Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-15
MISCELLAN Y
DANGER OF FILTRATION.

The world would hardly be worth living
in i it were not for firtations,' exclaimed
the gay and thoughtless Isabel Lee, as she
laughinglylentercd her aunt's ROOM
hope you are not serious 2 she said.
There is nothing like Irritation cried
the merry Isabel But you look reproach.
angry
Oh, am not angry replied Mrs Der.
ford, with melancholy smile.
Butyou are displeased2'
Your words awaken fecollections which
cause me to feel sad, Isabel: that is all
Sit down here by my side and you shall hear
a story of one of my firtations which may
change your mind
When was young like you, dear child,
I was quite as gay and thoughtless as your
self ! was called coquette, and l, shame
to confess it, gloried in the name-uatil the
occurrence of the painful events I am about
to relate.
Half dozen times year used TO visit
c. and spend week or two in the pleas
ant society of our friends in that place
There ] frequently met pale, handsome,
sensitive young man, named Gilborne, who
payedme very fattering attentions, making
me tho theme of numerous poetic illusions,
and with whose partiality was very well
pleased.
/ was warned by many well meaning
friends against encouraging the addresses of
SO impulsiye person as Gilborne, who, they
said was more Serious than /, and who might
end BY falling moredeeply in love with me
than I expected OF sdesired, | laughed at
the idea aud finding the attentions Of the
Young poet still agreeable, / continued to re-
| eeiTe them until it was too late J
Too late how SO auntl'
Why, to my establishment, he one day
/ made passionate declaration of love, and
/ offered me his hand
And you did not love him?'
mo, child. / was merely pleased with
| him. But even then did not suppose tina
4 his love was more than the result Of . suddeI
| impulse, which would pass away with my Wis
1 it to c.. So / respectfully declined hi
| offer. laughed at the idea of marrying at tina
/ age. and begged him to dismiss this subjec
from his mind. On the following day | lei
i c. and returned home. "a
/ = Letters aud poetry followed me, breath
lug a passionate devotion, and burning wit
u the eloquence of love They Dofe no name
but knew they were from Henry Gilbornt
was beginning to be very muct annoyed
i took council with my friends. and resolve
q to send all future epistles back to him un'
pcncd. | returned twoletters in this mai
ner. and received no more but three or fou
weeks after l resolved a newspaper IN whic
there vas sonnet addressed to me under
!. fictitious name and signed with his initial
3 He had discovered "a new mode of reachin
rae With bis passionate illusions and fro
!. that time sonnet: or song sigaed IL
-, eame to me in c. Gazette, near,
! every week
! At this time, Mr. Berford was payiu
me his addresses he was one of nature
nobIemen. frank, generous, firm in what
considered right, and a gentleman In b
) manners Having1carned lesson from Il
: unhappy termination ofmy last AirtatieDs.
! received Mr.. Berfegsls attentions in diffe
5ent rsanner from what had been aceustoI
: ed 10 do, and in short time We were ma
ried
u " The ceremony look place in the churc
IloYed Mr. Berfords Gilborne was At th
!. moment quite forgotten. and was perfect
4 happy bad notia thought. to disturb I
peace Of mind-the calm repose Of my hea
which ] had so Willingly gladly giyen saH
: until, as we were passing from the chur'
!, my eyes fell upon Wild, haggard hgu
!. standing near the door.
i Il was Gilborne' His face was dreadf
E E3ly pale. bis lips ashy. his eyes cleaned "
an uneakthly brightness, and be treInb ied
every limb / started, uttered suppress
erx. and snudderiAg, clung 70 my husban
Ct .sm a pang Eent through my heart
u -. 80 .,,I 1rna1 xrhioh 81