New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-06-30

in whom she had confded the wealth of her
young hearts affections, would, I rightly con-
jectured, knock dolefully at the door Of her de-
solate heart, till death itself shall be hailed as
a sweet release.
"Oh, how confdingly did that woman resthe
very heart-her soul-into my keeping. How
lovingly did she gaze into my eyes, and respond
with 0 true woman's devotion to my passionate
declarations Of love. 1t would have melted
sterner heart than mine, dear Frank, td.daily,
hourly, witness this; and before / was aware,
would find myself bestowing plying thought
upon my victim. Still I worked, and daily, as
her love grew more evident, felt an indescrib-
able feeling, akin to sympathy, springing up in
my bosom for her, which served for time to
avert the fastening Of the final scene. To be
with Bella, as she was then, and not love her
in my case-was utterly impossible! Yes, my
dear friend, realized, when calmly viewed my
own heart, that deeply, madly loved the now
gentle Bella Sunderland / had started with
the glittering chain of the tickle goddess, love
| and, entwining it about the neck Of another,
| had unconsciously entangled it about my throat.
l was fairly caught in the meshes Of my own
| Observation-Disclosures to entrap another Oh,
what were then my feelings-what conflicting
emotions rended my heart-strings asunder! On
| one hand my brothers blood called loudly to
me to remember my vow of Just retribution-on
ing away, and sinking into early grave-as
sinks the snowflake in the sun-lit hour-and
| her murderer, was scene terrific in the ex-
| treme. And besides my own life, if deprived of
my hearts idol. would be a wilderness more
drear than Arabia's burning plains. And should
| be at the same time her executioner, and the
disposer of my own happiness? 1t was a hard
struggle, for felt truly loved her. But my
brothers form, as with the furyof a maniac he
rushed into the dark and fearful stream, was
| yet before me and the clods that ratified upon
his early coffin were still ringing in my ears.
And cold, unfeeling man conquered, or rather
smothered, his better feelings, and revenge be-
came at once my choice Well did foresee that
\ it would be the death knell of my happiness,
and fears Of my weakness hastened the impend-
ing doom.
slt came, with a crash that overwhelmed poor
Bella in its ponderous course, and stretched her
beautiful form upon a bed of unconscious suffer
ing and wild delirium at which time she was
constantly calling upon me by the name | had
assumed will not attempt to portray the
scene attendant upon that eventful day, when
told her who really was, and my purpose in
being there. | told of the VOWS | had made
over my brothers grave, to avenge his death
| Nor did | scruple to tell her that in so doing
sacrificed my every claim to happiness and per-
haps to life itself. lhesitated not to assure her,
that from feelings of bitter hatred, had sprung
a love whose image should be cherished through
life, and blessed with my departing breath. But
: duty, to myself-to my vows-to my injured
brother, demanded the sacrifice. And as l
caught her in my arms to imprint last kiss Of
) farewell upon her pale brow, she wildly threw
her arms about me, and giving one long, pierc-
ing shrek, fell back lifeless, and white as the
Z purest Parian marble. Delirium succeeded de-
lirium in quick succession, and | watched con-
stantly at her side until she began to recover,
when, snatehing kiss from her boodless lips,
the memory of whose sweets shall never die,
tore myself away, and have never seen her
: since until this morning
As the truly wretched man ceased speaking
! his friend condoled with him in his aflicton
and generously spoke to him in tones of kind
ness, calculated to act as soothing balm to his
breaking heart-but all in van-he heard ii
not. He had bravely tasked his feelings in a
full recital of his woes, and when he had ended
he sank back with the mighty recoil of his great
mind.
, And Frank Linton, though greatly alarmed
, was not inactive. In nh incredibly short spac
OF time he had procured medical assistance, anC
!, persisted, against all remonstrances to the con
trary, IN keeping his watchtul post by the bed
side of his dearest friend through the long hours
n of that lingering night. And when the morn.
+ ing sun gilded the eastern skies with crimson
: he had the satisfaction of seeing himself recog
. nized by his friend. But his happiness was
o brief; for, as the physicians had anticipated
F his mental faculties had received such sever,
f shock that malignant fever Immediately en-
7 sued, which for three long weeks rendered hi
] life very precarious. He was inscnsible th,
greater part OF the time, and when he at length
i began to recover, it was very slowly; for hi
mental and physical sufferngs had been so in
i tense that it had completely prostrated his vita
y powers.
a We will go back, dear reader, if you please
4 to the time when Howard had been sick about
week. Frank Linton had been unremitting il
his attentions and kndnesses to his poor friend
A scarcely leaving his side moment His owl
Y strength, as natural consequence, was bein.
0 rapidly impaired: and at the urgent solicita
e tons OF the attendant physicians, he had con
/ sented to take little exercise Accordingly
4 one day, we find he has extended his walk a
far as to the mansion of Major Sunderland
t He called upon Bella, who had noticed his alb
| sence, and now inquired why he had so loug alb
sented himself He simply told her the truth
c stating that the dearest friend he had on eartl
y lay dangerously ill, and he could not leave him
: lie refrained from telling her the name of hi
t friend, for he feared 'twould be touching to,
tender chord. For he had, upon mature reHec
t ton, become thoroughly convinced of the reasol
t Of Bellas unhappness, and with the whole
s souled generosity of his noble nature had deter.
eptits II ~ NSic loSSlpleS ne NUull eIeC
d reconciliation between the unhappy parties o
S this sketch. Imagine then his feelings, if yo,
can. when she, in the henevolence of her tamec
e and saddened spirit, resolved to accompany hin
d to the bed side of his friend; and in aecorlanc,
o with that purpose she set about preparing SOM
little articles of choice delcacies for him. suel
I! as only woman can produce.
= They set off together, and soon arrived at th,
J. hotel where Howard was inv.lided Franl
1 stole noiselessly to the bed of his friend, an,
e drawing aside the curtains 6und him as h
wished-asleep. He then mohoned Bella to ad
e vance, and as she did. she threw such pene
d trating glance upon the teatures of the sleepe
y that her eyes seemed riveed immovaby there
n With one foot advanced she had suldenl,
y stopped, and pressing her hand almost wildly t
p her forehead, seemed striving to recall SOM
II half obscured memorJ-some dream, well nigl
TX forgotten. After pause of a few moments sh,
a timidly advanced 20 the bed, and bending loy
1t over the PROSTATE sufferer, eagtrly scanned hi
t. passive features then, if undecided but some
= what reassured she parted the raven hair from
y off his noble frow, and then, and not till then
p did the truth, like flash of light, reveal itsel
'f unto her; and she involuntorily receded a step
ID agitated IL every nerve, like the leaves of til
vt aspen struggling in the breeze, and would hay
II sunk to the toor but for the timely interference