The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-08
The couuette Subdued


to belive that my unworthy self had but slight
hold upon the heart you so recently vowed was
all my own" 1g Ea gsls s..
mo, dearest Emma" said Henry seaton, tc
whom the young girl addressed the above re-
marks, in tone of pique, Il require no trans
formation of your natural self. only that you dc
not suffer vanities. the frivolites, and the afec-
tons Of fashionable life, to mar the loveliness
of spirit, which, rich in natural fragrance,
first won my worship" g-.t / .-.-.
- ou are unreasonable" persisted the unap-
peased lady, t'inurging ME to renounce the en-
| joyments, which my youth, my sex, and need
| add, my altered position in society, render
imperatively necessary, that should participate
in during the brief period of my grlhood' a..
''True, true, y rejoned the gentleman, Bit
terly. Il had forgot that the meek claims of a
poor orphan daughter were merged in the high
er ones which the adopted child of wealthy
fashionable now advance. Such is now the
case but my taste and predictions, neverthe-
less, are too fixed to conform to the disagreea
BILE alteration, which change of position has
suddenly effected in the character Of the once
irresistible Emma Deans
"Then in lieu of the loyer-lke devotion,
which alone can make my constancy secure,
whilst adulation and bonied endearment await
me on all sides, am to receive only grave re-
monstranee and angry frowns from your Fordly
self. Pshaw you know nothing of woman 5
nature II you cannot toresee that such unlocked
| Tor usage would draw her 10 pursue the course
you reprobate.
"Then the pain, thus wantonly inflicted.
would convince me, that her heart was insen-
sble to the claim of true affection, and [ would
make no further effort to secure it as my own .
You are candid said Emma, Indignantly
sin explaining sofully your feelings and inten-
tons. But you must allow me with equal
candor to assure you, that / will not submit tc
the arbitrary exactlons Of one, who gives evi-
dence Of such cool indifference asdoes not ex-
cuse the presumptuous freedom of manner nev-
er again to be tolerated" "
Henry Seaton bent his fine manly head for a
moment overpowered with contending emotion
But soon obtaining that self command which
eminently distinguished his character, he arose,
and with folded arms, confronting Emma
gazed fixedly upon the change in the expression
of her countenance, one instant filled with
wounded pride and insulted dignity, in another
pallid with the effort to appear resolved and
unconterned. .-.
"Refect,' he said, in an earnest voice, *'ere
you irrevocably decide your own fate and mine
My affection is strong enough to endure any.
thing but the consciousness Of your utter disre
gard of my wishes and feelings. Fiat the risk
of offending you, assume the privilege of re
! proving and directing your conduct, IL was be-
cause of my anxious socitude to preserve youl
| youth and inexperience from the pernicous in
fuences which surround you and were fast un
| derminlng all that lovely and attractive in YOU
character, o. calculated to win your devotion
and reverence from proud and noble natures
| "Nay, hear me- he said, ,as gesture of mpa
tence from the lady interrupted him-'hea
| the, most sincerely devoted of Your friend
speak even unweleome truths for the last time
| mean not to maintain an empire over you
/ heart by pandering to weaknesses and folie
which would disgust he in aswife. If pros
trate my heart before you, must receive en-
couragement from your manifest appreciation
of its worth to do SO. Cling to me with tha
tender, trustful submissive devotion, which the
impcriousness of my nature demands, and yor
will infuse into me strength, powerful enough
| to brave the universe for your sake. Even YOU
/ love will be valueless unaccompanied by tina
reverential and respectful tenderness of man
ncr which beauties the gift
This new unfoldment of the arrogance ant
pretension of my vould-be sovereign lord anc
master, has no other effect than to make me
thankful for timely release from the degra
ding bonds which matrimony would under sucl
circumstances prove. AS lover you mi gh
perhaps have tyramzed over my affections, ane
by gentle persuasons in time have won me tt
accede to your most unreasonable wishes. Blu
to Law down the law of the Medes and Persian:
for the regulation of my conduct ere love hac
shone with summer warmth upon the growing
budding plants Of its first spring, is to withe
them in unripened freshness.
The glow of offended pride which at frs
heightened the bloom upon the beautiful cheel
of Emma as suddenly disappeared, and she sa
pale ,tremulous with emotion, awaiting the fna
reply of her lover. .....
The scene had been long. Her courage wa:
taxed to the utermost. And fearful of betray
ing all the weaknesses Of her heart to one she
4 believed cold and exacting, she suddenly arose
land, ere sign or word had apprised Seaton Q
j her intention, rushed from the room.
/ He had turned and walked to distant win
! dow, that she might not see the struggle it cos
HlH1 ~ ilalhIdin his sell posSeoooll "llt'' eoii
PEELED him to fall a slave at her feet. The clos
ing door startled him. He turned in chagrH
and modification to discover that he Was
stunned, abandoned, perhaps forever, by The
only being who had ever deeply interested his
feelings, and he reflected, not without pass
ing pang, that be bad precipated an event whlcl
oyerthrew all his hopes. "a . o."
4. Il have been too harsh" he mentally ex
claimed. IF the beauty, the winning grace:
of a girl, exact their tribute from each passing
admirer, it is, after all, a vanity which the Gus
toms Of society render excusable, and that al
men are compelled to bear with. But woulc
rather feel the tie between US broken, than te
know again the doubt, the agony of watching
over a wandering heart.
.s '.'Nos sooner does vanity and pride of conques
creep into woman's heart than all true at1ec
ton is overthrown, to allow the selfish monopo
| ly which such balefu passions claim. Though
| might still hope to win this cherished obJec
OF my love, can / ere again expect to satisfy
her desires9 Has she not acquired a woman ::
fondness for that most frivolous and dangerou:
pastime of hersex, coquetry? The incense Of
the many will henceforward be preferred to the