The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-05-13
P..ehaly, . Ts.. q n. Llp..

Fatehuiy, or Test Of the Lips.
CiIAPTER T. +
1t is known 70 all loyers Of sweet aroma, ,t,s,
mere is very costly and fashionable perfume bear
| ing the unseemly- looking term which wa have
placed at the head Of our story.
but a. much IN vogue as this charming scent
now Is IT Is not very long time ago znce II was rs,
Introduced upon the toilets of the fair ladies yhis
side of the Atlantic. lis origin is Partisan and At
the first, its rare and delicate odor with its cos
ness, united it exclusively to royal patronage.
Ii is at this period that our story opens the scene
however, is not laid in Paris, but in Boston,
By window in drawing room of handsome
ly furnished house, sat young married woman
her cheek resting on her fair hand and her eyes set
upon small parteTe Of flowers that inrervened be-
tween the mansion and the street The roseate
glow OF twilight lent glory to her brow, which
was lofty and beautifully shaped. The lady was
dressed with simplicity and taste iu white her dark
brown hair bound around her head in graceful
band OF folds, with tress or two falling beneath
her ear, and resting upon her snowy neck Her
beauty was without fault, save that her cheek was
something pale, and her look disturbed and anxious
She sighed heavily, and lifting her eyes from the
parterre for an instant let them rest upon the arm
which had supported her cheek. The arm was
bare in its loose sleeve, and clasped at the wrist BY
bracelet Of golden links. The shape of il was
Incompatible. A painter would have done hom-
age to TO its faultless outline She regarded it a
moment or two and sighed heavily.
What is beauty to me, if it no longer binds Ed
ward 10 my side she said, sadly. "We have
been but year and half married, and already
his heart is estrangeI-his love is another's. He
once praised my arm and called it faultless. He
once called me, beautiful beyond all my sez. He
used to tell me that one hour of my society was
dearer to him than whole years would be In the
presence Of others. He said he had no eve or emo
ton or thought for any other. But NOW, how
changed is his conduct from these protestaions
know he no longer loves me. He cares but lightly
for my society. know that another has taken his
love from me. That love! Oh that he had never
beheld her. Her beauty has ensnared him, and nv
power over him is gone. At this moment, instead
OF sitting here by my side or walking with me
abroad, enjoying my society and sympathizng
with in the beauty of the scenery and the hour,
he is with her. Perhaps, at this moment she leans
upon bis arm, and looking up into his face with her
deep blue eyes, listens enraptured to his voice as
he bends tendeTly towards her and dscourses Of
love- That low voice, which is mine only to listen
tothat arm, which it is my wiEely privilege TO be
sustained by, at such an hour and time"
Sister Clara, . said q voice near by her.
All, Frank, how softly you entered" she sx-
claimed, with surprise and slight confusion. aslg
g No, came in as usual, but you were 60 much
engaged in talking to yourself that you did not re-
| gard my step. Are you Jealous of Edwardl - said
the young man, laughing, as he threw himself upon
the ottoman by her, and took her beautiful hand
in his.
am not jealous, brother but don't like Ed
wards attentions to Miss Lawrence
Why it is nothing, Clara. You know that he
was at college with her brother, and they were
very intimate, and he looks upon Emma only as a
sister" ~. - Is . :
"No Frank, he does not look upon her as sis
ter. His manner in her society is not the same as
| it is in his sisters" .-
What is it like then -
1t is like his manner to me when we were en-.
gagged He regards her with the same expression
with which he used to look upon me. You need
not smile, Frank. 1t is to me very serious mat
ter. am satisfied that Edward loves Emma Law
renee" : -. ~
Folly Emma, you know is a clever girl .
she is very fond of literature, and SO is Ned she
writes poetry, and so does he; she"
know all that you can say and it is these very
accomplishments which, added to her beauty, have
ensnared his heart. Why should he so often seek
her society and leave mine The husbands pres
ence will be where his heart is. Edward scarcely
passes evening with me-"
am sure he does"
3" Do you know it, sis? z"
Where else should he go? Besides, he is SO
confused, or else he gets angry, when | ask him.
am certain he passes more Of his time with her
than he docs with me" igl ...s Il .sr-l..l4 -
"Well, it may be. Emma is very interesting.
and know that Ned delights to hear her converse.
Be assured, their acquaintance is merely intelec-
tual Neds heart has nothing to do with it. |
know he loves you. ] could not be made to believe
to the contrary His attentions to you are as lover
like now as they were before you were married.
making love-eyes The truth is, Clara, you are too
monoPolizing. You are suspicious Of any other
ladys admiration of him, and tremble If he speaks
in civil terms to any lovely girl he sees. This ac
tive, wakeful, selfish love annoyed your husband,
who has more than once spoken to me about IT,.
He is Of social turn, and likes intellectual con-
versaton. You know you very taciturn and
do not call up the resources Of your mind as you
| ought to. You read very little, while he reads
much. Great readers love to interchange ideas
upon books and authors You care little for books,
and such conversation never be long continued
between you. Ii Edward meets with lady like
| Miss Lawrence, for instance, in whom he discov-
| ers mind congenial in its sympathes with his
| own, it is natural that they should seek an inter-
change Of the treasures Of intellect. This alone is
the basis of their friendship, and be you have
| nothing to fear from it as wife" "A. -sF A
| "lf Emma were not so beautiful
Your own beauty is his protection. His heart
| will'ever be yours"
:" But do not like this close intimacy, 1t robs
me. 1t vexes me that she should share his society.
l envy her nay, l almost hate her. Iconiess that
it is with difficulty that | can speak to her with
civility. She seems to me as if she knew she held
power over my husband"
:" This is all your Imagination, Clara
"Do you think it possible that Edward can be so
much with her and not feel deeper emotion than
mere intellectual friendship? She has fascina-
ting eyes and dangerous voice and smile for such
susceptible person as he is. II | was sure he
never took her hand when he was with her. /
shouldn't care so much.a
" It would be great harm il he did,
should never care to have him take mine after
An intellectual conversation does not require that
the hands should be locked together"
Do you suspect him Of this amorous offence ?'
" You may ridcule me, Frank, but I don't feel
like smiling. l know he takes her hand. Last
evening, when he came home after 8 o'clock, he sat
by me nnd lifted my hands to his lips. He seldom
does It, He then began to play with my fingers,
and to admire and speak of their shape. He would
turn my hand over, and then look at my arm all in
such way thaS | am sure that he was mentally
comparing me with Emma Lawrence; and so
snatching my hand from him, told him plainly
that if he wanted to daily with pretty hands and
arms, he had better go back to the society he had
just left" glal
w hat said Ned to that ?"
!" He blushed, was silent, aud then laughed as il
he would treat the matter hghtly.' is 'H
You take the course, Clars, to make him do
just what you told him to do. II you really think
that your husband loves this fair girl your proper
course should be to snrpass her in attractions. In
beauty, beautiful as she is you are her superior !;
in every quality Of the head and heart you are her
equal II you fear for your power over his heart,
you have only to rival her your fear is your rival
Read the books that he loves, and talk with him
upon them. Study his tastes and meet him with
smiles, and not suspicious looks. He sees only
smiles on Miss Lawrence's face. Let him see
smiles on yours ltisno way for = wife whe would