The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-08-23
:" It is.n renlied George

george, that you have fallen in low
with some Dutch damsel. Come, now
confess that you have left your hear
among the dykes and porcelain of Hol
lando
My HEARTH echoed George.
All! now am sure of it. You arr
in love, Grant, madly, desperately il
love, or you never could have said 'my
heartn in that tone But here comes
luncheon, and ] hope you are not sc
far gone as 10 have lost your appetite ,
George endeavored 10 smile, and
Emma combatted with her feelings
| s5mewhat successfully, so that the little
party sat down with tolerable harmony
Mr.. Markham, however, had almost all
the talk to himself. That Emma should
be so silent and distracted. he ac-
counted for by her recent illness; and
nothing could persuade him but that
George had fallen in love since he had
left England, and his present evident
depression was on account of his want
of means of marrying the object of his
affection. When luncheon was over,
the merchant looked at his watch and
said gaily-
"It wants now two hours and half
Of dinner time, and will walk down to
the counting house and be back in good
time. will leave you, George, in Mrs.
Markham's care; but mind you don't
in fit of abstraction mistake her for
your Dutch beauty and make declara-
fIor, Df Iowa III
So saying, and without waiting for a
reply, Mr. Markham left his home with
as pure and as perfect a confidence in
the virtue and integrity of the two
beings he thus left together, as he had
in the mercy and justice of Heaven
Emma heard the retreating footsteps of
her husband on the staircase; she heard
the street door close behind him, and
then she felt that the moment was come
to put in practice all that she, in the
silence ard solitude of her chamber
projected.
She raised her eyes towards her lover,
and in low, faltering voice, nearly
checked with emotion, she said
"George, go now-go forever-with-
out word, 60"
Slowly he rose from his chair, and
she saw him totter towards the door,
There was death-like paleness upon
his face, and such was his agony of
mind that he was compelled to lean
against table for support.
George said Emma, "you-you
are very i'll"
'No, it will pass away. l think,
dear Emma, | am dying. | have heard
of the mind, by its intense action, wear
ing out the body in few short days, so
that young man may die of premature
old age"
Emma wept bitterly.
"Before," continued George, "I go
forever, say, Emma, that you forgive
me- My life has been a mistake
When I thought | was acting nobly and
rightly in resigning you, Emma, as |
did. ii was but a false pride | was CON
sulting, although the great God of
Heaven knows | thought it all for the
beStn
aIt was NOBLE" cried Emma.
George shook his head.
"No, Emma, it was foolish only.
nave involved you and myself in much
We loved each other,
Emma, and upon that love we ought to
nave built our hopes of happiness alone.
The mistake that made was that the
lear love glowing in our hearts required
wealth to gild it."
Emma looked in his face; through |
Ter tears she saw it beaming with ten
lerness, and she clasped her hands,
aying-
:" "George-George, if you love me,
TO-"
off love yon Emmap' he repeated.
"Speak not again." she cried frantic
lily, a in every look, in every tone there
S temptation"
Ell am going" he faltered; "but
vhen far off let me not tell my heart
hat we parted thus. Let US, for one
rief moment, Emma, trust ourselves.
me look, one pressure of the hand, to
hink of when my heart is low and sad
nd am gone forever"
She covered her face with her hands
nd wept with a bitterness of anguish
hat was awful to hear and look upon.
lowly George advanced and took one
f her hands in his. He pressed it to
is lips-his manly heart was nearly
roken. Unbidden tears came to his
yes, and with one deep sob of anguish,
sob which smote upon Emma's ears
nth more awful intensity than would
le crack of doom, he tore himself from
er, and reached the door.
"No, George" she cried, "not thus,
OF thus. That sob would haunt me,
nd should go mad. l dare not part
18th you thus"
He sprang towards her, and opened
is arms.
"Emmam he said.
A radiant smile lit up his face 1t I
lme upon the heart of the agonized I
rl like CLEAN of sunlight. In that
vful moment all was forgotten.
"George-dear Georgep she whis- |
,red.
My hearts treasured was his reply,
he clasped her gentle form to his :
,art; mine-minew
T" Yours onlym she gasped.
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