The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-12-17

be more interesting; yet no one was so Otter
naughty and disagreeable. Kae sighed t
think how changed he had become; ther
she was angry at herself for sighing.
Kate was accordingly as hayward as he
was, and who, indeed, had greater excuse
Rich and well born, beautiful and high-spir
tied, she was positively the reigning belle il
Charleston during the whole of that ga,
winter To complexion delicately fair
and person of the most exquisite proper
tions, she united those graces of mind anC
manner, which, in that courtly dav, wert
considered the unerring Accomplishments o
high breeding. .s '
Report awarded to her numbers OF unsuc
cessful suitors; but all had tacitly resigned
their claims in favor of Major Lindsay, ar
English officero noble blood, between whom
and an earldom there was only single life
Gay and splendid in person and equipage
the Major no sooner laid seige to the hear
of the heiress, than her less favored suitors
gave over in despair; and between loungins
away most of his hours in her parlor, anC
attending her abroad on all occasons, he sooI
came to have the field nearly altogether tt
himself.
The arrival of the Major anticinated that
'of Preston about month, and wuen our he
70 returned, he found his rival almost domes-
ticated at Mr. Mowbray's house. Jealousy
soon revealed to Preston the secrect of his
own long hidden love; but it made him
heartily hate the Major. The two gentle
men seemed to understand each other per-
fectly. But the Englishman knew better
than his rival, how to suppress his feelings,
and accordingly possessed every advantage
over HMM superior ease and self-command
! Had Kate wished otherwise, she could not
but have given the larger share of her atten-
tion to the graceful, brilliant, and composed
Iman Of fashion, rather than to his more irri-
table and hayward rival; whom fancied
slight, in word or look, was sufficient to
make him dumb for whole evening. De-
pend on it, the worst possible use to which
a lover can put himself, is to be sulky.
j Perhaps it was the enmity he nourished
against his more successful rival; perhaps
it was the natural Indignation of frank and
noble heart against oppression perhaps,
which is more natural, it was both combined.
But Preston had not been long at home be-
fore he formed the resolution to take part
with his countrymen in the war then going
on; and the sudden appearance of General
Marion on the Santee, where he began a
partizan conflict with the invaders, opened
10 him favorable way for carrying out his
design which he only postponed until he
could part from Kate on better terms.
Z He 1attered himself that she herself was
secretly on the side of the Colonists, for her
father had once held commission under
the Provisional Government; although since
the fall of Charleston, and the apparent con-
quest of the Colony, he, like many Others
had been induced to take royal protection,
and ground his arms as a neutral.
One morning Preston found Kate alone in
her little 'parlor. 1t was rare that she was
without visitors, for Major Lindsay at least
was usually at her side. Kate wore pretty
morning dress, and was sewing, her little
tiny foot that rested on cushioned stool,
pceping provokingly out from beneath the
snowy muslin A woman one admires, new
cr locks lovlier than when occupied in this
truly feminine employment; and as Kate
made room for Preston beside her, with her
sweetest SMILE he thought she had never
seemed half so charming t.4e ,l
Lovers can imagine how happy Preston
soon was. He and Kate talked of old times,
she busily plying her needle, but every now
and then looking up with animation iuto his
face. His heart beat qxieker and he longed
to tell how he loved her; 1t would, fear,
have set your heart or mine, reader, topsy
turvy at once. A dozen long forgotten incl
dents were called to mind: how Preston had
once rescued Kate from the river, how they
both wept when her old nurse died, and
score Of other things. The color of both
heightened, and Preston felt every instant as
if he could snatch the dear girl to his arms.
In the eagerness of conversation all at once
Kate placed her hand famiiarly on his.
"And do you remember" she said, ga
zing up with sparkling eyes into his face,
"do you remember when the pony ran away
with you? Oh! was half dead with fright,
and screamed Justify. Those were happy
days. wonder if we are ever as happy as
lin childhood. sometimes wish we were
back again on chat old lawn" and she sighed.
ado you indeed?" said Preston, his whole
face lighting up. and lie took her hand by an
Impulse he could no longer resist. /
AT that moment the words which would
have decided his fate, were rising to Pres
tons lips, and Kate, as if secretly forwarned,
began to tremble and become confused, when
the door was flung open, and the servant in
a loud voice announced Major Lindsay.
If anv of our reodars bava ava,. ihaan IN
terrupted when about to declare himself,
and had TO come plump down from rapture
to foolishness, he can imagine Preston's cha
grin at the entrance Of the visitor How
ever, he had tact enough to think of Kate's
embarrassment, and as he rose to make his
bow, adroitly placed himself so as to conceal
her for moment, and allow her time to re-
cover from her confusion. .1 -a'
The Major gave both parties, on the in
stant, a suspicious glance, but his softesti
smile Immediately succeeded, and with easy
assurance taking the seat Preston had vaca-
ted, he glided into strain of brilliant small
talk, such as would have done honor to any
gallant Of the day, incompatible at compli-
ments and snuff boxes. Preston was angry
at this unceremonous supplanting, but even
more angry to see how quickly Kate recov-
cred herself, and and dashed out into the /
strife Of repartee, with spirit and ease even
superior to the MAJORS. Preston chafed,
and thought she might have been a little less
interested. ses' /,
! AT first he was silent and reserved. then
he began to I've uneasy, and once or twice he
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