The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-06-22

has to be made legally yours upon your marriage
with him..
But supposing we never marry,-what thenl >
s:Never marry! that's singular supposition
concerning an event which the whole neighborhoo
has been in hourly expectation of for a month, and
which is actually within three days of the period
named by Yourself for its cousummation. Very
singular; it strikes me
Constance could not deny this. 1t was true to
the letter. But dared she confds to her father
the events of last evening! Alas. she felt thai
from hum she would receive little sympathy and
TO save Aueel;que he powerIess. She, she
had power. but that thought was madness!
Pooh child, 1 thought you ladies' had a higher
opinion of your charms than to count on desertion
from lover at an hour SO late as this. And you
could nor suppose would allow him the po,Osr to
withdraw You shall see it's all right; only l
suppose you will refuse 10 read. Here it is in
black and white that n Baifour forfeits his engage
ment, he also forfeits his claim to Angel'que. Now
my distressed damsel. are you satisfec?'
Constance gave no word of reply. Her mind
| was far away-she was picturing Angelique's fu-
ture. She saw her borne away triumpi'antiy by
| Victor Balfour, and aft-r time during which she
had experienced his brutal rage, curses, and blows
sold to another, and another; till at last spurued
from the presence of an angry disappointed master,
consigned to field toll, dragging out few weeks
or years of misery under the divers lash. All
this passed through her brain like electric stroke
She knew such things had been, she knew they
were happening almost daily in The Slave States.
But Angedque! Who. oh who ever dreamed she
cpuld come to this! fate still ,corse she did not
for an Instant contemplate.
sCons!ance what are you pondering?' exclaim-
ed her father suddenly. Her expression of in
| tense and hopeless agony awakened feeling of pity
| though mingled with wonder. .Etl1sak, DEAR you
will find it best f'r all not TO defer your marriage
| beyond the originally appointed tins. Bafour
speaks of you in terms of tend restaecfion, though
he did not deny that he feared you had listened to
exaggerated tales of his youthful misdemeanors.-
But I assured him had convinced you of their
| faIsehool.'
Constance heard not syllable. She had be-
come suddenly aware that her arm was resting up
on something bard and cold which lay on the desk.
! Shudderiag she looked down. There lay long
green purse. and through its loose meshes, gilt
tered, like loathsnme yellow scales. great coins of
gold. She looked in her fathers eye. and read
there that this was the price Of Angeique! Start
| ing up with wildness that would have alarmed
her parent, but for the supplying effects Of the po
tations he had taken. and which were beginning 10
cloud his perceptions, she rushed frum the library,
| and prussd not, scarcely bre ithed, till she had
turned the key of her own door. Even then,
seemed that the green snakeIke purse, filled with
that terrible purchase money haunted her. and it
was long before she could reflect with any thing
| like calrnness-
When she did reflect oh what complicated, what
varied emotiuns tortured Her. Mortifcatpn for
| her fathers shameful righteousness which with
the excessive stimuIant he had imhibed, prevent
ell him from suspecting the duplictiy prncticed up
on him-horror and indignation at the diabolical
game that Balfour was psying-bus above all, and
deeper than ALL the crushing narrowing anxiety
for Angellque! Long she sat nursing her anguish
silently. with her tear-swollen face buried in the
velvet cushions, but when the twilight shadows
stole in and the quadroon girl came and laid her
soft hand upon her shoulder, she raised her head
and srningly putting her aside, said.
Dear Angelque. am going to the parlor now
to do a kind thing for you. Don't sit up for mo-
Go early to rest. You slept none last night
Constance went to the drawing room. and fad
ing it unnccupied, despatched servant to Mr.
Bslfour. with message requesting an interview
In few seconds, he came. his features wreathed
their baniest smiles. and seating himself beside
her comrflsnced those seductive ,tteres to which
she had fDrnierly lent SO willing an ear, but which
now che heard with tremor of terrors,as 1t un ad
der were kissing and crouching beside her.
.Mr. Balfour,' said she, with a cold bow of in
terupton. Il sought this interview tonight to asl
but simple act of justice. My father inf'rms me
: that you have just purchaser OF him my f"T"rlt'
waiting maid. AS he was unaware at the time
of the decision which last night communicates
to YOU and as it is certan that had he been right
ly informed of that decision, no such sale woul'
have taEen place. the contract cannot be justly val
I'd or binding
Your decision what decision can you Possihi.
refer to pretty one = returned Balfour with we
felgned nstonishment.
Did You not, then, eceve my note of last eve
ning?'
Oh pardon my stupidity surely did receiv
JiiLet which now recollect, seemed 10 have bee
written under the promptings OF little womanl
pique, little theatrical resentment! Nothin
mure. upon my honor
h = Nay Sir answered Constance with baugh'
g uess that iIl-disgused The supreme contempt sti
felt for the bare faced falsehood. assure yourse
> that never was moro profoundly in earnest iha
:. when penued that NOE ard subsequent event
II have by no means changed my opinion
y 1T is impossible exclaimed Baltour, with an al
h snmution of seriousness that did not sit well upo
At his crafty features 1T is impossible that lad
e Of Miss Herhert's good sense, leaving out of NJ
count her plghred affection. could Judge SO severe
} of a mere ,hough,less Irritation; word uttere
in momsntnry forgetfulness, and itself forgotten
If soon ms spoken. You are only trillng dear. nj
IT this well-worn mask is vastly becoming to yo'
= style of beauty, must own.
1t This is all folly, Mr.. Bafour, sent for "
this evening. not to explain my past conduct or
I,,fa ,tyr f, urO fhaf