Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-06-09
Love and Catnip.

ter, New Hampshire.
The dim light Of the lamp illumined the
apartment for a while, but at last went out
leaving the room in darkness save when an
occasional fash of light from the half cxtin-
guished fire cleaned for moment upon the
obscurity.
In one corner seated upon a sofa, we're the
forms Of gentle maid and her adoring lover
The youth was gleading his passion with all
the burning eloqucnce Of impetuous love, aud
imploring his charmer to name the happy day
that was to unite them forever But what
was his grief to find that she did not meet his
fond wishes with corresponding ardor.
All, Susan" be sighed have | then
deceived myself in fondly believing that your
gentle heart reeiprocatcd my passion :"
She fixed her liquid eyes upon him, but her
words were few and coldly uttered
| rather thind you hare.
"What you cannot mean that you do not
love me You will not tear from the sky Of
the future the bright sun Of hope, and leave
me to grope forever in darkness Oh, Susan
BY the happy hours We have passed together
by all the bright dreams Of happiness we
have cherishcd-by the vows you have sworn
to love mel conjure you to revoke what
you have just uttered, and promise to be
mine A."
But all unmoyed by bis appeal, she curls
her ruby lip and scornfully answers
IL shan't do no such thing!
"Mcrciful heavens. do | hear Alright
must then live on in loneliness, with all my
hopes withered and dead, ike a solitary sun
flower stalk in chilling winter? Nay, BY the
whole universe, swear it shall not be Mark
me, cruel one thou hast been the bright po-
lar star BY which | guided my whole existence.
Thou vast the rock upon which founded my
hope Of happiness; and if thou wilt not con-
sent to be mine, | swear by the blazing sun,
that when he rises as usual tomorrow morn
ing, before breakfast, his rays shall shine on
me cold corse, beneath the angry waves Of
the raging Merimac, or, perchanee my bloody
remains will be found upon its banks; and if
these means Of death fail me, VIII swallow
poison, do you hear and expire for love Of
thee. Then you will have nought to remind
you Of him, who loved you better than a
thanksgiving dinner, save the consoling rehec-
ton that you are his murderess !"
But his agony, his threats affected her not.
She was as cold as the icicle that in mid
winter hangs from the nose Of the town pump.
Cruelly--deliberately did she crush his last
hope, and with a mocking, incrcdulous smile,
she said
Kou darmt 40 IT,"
lie sprang to his feet; despair was painted
on his features; desperation gIared in his
eyes.-With his hands .clasped in agony he
turned an imploring look towards the mis-
tress Of his heart and exclaimed--
"Once more implore you to reflect re-
call those cruel words, or l 20 to fulfil my
threat" and with his hand upon the latch,
he awaited her decision It came like a
to the unhappy youth
You may go--if you wish, to grass
With one bound he gained the street; fu-
riously dashed along. and turning corner ran
against a gust Of wind that was rushing the
,ther way. The breeze knocked of his tic
/ had cost him V but the week before, yet
le needed not its loss. Like whirlwind be
,wept along the sidewalk, and espying blue
,ottlc in druggists window, he made tracks
ike a longitudinal stripe Of crude and soidi-
led city milk towards it. Opening the door
With All impetuosity that made the clerk
prine over the counter and seek safety be-
lind glass case, be fixed his eyes with the
erocity Of bereayed maternal tigress upon
he slim and trembling attendant, and hoarse-
y growled:
POISON give me poison.
"Eh-ah -lchdt gasped the horror
tricken clerk from his place Of refuge I
Poison do you hear. Z" Numbered the
louth, furiously.
With a shaking hand the clerk filed phial,
md overrun the liquid on his new ineEpressi- I
lies. but not needing this mishap, be placed !
he significant label poison, " on che bottle
nd standing on tiptoe reached i over the top ,
{ the showcase to his dangerous customer.
yIutching It fgrcely the doomed young man
.nrled n quarter al tho head Of the clerk, and .
hen hurried to his lodgings
When he reached his own room the excite
ncnt had passed away, bat It was succeeded
" a cool deliberation and determination that I