The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-25
and ungencrous conducl?n

luhgeneTons, navo come To this place Will
an object, which frankly acknowledge tc
You. have como to make honorable pro
lposals for the hand Of yonr daughter. am
not accustomedIlightIy 10 surrender my we'll
tna,nrod plans and purposes. This pur.
pose nothing on earth will induce me to
surrender, till ! have tried every means Of
success. But YOU are unjust to me. Y.u
will not even examine aud consider my
Claims. Yoa give me no opportunity q
milking fair presentation Of them. You
do not allow me to see Miss Clifton, and to
|endeavor 10 gain her favor. will cheer
|tulls submit 70 any terms yan my propos B,
TO any probation you may designate"
u have no terms 10 propose to you, sir
! require your absolute withdrawal"
'Madam, this is prejudice You mus,
give me an opportunity % overcome it."
81 insist, sir, th,t you shall abandon this
wild pursni, Of my daughter, that you leave
nv house, and make no further attempts 10
enter it,"
"Madam, ! can not abandon nv hopes
If winning your daughter. Ny lies best
hopes are staked upon my success. will
leave YOU at Your request, ba. must hope
TO tind you more favoraby disposed towards
me al another time"
Understand me. sir," said Mrs. Clifton
This departure must be final. warn you
that YOU will lind my doors closed agins,
you, should you attempt TO repeat this IN
lrusion."
"The consequence be upon Your own
head, then, madam, for will die on your
doorstep. will use no dishonorable means
TO see and influence Miss Clifton; but
vii! persepere as | have begun, aud will
surrender cay objec, only with my life."
True enough, the next morning saw me
Isbarred access even to the ves,ibuIe. !
sat down upon the doorsieps, choosing The
side upon which a partial shadow was
thrown by magnificent live oak. As
yacan,iy gazed a, the grand old tree, was
struck with the long s,reamers .. graz
moss pendant from its branches, and won
dare1 that had not before observed them.
Waving in the light hfeeZa, and forming a
beaa,itul contrast with the glossy leaves Of
vivid green. these tresses Of parasitic
growth are highly picturesque; but the,
are always indicative al moisture, and sug-
gestisa OF the dreaded fevers Of the low
country.
Al. that day. sl the next, all the third
ldly, sa. an those unrelenting stone steps
! Visitors came 10 the house | rose, bowed
licferenrially, and stood smilngly polite
while saw them admitted to privileges
from which was dehsrred. rose, bowed
.gain, and stood, as smiling and polite, 10
see them depart, assisting The ladies' &c
their carriages, like the true Virginian gen.
tleman which knew myself TO be, even
while sitting on those dull door-steps which
refused 10 recognize my quality.
| | knew that there were compassion and
relenlng fell far me, from slight indications
within the citadel. More than once. a sor.
rowiul and sympathiz,ng glance had fallen
on me from some comeiy dark face sur
mounted by snowy turban; more than
once cool draught had been silently ex.
TENDED TO me by some jet-black hand; more
1 than once the green lauiced shades OF The
windows above me ruslled. as if somebody
were an interesting spectator Of my suffer,
4 ings; and once detected near me the fiat
ter of muslin curtain, and caught The
faintest imaginable sigh.
The fourth day began its course like It's
predecessors. ! was at my post beiimes,
bu, I remember that my thoughts were
much on the delights of my hill-country
home, aud that onged for breath Of lis
cool mountain-air watched the gather
ing of a light, feecy cloud, hoping il might
come 10 such size aud position as to screen
me from s',he round red sun" which seem
ed to burn into my throbing brain. Ny
spirits were unusually depressed. grew
ess sanguinc Of ultimate success. The
mocking- birds on the trees seemed to leer
me. The glare ofthe sunshine on the we'll
swept walks and trim ,reIlises Of the garden
seemed TO sicken me. A sudden dimness
came over my sight; ,hore was surging
as Of waves, in my ears, and | sank back
Unconscious.
There was an interval of many weeks
before knew anything ofwhat then befell
me. found myself al last sick man,
but most comfortably cared for. My OWL
particular servant, and, indeed, my foster
brother, Of a darker hue, was my quiet and
attentive nurse. Around me we're many
familiar obiects-my personal effects. The
light food and cooling drinks which were
brought me were prepared as had always
been accustomed to have them, and SAVIOR
ed of home. asked no questions, thoug''
as my dim recollections Of the past ,oob
form. | began TO be somewhat curious
4 Where could be? Could il be possible
THAT | ,ras at home once more? How could
have been carried unconsciously SO far
At last, was so far convalescent that
was permitted TO Sit up, supported by phi
} lows. ! begged for air; aud my good Scip
10 lSeipio Atricanus, he liked to be cal
led; for, like most of his race, he wa'
fond of grandloqnence,) stepped forwart
and raised the curtain. The clear blue sky
J with wha, languid delight gazel into ii
Bu, suddenly ] started from my pillow anl
sa, upright. That tree Nth the rarin.
ls.reamers o. gray MOSS | had seen i, Ill
! knew every leaf it. My heart bound
: ed. There could be no mistake: wa
} within the citadel ! had besieged. Tha
: was enough. lay quietly back, and ask
ed no questions, waiting patiently for fur