Eastern times., 1855-10-18

should say it. know that have given YOU
encouragement to hope and expect that an intI-
mate acquaintance might be continued between
Us; but considering the matter, which have
done the past week more than ever before,
have considered that it is not best so to d.
MY friends are, some of them, not pleased with
the idea, and that of course wonld be unpleas-
ant for me; and am yet young, and am hap
pest when | feel free 10 choose and act at
pleasure. This is not because think that |
am deserving of one better than yourself, for
know that you have very many excellent quail
ties, but because feel that / do not love you
as am capable of loving, and as should wish
TO love one with whom | expected to spend a
great portion of my life. You are worthy of a
true, lasting and aiTectionate friend, and such
an one hope you will soon fiud-one who is
more worthy of your lcye than myself | shall
always feel friendly toward you, for | have
nothing against you, but from anything farther
than friendship must ask you to excuse me- ;
After reading the letter sat perfectly still |
for some moments, for was so astonished and
bewildercd that knew not what to think, say
or do. AT last | ventured to speak.
Why Clara!' / exclaimed, lis this true I!
can it be possible that it is not all dream 9
She replied in the affirmative. After few
moments of painful reflection, went to her,
and upon my knees, besought her. with tears,
10 recall what she had said Every argument,
every entreaty which despairing love. could
summon forth from head and heart, were used, !,
but they were .powerless; she, to my surprise
what her friends had said TO her which had
caused such sudden change of feeling TO-
wards me. She replied that a sister who was
married, aud lived about mile distant, and
whom had seen at my former visit, had, to-
gether with her husbund, said considerable to
her which had tended to influence her against
ter who lived at home, had advised her not to
have me come again, assigning as reason
thatl was mot smart enough for her-mean-
ing Clara. This sister was much older than
Clara, and although she had not yet quite ar
rived at the age when woman is ycleped an
sold maid, yet such she already was TO 'all
intenis and purposes, at least, so far as
had an opportunity 10 read her character
She was very stiff in her manners, very neat
and precise, and very tenacions of her whims
and opinions. Already she had rejected three
offers of marriage, which proved as I thought
(perhaps | was mislakeAg,he hardness Of her
heart.
| will here say that if there is any person or
persons in this world whom despse, it is
those who continually meddlng with the
love affairs of the young people about them
telling this and that which they have seen or
heard, and using their influence for or against
one party or the other. This trifing, and de-
ceiying, and tattling, concerning the best af-
fections and sentiments of the soul, shows a
mean and contemplate spirit care not who
is the guilty one. speak not this out of any
ill-feelings arising Srom my own experience,
for these were my thoughts previous to my
having any experience upon the subject, but
for the good of others.
Not being fully satisfied that the influence
of Clara S friends could be the only reason of
her estrangement, | asked her if there was
nothing else that had helped to cause the
change. We had always been very frank and
open-hearted in all our intercourse with each
other, and felt assured that she would tell
me all. She replied that cousin of hers, of
whom she had always thought very highly,
and whom she had not seen for considerable
length of time, had made visit at her father s
since last saw her, and that although his
stay was short, yet he had, by his agreeable
manners and conversation, impressed her very
favorably indeed, she went so far as to say,
that although no words had passed between
them upon the subject, yet she thought that
her affection for him was greater than for any
one else.
My pride was wounded, and my heart was
filled with revenge against those who had been
the means of all this; for knew that Clara
was naturally too easily influenced, and felt
assured that if her friends had not set her
against me, she would not so readily have
yielded to the attractions Of her cousin. NV
pride bade me leave her at once and forever,
but love was stronger than pride, and | felt
that | could not leave her without one more
effort to win back her love- l asked her if
she wished me now to go, and return no more ;
If she wished to forget all the happiness we
had experienced i9 each others society, all
the pleasant hours we had passed together,
'the words of love then spoken, and to remem-
Der our acquaintance with each other only as
we remember a dream of the night. She
made no reply for some time, but at last,
bursting into a flood of tears, exclaimed,
20! have done wrong, know have, i
shall never be happy again. What shall
do 2
Love me- said l, 'as you have in days that
are past, and if you think you need my for
giveness, for aught which you have said OF
done, all shall be forgiven, and know tha,
you will again be happy
know that my friends replied she, will
say great deal to me If | continue to love