The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-12-20

/ TcQueSt0u al early answer. L place.
the letter in the hands of gentlema
whom had frequently seen in tina
village, who was about returning, an
who engaged to deliver it to Frances il
person. | now felt relieved from TIL
harrassing anxiety which had weighe'
on my spirits-for my confession wa
made and should soon know the result
But day after day and week after weeI
passed by aud | heard not a word from
frances. | was sure she must have
received my letter. and it was certainly
entitled to an answer. Why did sh,
not write. if it was only to Danish hope
Then came the revnlsion. A brigh
star had risen upon my path-I had
followed it till it led me to despair.
had been guided by an angel to the
bowers of Paradise, and then expelled
for ever. That was a dreary summer
TO me. The world, it is true, was glad
and beautiful all around me; joy light.
ed every hill top, and the blithe card
OF pleasant songsters rung along III,
sllvery streams. Nature seemed L,
spurn me from her when tried to for.
get my misery and court the joys
once felt in her companionship. BUTT
was possible Frances had not received
my letter. She would not have given
me leave to write TO her unless she had
intended to answer me, for she was too
kind and generous ever to deceive.
knew that was not worthy of her love.
She was too pure for the love of earth.
But still when | thought of the many
hours | had passed with her, and the
parting scene, and the falling tear.
could but hope that she would suffer
me to minister to her life, and spend
my own in making hers happy. These
reflections determined me TO write to
her again. | entreated her to answer
me, if she said but one word. and that
word fatal TO my hopes. In few days
received her reply, and when read
it the charm of life fled forever She
stated that she had received both of nv
Letters, and now wrote to me for the
first and last time. She had passed
many pleasant hours in my society, and
at one time thonght she loved me; but
she now regretted that she had even on
one occasion discovered an affection
which was only transient: she could
not love me except as friend, and |
must not dream of marriage.
Il now felt that should be fool 10
dream an honr longer. I awoke to the
task of crushing the edifice that hope
had reared, of fnlgetting the only
being had ever loved. of blotting oui
the fairest star that Shune in my irma-
ment. plunged into the busy world.
but her image followed me there. /
tonght against my passion in solitude.
but the effort to destroy it only increas-
ed its power. A deep gloom setlled
upon my spirits, and had not dreaded
the thought OF presenting my soul be-
fore the throne of God before He sum-
lnoned it away. | would have ended
life which had become wretched be-
yond endurance. This life was misery,
and the future was surrounded with
thick gloom. Ny health, which had
before been firm. began 10 yield. | ex-
pected to die in a few mOnths-oh
how gladly would | have hastened the
hour of my deliverance. Perhaps I
might live 10 see another spring smile
iver the landscape and bring hope TO
ne; but | contemplated the future
with fixed despair Sometimes mo-
nentary CLEAN of hope would shoot up |
before my vision and make my pulses |
thrill for all instant, but it soon vanish |
ID leaving NE in deeper detection. II
had always found it quite impossible to
reconcile Frances's letter with my for
ner views of her character. thought |
the possessed too welI-balanced mind |
o act as she appeared to. Was il pos
'ible that that letter had beeu written
oy another hand 2 obtained one of |
Ter letters to my sister. for they ofle
correspondent. and compared them to-
yether. There was general resem-
oance in the writing, but still the con
rasi was sufficient TO admit the hope. |
aint as ii was that the letter had been
urged. seized the first ray thai broke
through the darkness, as the drowning
nan grasps the straw which floats by
lin.
81 determined no longer to intrnst
interests upon which my existence it.
elf seemed suspended to letters. I
would see Frances myself. and receive
ny sentence from those lips where
nee thought had sea'e orr mutual
nve foi ever. The next morning took
he western coach. and resolved before
closed my eyes in sleep TO know what
ny destiny was to be. | walked from
be hotel to her fathers house, and with
motions which only such circumstan-
es can inspire, pulled the bell. was
ow standing on that spot where, in the
of first love, but short time
efore. | had held that beautiful child
{ Heaven in my arms. | heard no
ound in the hall, and rang again and
stened with painful anxiety for the
oor to be opened AT last it was open
d. inquired for Frances, The fam
y had the day before gone to Boston,!
ate was arrayed against me. On in
uiry | learned that frances had gone
n long journey to the West. and the
ouse-keeper only knew that they de-
Igned to proceed to New York. and
hence to Cincinnati. asceftained
er fathers address in New York. and
% voIiod acrocs the counfrv h., dor