you know, Susan that with all your gen.
tleness, you are very audacious in some things
@Vsry, very courageous in some things, Louis!
Yes, fab SheG ! sSs-s SrS doing riss,. W
not be uneasy, Louis No one will misunder-
csT1 e Il ~. .
IND SO Miss somerville Tried to t6inf; but as
she remembered the censorious propensities OF
the neighborhood, the sinking Of her heart belied
her noble words Nevertheless, Miss Somerville,
by turning guest cut in the storm, would not
do a wrong, TO escape the iuputation Of wrong
aMr Louis, I will trouble you for a half hours
conversation with me in my study" said General
pushing back his chair, aud leading the way
thither.
Louis arose and followed.
When they had arrived there, and were seated,
the General said
"You spent last night at the Crags, Louis Z"
Yes, sir! The storm prevented my return
"The threatened storm should have prevented
your going forth, LOUISE
Louis bowed, and remained silent
"You remained all night at the Cragsl Well,
this caps the climax lfyou do not consider the
question intrusive, Louis, will you favor me with
your reason for going to the Crsgs7"
al went thither to see Miss Somerville, STRIP
"Hum you went thither to see, Miss Somer-
vile. Louis, do you know that you are seriously
compromising that poor grip
SLAP exclaimed Louis, starting.
s'My dear Louis, do you know, or has selfish
ness blinded you, that you cannot now visit Miss
Scnerville so frequently without subjecting her
to calumnyp
"Heavens! sir, it cannot be SO ~
or is So Miss Somervlle has already been
made the subject of invidious remsrks!"
Louis grew very pale.
@Tell me, sir by whom--by whom has Susan
been slandered7 If by any living man, by
Of any living woman, her Tstaor, brother, or hus.
band, shall settle the account ~
"Poohi pooh Louis, l did not say SANDER
disparaging specuations. Can you call man
out because his wife or daughter wonders what
Susan means, and hopes it will all end WELL
Pshaw hut, Louis, you are doing Susan more
serious injury than in subjecting her to the Cos
sip of the neighborhood You are trifing with
her affections, LOUSY
"No! no, sir God knows that sm not !! Oh,
my father, for what do you take mew
"For heart-sick brain-sick, thoughtlessly
selfish, and cruel young manp
In the name Of Heaven, what do you mean,
sir7n
aThat you have won the heart Of Susan Som
crville--a heart not lightly won or easily lost !"
No. sir no! 1t il not so! 1t cannot be so |!
Susan, 80 good, wise, and calm, love broken reed
like me! Come sir, am not q eoxcombp
My dear Louis it is just such good girls as
Susan Somerville that are apt to love such good
for-notbing fellows as you II is law Of ma
ture II the good married the good, and the strong
the strong, and the evil the evil and the weak the
yeak-whst a world of beauties and of monsters,
of demons and of angels, we should have! | tell
you, that this Susan-good, wise, calm, strong, as
she as--loves with all her heart and soul this
brain.sick, heartsick, broken-down con Of mine %
"Oh. sir this cannot be so Heaven forbid
that il should be So indeed Susan loves me, it
~
angel loves sufferer i-not else ~
aShe loves you as a ioper, Louis land You,
Louisp
aAndI2 | love Susan as dear sister, re-
we're her as guardian spirit-not elsew
Louis, you should marry herp
"Srp
aYou should marry Susan Somervillem
GOOD Heaven, sir impossible! do not love
her in that wayi 1"
9And yet you cannot for single day do with
cut the company of this girl, whom you do not
love well enough to marry Louis, as man Of
honor, you must do one of two things-marry
Susan Somerville, or never see her more! You
said that she loved you as brother, say that
she loves you as loverW
care you sure Of this, sir"
aSuye Of II, Louiso
aSir. / will take one week TO think Of it. At
the end of this time will either resign the en-
ISOLATION of Susan's society forever or will offer
her my hand y
@My dear Louis, that is rightT
The week Louis Stuart Gordon requested was
for this purpose to write once more TO Louise
once more, and for the very last time! This let
ter was an eloquent appeal He concluded II
thus:
although an act Of the Legislature has divorc-
ed my hand from yours, no power on earth can
divorce my heart from yours, best beloved Louise
am bu. twenty years Of age, Louise, yet a few
silver hairs are already mingiing with the brown
| on my temples have no hope Of happiness IN
the future, except In the feeling that You still
| liusg that while there is life there is hope
Write to me once again, Louise, and write to me
| frankly, for my destiny and that of others hangs
upon your words Decide my fate for me. There
Is . lady to whom am bound by the deepest iiet
of gratitude. My father wishes me to marry her
| I have not yet named the subject 10 her ior
though her society has been great soiace 70 me
regard her only ss sister, and wished to hear
from YOU again, and for the last time, before TAX
ing any step that might raise an indispensable bar
rier 10 our future reunioni No other woman