Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-01-08

expression in his countenance, as his eye fastened
with serpentke fascination upon his bride. Isa-
be's lip quiyered as she returned the picture, and
family repeated my question.
1T is the image of one whom have loved as
shall never love again, replied Morton, passion
ately, 'of one who is now an Angel in heaven-of
my wife :
Your wife exclaimed Isabel
Yes, my fair Isabel, said he, while a sheer
passed over his lips with the rapdity Of lightning;
had you asked me of my past life, you would
have learned that when you were but babe in
the cradle | was a husband and father
Isabel started, but strove to smile as she replied
scarcely have been welded so many years ago, or
else time has forgotten to trace his character upon
your brow
Morton smiled gloomily as he said, Shall l tell
you of my past history, Isabel? Mcthinks you
should learn something of him to whom you have
plighted your faith, though prudence would have
dictated that such knowledge should have prece-
ded your promise.
There was half-concealed sarcasm in this re-
mark which cut Isabel to the soul, but she only
shuddered and was silent. Morton, fixing his eye
upon her agitated countenance, resumed
Il know not what you read upon my brow, Isa
BEL but it is certainly forty FIVE years since first
beheld the light of day. l was born in wigwam
my father was Canadian fur trader-my moth
er an Indian
At these words both Isabel and myself gave an
involuntary start, which coul41s6t escape his no
tice.
YES he continued, the blood Of the red man
the first pOssessor of the American SOIL runs in
my veins and | am prouder of that title to native
nobility, than if, like my gentle bride, could
trace my descent from of the great Norman
robbers My father sent me to Paris for my edu-
cation, but soon wearied of books and sought to
study men. A life of adventure such as rarely
falls to the lot Of an individual in modern times
has been mine. / married when scarcely more
than mere boy, and my wife and son lived in
luxury and spendor on a rich estate in one of the
West India Islands, while mo natter this is
not the time to speak of my course of life. My
wife and son are both gone to a better world; |
am now a lone and solitary man, but there is a
debt due me, which you, my gentle bride, must
pay His eye glared fercely upon her as he
spake, but when Isabel raised her fearful eyes to
his face, he banished all trace of his emotion as
by single effort, and with the sweet looks and
honied words of lover like Establishment, sought
to soothe her troubled feelings. Now tell me,
Isabel, said he, after pause, ARE you still will
ling to We'd the stranger, with the faint of Indian
blood in his veins, and, for ought you know, the
stamp of Cain upon his brow .
walter Morton, replied Isabel, solemnly, as
she stopped her lips to his broad forehead, If the
brand of Cain written upon that brow in
characters of blood, | would not believe your
crimes had stamped it there
For amoment Morton seemed touched and soft
ened. Come, my Isabel said he, we are grow
ing too serious; let US seek gayer theme. Tell
me of your early days: did you never meet with
enc whom you once loved even as you now love
Walter Morton .
Never
IF this little cabinet of yours could be unseal-
cd Isabel, would it not tell some tales of lovers
vows asked Morton, as he laid his hand on her
writing desk
Look for yourself, Walter said Isabel smiling,
as she touched a spring and opened the desk.
Glad that the conversation had taken gayer
turn, placed the cabinet on the table, and insis-
ted that Isabel should examine and burn her love-
tokens in the presence of her lover. With a gay
laugh she consented, and as we tossed over many
a letter which contained the genuine outpourings
of affection, Isabel sketched many an amusing pic
ture of the writer's We had already given many
to the flames when Morton took up bundle o
papers, tied together and labelled Poetry They
were the verses of the unfortunate Ernest Leclerc
and fearing lest the painful story should be revived
hurriedly threw them into Isabel's lap, but no
before Morton had seen the handwriting AS lisa
bel flung them into the blazing pile, Morton dart
ed forward and snatched them from the flames
seriously dldTulcU anu NcXCQ, ISABEL StrOVe to OBJ
tain them, but he was as resolute in obtaining pos
session, until, dreading to excite his curiosity By
her apparent desire to conceal them, Isabel prom
ised to read them aloud if he would return them
Morton accordingly placed the scorched paper
upon the table, and Isabel, drawing one from thu
parcel, commenced reading. But anxious to dis
arm Morton of any suspicious to which her ankle
ty to secure the papers might have given rise, sh
paused and drew most ludicrous picture of he
poetcal lover She depicted his timidity, his awk
wardness, his exaggerated sentiment his morb
sensibty; and while reading the poem, whic
happened to be his lament for his mother, sh
mimicked his nervous gestures and peculiar ton
of voice. Shocked at her cruel mockery of tn
dead, had not thought of Mr.. Morton, but whe
looked towards him the expression of his coun
tenance was almost demoniacal. Putting his hand
kerchief to his lip, which was bleeding profusely
for he had almost bitten it through he pleade
sudden illness and withdrew, but the papers di:
appeared with him.
On the night appointed for the wedding aro
and brilliant party was assembled. The apar
ments were decorated in a style of unparallele
magnifcence, and everything displayed the unio
of wealth and taste. The clergyman who was
othciate on the occasion was already in waiting
the bride and bridesmaids were attired in the
costly array-the groomsmen had Joined us in IL
ante-room, and nothing was waiting to compile
the arrangements but the presence of the brid
groom. The hour appointed for the marriage W;
seven o'clock, but minutes after minutes passet
and still Mr.. Morton did not appear. Eight O
clock came, and then the groomsmen spfang in