The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-17

such love. My India, will not stay so long
a. | said. will not stay till have won fame
or fortune | cannot remain away so long.
But as soon as have won a modest compe-
tence-in a year or two will be back to
claim my blessing"
Her tears fell like rain. Still she clasped
aud pressed and kissed his neck, and said that
would not do at all he must not leave her
no, not for week she could not, would not,
bear it she should die
He kissed away her tears, fast az they fell,
and then proposed again that she should go
with him, promising to do more than man ever
did, or ever could do, to shield her from hard
ship till all hardship should be over, as it surely
would be in time
With few deep-drawn sighs she lifted up her
head, and answered, No, she could not go she
was far too delicate to bear such change he
ought to know it, and ought not to ask it, No
# he toued her, lac must give up his project and
stay with her ; and if he did lope her, he surely
would do it. Any man that really loved would
do that much for his lady
She was evidently merging from her tender,
alluring mood, into an irritable and capricious
one.
Full of doubt and trouble at her words, he
answered.
My dearest India told you that this pur-
posed action OF mine is measure of justice
and conscience You know it involves an i'm
mense sacrifice. Do you suppose would make
that sacrifice, except from the most righteous
principles, and do you suppose can possibly
abandon such principles My India, if from
my great love for you could now sacrifice my
conscience to your convenience, you would soon
lose all esteem for me, and, in losing all esteem
lose all comfort in loving me. My India, nc
honorable woman can continue to love man
who has forfeited his own and her respect. Dc
you not know that~
Colby she put away his encircling arms
coldly she withdrew herself from him, say
ing
q | see how it is, sir You do not love me
you are faithess you seek an excuse to break
with me, by putting our union upon conditions
impossible for me to comply with. You need
not have taken such n crooked path to plain
purpose, sir you needed only to have frankly
named your wish, to have had your plighted
troth restored You are free, sir--to unite
yourself with one of the favored race the OBJ.
jects of your manifest preference, if you
please -
This last, most insulting clause was cast ut
turned to leave the room.
His brow crimsoned with the sudden smite
of shame, and
This from you, India :" he exclaimed
She was looking at him still /; but the scorn
and anger slowly passed from her face, as he
rose and advanced towards her. saying
" But you are excited | will not lay your
bitter words to heart, nor suffer you to leave
me in anger Dearest Indiao
She had already regretted her sharp words
love and anger were balanced in her bosom so
evenly, that it took but trihe to disturb the
equilibrium and now his iorbearance and his
kind words completely upset the scale, and
love assembled. Turning to him once more, and
throwing herself in his open arms, she burst
into tears, and said
dearest Mark, only give up this mad, mad
project, and | am all yours Oh, you know
am, any way for even now the separation thai
| would pain you, would kill or madden me
But Oh you know cannot endure the hard
ships you would prepare for me ; they woul(
be equally fatal. Give it up, Marx! Dea
Mark, give it up, for my sake, for your dea
mothers sake, for all our sakes Stay with
us do not divide w and break our hearts, by
leaving us! We all love you so you know We
do We would do anything in the world for
you if you would stay with us And | only
grow angry and lose my senses and utter mad
words, when you talk of leaving us Don't 90,
Mark Dearest Mark, don't leave u.s."
And so she pleaded, hiding her tears and
bushes on his shoulder, and clasping and
pressing and kissing his neck and cheek The
pleadings of young beauty to young love, most
powerful, most painful to resist, yet they were
resisted-mournfully but calmly and firmly
resisted
She raised her head from his shoulder
"And you persist in your purpose she
said
Ny India, cannot do otherwise"
Notwithstanding all the suffering you may
cause your mother, your relatives, and me-"
My own India, ! would | could bear all
your grief in my own person"
But you adhere TO your resolution !"
81 have no alternative"
"And this is your final decision !"
He bowed
Even if you should lose me forever in
He started as if suddenly struck by bullet
He changed color, but did not speak. She re-
garded him fxedly. At last she said slowly
and calmly
"Will you please to answer my question:"
"India," he said, al will not for a moment,
admit such a possibility God does not repay
fidelity to conscience with calamity"
perhaps it might not be calamity !
think it were well we should understand each
other The question is now before you-do
not evade it,"
"My India, it is not practically before me.
No, thank Heaven, the intolerable alternative
of resgning you or my principles is not yet
before me-"
by all our past dreams and present hopes
Of happiness ! assure you that the alternative
"a now submitted to you, sir. And ] adjure
you, by your conscience and by the strength of
your Wanted principles, to decide the question,
which now repeat to you-if the adherence
70 your present purpose involve the final loss
,f my hand and heart, do you still persist in
hat purpose
Something in her tone caught up his glance, |
10 rvet it upon her. Never in all their lives
rad she seemed 10 him 30 beautiful, 50 regnant, |
10 irresstibly attractive. 1t was an awful mo- |
nent for his young, worshipping heart He
zazed upon, he studied her face nor did she
urn it from him, nor avert her glance. She
net his searching gaze proudly, fcarlessly, i'm
oeralIy she seemed to wish that he should |
cnu hci "uu Aho" 40
Die determination. There was no pique, no |
niger, no weakness, or wavering, on that high
naughty brow now there was nothing but
,alpl, cold, indomitable, resolution. lie gazed
lpon her 10 wonder and in sorrow, some time
by the imperious beauty of her
,oung brow, and marveling that this could be
he tender, seductive woman that lay eooing on
lis bosom scarce an hour ago. 1t would not
n. a
10 answered, solemnly--
India, you have adjured me, by my con-
cience, by the sacredness Of my honor, TO TN.
wer your question, and say whether we're the
alternative finally before me, | should resign
ny sacred resolution, or be resigned by you.
ndia may not, must not, evsde this. And
nswer now, by my sacred honor and my
lOpes of heaven, come what may, Of trial, Of
uffering, or of agony, will never forego this
purpose, 10 which reason and conscience alike
rye me