M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-06-01

only eighteen, ardent in temperament,
with high animal spirits, very much
courted and admitted. aud did enter
with keen zest into the pleasures Of
life. His grave smile, in the height Of
my enjoyment, used to fall like a weight
on my heart.
He himself, holding an important and
influential position in the world, was
full of earnest schemes of practical be.
neyoleuce, of professional reform. He
seemed to think, labor and write mainly
with an eye to other mems interests and
those in their highest and widest bear.
ings. He liked TO talk TO NE o: these
things. and excite my moral enthusiasm;
and while listened he carried heart aud
conviction with him, and | felt call
to such co operation an honor, in which
sacrifice could have no palt..-Thsa- his
look of intense affection and happiness,
as he kissed the cheek to which his
words had brought SO deep glow, stir,
red my soul, aud left no doubt on my
mind that loved him,
At the end of two months, Mr.. Lacy
left me to attend summons to his faith
er's death bed. He expressed no fears
as to the result of this separation, tho
| perceived deep secret anxiety.
shared it. | had a morbid dread OF the
effect Of this absence.
Don't leave me, | cried, clinging
ts.aa in IN hi . .Ir A &
seIt--alraid of becoming unworthy of
you
How, Constance7' was his aGswer,--
If you mean you will forget me, or dis
cover you are mistaken in thinking you
love me, it will save US both life long
misery--me,a at least,a lifelong remorse
Fora week or two after he left me, |
hardly went into society; but my father
and friends laughed at my playing the
widow, as they called it. and | soon lie.
sumed my former gallies. with, however,
a certain restraint and moderation which
felt due to Mr.. Lacy.
AT length the temptation beset me Of
which | seemed to have had vague
presentment from the first evening OF
Mr.. Lacy's offer, and it beset me under
its most insidiOus form. My fathers
sister and nephew came to pay us long
talked Of visit; and even before they ar
rived, had begun to torture myself with
doubts as to issues Of this intercourse
AS children, Frank Ingram and | had
spent half our time together; and as
children, had pledged ourselves to each
other, Five years had passed since we
had met, for he had been studying med
icine abroad, but an un5roken, though
scdnty correspondence had been always
kept up between the two families. Frank
had been my ideal as child. Ill found
him so still--if | were To love hinl IL,
when he came, he brought with him that
future about which | had dreamed
brought it in vain. There was some.
thing morbid in this state of mind! but
the idea had fastened upon me, and ]
could not shake il off. My very self
misIrust was a snare.
My aunt and cousin duly arrived; and
Of Frank must speak the truth, even
if | am accused of wish to justify my
self, Every charm young man could
have, think he possessed. say moth.
ing of his beauty, or his ingenious gra-
ces of manner. | could have withstood
these, though | had very keen appre.
citation Of them. But he was full oil
disinterested ardor in his profession, a;
Mr.. Lacy in his; had the ame deep de
sire to be Of use IN his geneTation--tht
same unsellish plans and aspirations
only he ualolded them with such win.
ming sci mistrust, as if he doubted hi:
worIhiness for the high vocation of be
nevolence, until he warmed into enthu
siasm; and then the passion of his speech
the very extrayigance of his youthful
hopes. thrilled me with power far be.
yond the reasoned wisdom OF Mr.. Lacy's
enterprise, Oh, longed TO join hand:
with him in his life journey, and lead
my aid to the wor6ing out Of his Uto
pia, with spontaneous leTvor OF desire
never known before.
Lesser things lent their aid. He wa,
fine musician, and an enthusiast il
the art: we praCtiued constantly togeth
er. He taught me how TO play and sinl
the German compositions he had intro
duced TO me do not wish to dwell
on details; but who does not know hoy
subtle a medium OF love a kindred pur
SUIT and enjoyment of music is?.-an,
MI. Lacy had never cared for music. -.
Then, again, he was my perpetual com
panion: at brea Mast, his clear eyes an,
welcoming voice opened the day; an
alter its long hours Of delightful inter
course, his hand was the last Claspe
at night. No attempt was made TO pu
any restraint upon this dangerous com
panionship. My father looked upon IL
as brother and sister Besides, the fac
of my engagement was known, and h
had The most implicit confidence in hi
nephew's honor. lie never considere,
my danger. yet it was the greater. H
nigh; be strong but | was weak. L
short | loved Frank.
A letter announcing the probable da
Of Mr.. Lacy's return roused me to a con
yiction vi the truth. / carried it up /
my room, locked the door aEd fell o
my knees. What should lido? Shoul
keep my secret, and sin against m
own soul by marrying one Idid not love
Surely that were the worst. crime of n
Two. What was left me, then, but /
wound a noble heart, belle my promise