The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-15

ti'''' "" ii''StiS' nut, oeitI Idte, ue dSSuTeu
can sympathize with YOU" She smiled affec.
tionately, and taking nay hand, we started for
home About half way we met Harley, who
had come in search of US. Miss Alice, ALWAYS
anxious for the happiness of others, left us, and
we walked slowly along a winding path to the
house. When we arrived there, he took his
leave, and | ran up the steps to Miss Aice's
room and knocked, heard a soft "come i'm and
entered She was sitting by an old desk, which
Medora and | had often ridiculed as being old
naidsh. | drew chair to her side, put my
arms coaxingly around her, and looked inquir.
ingly into her sweet blue eyes.
f" You must not expect romantic story,
Kate; but plain matter of.fact." y
"Nliss Alice, | did not think you had ever
been in love, because you never got married !;
for you are SO beautiful and perfect"
" Hush, Kate, You must not talk so; what
you said few moments ago recalled to my
memory many events of the past; and as the
only barrier to my answering your questions is
now broken down, will relate to you, Kate,
the most important. opened this desk mo.
ment ago, the first time for fifteen years." "
She now took from it miniature case, and
handed il to me: unclasping it, beheld one Of
the handsomest facesI had ever seen. thought
an instant it was my fathers; gazed at it long
and tenderly with repressible emotion 1 beg.
ged her to proceed, and she continued
"lou know, Kate, the original of that pic
ture was distant relative of mine-third cou-
sin, believe. Well, when I was about six
teen, ne came to R, to see us. had never
spoken to, and had scarcely ever seen young
gentleman before Imagine, then, the impress
sions handsome, accomplished one like him
would make on young, untutored, impulsive
girl, as | was then. He remained at R. a
month. We rode, walked, and were constant.
ly together. He was very wild, and one moon-
light night proposed taking ride. My parents
were always SO particular, that had any one
else made the proposition would have been:
shocked. But he, Iwouh have done any thing,
gone any where with him, (for, although he
called me cousin, and treated me only as such,
|, foolish creature, loved him to distraction.) !
agreed but we had not gone far when my horse
started and threw me: was not at all hurt,
though much frightened; he lifted me from the
ground, and as he did so kissedmy check. All!
the wild, thrilling happiness of that moment. !
would willingly have been thrown thousand
times to have experienced again that bliss -
The memory of that kiss haunted me night ard
day, for weeks. In dreams would awake, my
whole frame trembling with intense joy; for that
kiss was burning on my cheek. The month
that he was to stay at R passed quickly
away My mother asked him to 60 with me as
far as c., as | was going there on a visit
to her old friend, Mrs. Morley He agreed, and
was almost frantic with delight to know that
would be with him a littlclonger. Kate Nor
ley was very pretty; and as my watehful eye
saw the ardent gaze of admiration he fixed on
her, my heart sunk within me; thought that
perhaps, ate: ~, lie merely loved me as cou:
sin; but then the incidents of that moonlight
night came fresh to my memory, and loved on;
but my Heavenly Father saw fit to displace that
idol from the throne wherein he alone should
have been worshipped | was informed, and
that too by him, that he and Kate were engag-
ed. 1t was one evening | was sitting in tho
balcony looking at the stars, and thinking of
him, when he came, and seating himself near
me, took my hand.
"Cousn, dear, I've got secret to tell you.''
l could not ask him what it was, and he con-.
tinucd-
Congratulate me, coz,-sweet Kate has
promised to be mine"
was thankful that the darkness prevented
him from seeiug my face, for | would not have
had him see it for worlds. pressed my hard
to my brow to still its throbbngs-but he did,
not notice me, for his thoughts were with Kate.
"Wlcn we are married, We are going to Eu..
rope. You must 60 witt us-won't you"
"No," answered, 81 must 60 home to-mor--
row, and know my parents will not agree to-
it."
"Imust give you my miniature then, thatyou'
my not forget your cousin Charley"
lie gave it to me. l went quickly to my
room, and knceling, prayed to my God to give
NE pardon for the past, and strength for days to-
come. poured out my soult to Him who alone
can heal the hroken.hearted. locked up in
this desk every thing he had ever gyenme, with
this miniature; resolved never to look at it
again: for knew could not look into those
loved eyes, and remember, rs ought, that they
were another's, vowed from that time; with
Gods help, 10 devote myself solely to Him, and,
dear katc, lie has never iorsakcn me-"
Her eyes were radiant with excitement and
Il tear had fallen on her flushed cheek She
covered her face with her hands, and when she
them, she was as calm as usual
When she died she left all her riches to tho
poor, but she bcqucathed her old desk to me,
which WAS more valuable than all the wealth Of
the Indies, kept it us a treasure; us a relic
Of her my best and for y hur tnr NV only