The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-21

seemed to overpower their sorrow in sympathy
with hers The quick perception of Alice
seemed at once to understand the mystery, and
gliding from the seat where she had crouched
IN her sudden grief, she took the passive hand
which hung BY Mildred's side, and raising it
to her lips, exclaimed wildly
ssForgive him, dearest lady, only forgive
Walter-he will love you. Oh! he does love
YOU already, as you deserve. See, he is weep
ing He does not love me now, that is past,
dear lady and you will forgive him, and be his
wifep'
Pale and lifeless, the unhappy speaker sank
at the feet of her rival, who appeared suddenly
recalled to her usual self-possession. Ina calm
voice, she bade Walter carry the faintng Alice
to an adjoining summer-house, where she
watched with intense solictude for the first sign
of recovery. Then beckoning her cousin to
her side, she placed Alice Lees hand in his,
and without trusting herself to look into his
face, said slowly: s'You must tell Alice, Wal
ter, that you are not going to marry your cou-
sin, that you may love her without sin, and
that to morrow I will tell her SO myself! You
NAV not like to see my father tonight, to-mor-
row, I will prepare him for an interview
There, now see this poor girl to her home.
Passing rapidly on to her house, Mildred
Vernon sought in the solitudeo Of her own cham
ber upon her bended knees, that consolation
which her crushed heart so sorely needed, and
she arose at length, strengthened and confirmed
in the generous self-sacrifce her noble, I'M
pulsive nature had at once suggested The
cup, indeed contained bitter draught, but
she resolved to drain it to the very dregs,
believing thatin the end it would prove whole
some medicine. which in time might bring back
some degree Of peace to her troubled spirits
"Your engagement with Walter at an end!
What on earth do you mean, child? ! always
gave you credit for knowing your own mind a
little better than the most of women GIVE
your reason for this behavior, Mildred.
Mildred was silent for a moment as if strug-
Cling with some inward emotion, the signs OF
which were painfully visible on her fine features
as, with sudden effort she said firmly: 'Even
at the risk of losing what prize so dearly,
your good opinion, my dear father, can assign
no other reason than the one already given
namely, that our marriage, ifpersisted in, would
be source of misery to both of us. Pray be-
lieve that this is not grounded upon mere
caprice, deep searching into my own heart, and
a clear knowledge of Walters feelings, have
alone led me to decide thus. Only let me ask
this favor, dearest father" and the beautiful
Girl clasped the old man tenderly round his
neck, and bent fondly over him, 'that you will
not alter your pecuniary arrangements with
Walter in consequence of this change IN my
views. Let him be as much your heir as he
would have been had he married your only
daughter.' n
ssAnd what becomes Of my daughter? Ii
+. she is satisfied to be portionless beauty fol
| her Cousins sake, might not her future HUSBAND
2 reasonably regard this preference of once
S favored lover with something nearly akin t.
: iealously?"
c Dear father, do not pain by speaking thus
It In giving up Walter, give up all thought
marriage. My dear mothers fortune is a
S ample one for spinister-is it not sir? Nay
IS YOU almost promised not to visit the sin OF m
y fckeness, as you term it, upon Walter, SO max
), me happy now by ratifying that promise -
is Mildred's soft clear voice faltered percept
II bly,, in spite of her efforts to appear calm, an
: when Mr. Vernon raised his head, and lookin
IS up into her face, he saw that she had bee
8 weeping ,,, III -
d no more about your marrying, my sweet chill
s. and as to this other matter it shall be arrange
+ nearly as you would have it-only my Mlldre
c must be mistress of this old house, that canne
S. be Walters, now"
/, Mr.. Vernon kept his word, and when yea
y after the events just related, his nephew TO
e lowed him to the grave, he returned TO mn
T. himself master of the princely fortune he bt
a lieved to have forfeited by his inconstanc.
!, Some months later, Walter led his gentle Allt
is to a handsome home in the city, where his hal
y piness would have been complete but tor I'll
&c painful knowledge that this happiness WI
IS built upon the bIighted hopes of her to who
re he owed all his prosperity.
In accordance with her fathers wish and Il
IN provisions of his will, Mildred Vernon st
7e kept up her establishment at Battcrsea, llvlI
N life Of quiet usefulness and benevoence unit
as all traces of her sorrow seemed TO have bee
1e chased away Mildred had seduously avol
ed meeting her cousin after the death OF Ii
er father. and she had not seen Alice since II
ed fatal scene which opened her eyes to her lover
ly real feeling toward herself. The sudden ne'
let of the entire failure of one of Walters bu:
We ness speculations at length reused her to mo
IT. active efforts Determined, at any sacrfe
ch to secure the comforts of her beloved cousl
Mildred decided upon mortgaging her estate
ed its full value, and thus, in some measure, !
n, lieving him from his embarrassments. II
ne generous idea was no sooner conceived tn
ps executed, and a second time in his life, Walt
he found himself saved from comparative rum
the woman he had SO cruelty wronged
Years passed on, the mortgage upon the
so mansion was at length closed andit passed II
ou the hands Of stranger, while its once wealt
'u mistress retired to the cottage of old Roger l.
which with large portion Of garden, she h
nd managed to retain, and here, with one faith
ed attendant, her days heeted by as peacefully
lp- when she was surrounded by luSuries OF i
er, tune. z-.. r.m...
Not until Alice sorrowed over the lltel
ear form of her husband, did Mildred conquer !
'ch feelings sufficiently to visit her.. She did tt
it? forget and conquer them, and It was TO ),
earnest sympathy and active diligence, Il
ul- the widow of Walter Vernon, and her daus
I'M. ter Mildred, were indebted for a more co
my Portable maintenance than the embarrassed St i
Of the merchants affairs would allow. n
ice, dred lived to see this orphaned namesake
lse, wife of a rich and worthy citizen, and to I