The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-11

sons deceive themselves, rather than those they
wish to deceive. Candor is an element more
preJudicial to their arts and designs, than the
most subtle management, because the former
is mistaken for the latter. Believing that, to
have no existence which they really encounter,
they drift about like ship in an unknown sea,
and sink into the very pit they have left open
to entrap Others e
To all of her fathers praises of Fanny Har-
ry made but one answer. "She's an inconti-
nent hussey," but he knew very we'll of her
fathers preference for him, and therefore the
lated the suspicion of mercenary motives
Matters took their usual course, until Harry
had graduated with the 'highest honors," and
it was rumored that he would Immediately re-
turn home. His reputation had gone before
him, and there was very perceptible flutter
among the little coterie of bellies of our city, at
the intelligence. Bumps had secured whole
army of old tabbies to blow the trumpet in
praise of Harry and an equal number came to
the rescue Of Fanny. In the meantime Harry
arrived in town.
1t was in the depth of summer, the soft air
waved the luxullant foliage in the golden sun
shine, and the rich salmy zephyrs, fragrant
with many perfumes, stole through the sighing
flowers, bending over the clear fountain, which
had been the early trysting place of our lovers.
Here they met for the first time in three years.
"Dear Fanny murmured Harry as her
warm breath swept his lips, "the loveliness
that was just unfolding when we parted, seems
to have ripened into perfection to greet my re-
turn
1T has ri pened them," she tenderly answer
ed, Gin care and solicitude, but it is all fully
compensated for in this blessed hour
Thus, in sweet communion of heart did the
happy pair recount each trouble of the past, and
mark out plans for the future, until the Glow,
large moon" warned them how lightly fly the
hours on the wings of love. They were just
preparing to depart when a rustling in the foli-
age attracted their attention. Harry sprang
instantly to the spot, but the eaves-d -dropper es-
capped his clutch and fled. The poor girl was
in state bordering on distraction at the dis
covery, but he soothed her with every endeags
ing epithet, and before they got home had fixed
upon some plan to allay suspicion.
eve must 60 to cousin Ellie's Immediately
and let her into the secret" said Fanny. "It
must be given out to morrow that you and she
are engaged, and of course you'll carry on the
deception. Take her to all the public places
of amusement, &c, Harry, for mercy sake,
hu1ry!"
It panied him to the very soul to see her SO
much agitated, and he accused bimselffor being
the cause. ''But then what ight have the sor-
did hucksters to cause me unhappiness?" he in
dignaptly reasoned. ''They shall have some
trouble before it is over!"
The morning after these adventures Bumps,
Fanny and the maiden aunt who resided in the
family, were seated in silence at the breakfast
table. The coffee had been handed round
Joseph, the waiter. was standing in military
and digniGed position behind aunt Kitty chair
Fanny was silently slipping her coffee, anG
Bumps hitching about in his seat and finding
fault with everything before them, the egg
were over -dope-the toast was cold. and hun
fdred little causes of annoyance provoked th'
expression Of his perplexites. He grew more
and more irritable, and it found at last ven
in the following eloquent outburst:
| "That scoundel, Clayton he looked direct
ly at Fanny as he said this, but she met his
gaze unmoved and replied:
"Why, you appear to have changed youl
tone, uncle since, yesterday, but am glad tc
perceive that my prophecies of him are about
to be verified at last
Bumps was a cautious man, and lest the sto-
ry he had heard of Harry and his niece having
been seen together, should prove untrue, he
hesitated to push the matter further.
II hear it rumored," said Fanny -. that he
and Ellie are engaged, they are constantly in
each others society,""
And this remark Bumps dropped his head
into his saucer, apparently lost in reverie of
delight at the gorgeous Chinese temple shining
there, and seemed to hold private co]loquy
with the fat mandarin walking on his head in
the courtyard. All of sudden the eggs
seemed to be exactly suited to his appetite, and
the toast, which was so cold before, seemed to
be piping hot. Poor Bachelor Bumps!
The report that Clayton and Ellie were en-
gagged soon reached the ears of Fanny father,
who entered, though secretly, his protest
against the match. He knew Clayton's me;4t,
and had predetermined that Fanny should
marry no one else. Her uncle was Indifferent
as to whom she married, provided the old con-
tract between him and her father was adhered
to, and so he went to work to plot and counter
plot against the threatened marriage of Ellie
and Harry. He circulated the most scandalous
calumnies against each, always taking care
that they should be duly told to each other
personally
All the rear guard of old women were press
ed into the service again, but they were obliged
to direct their fire in an opposite direction to
its former course. Thus the plot thickered and
the hour was gradually approaching thS was
to see united inseparab]y Harry Clayton to
Ellie Somers.
In despair at failing in all other inventions
and resources, they priviy consented to throw
the two parties together, for Judging Clayton
by their own base standard, they readily sup
posed he would be caught by the tempting op
portunity. Whenever her father and Clayton
met, the former greeted him with signs of
great cordiality, and they invariably parted
with the most pressing invitations on the part
of Mr.. Fleming, to drop in familiary at any
time. Balls and reiinions were gotten up on
purpose to afford an opportunity for the two
to meet, but all to no effect, they seemed to
have an aversion to each other that no one
could penetrate or solve.
Things were approaching crisis which de-
manded an interference, and Fanny's father
had determined to broacb the subject to her |