The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-09

as Mrs. Joe Walker. The marriage proved a
joyful one, and the assertion of Danforth proved
truthful in every respect a@ s,as9st as5a5@
The cunning lover was a good son and faith
ful husband, and lived many year to enjoy
the happiness which followed upon his runaway
match; while the old man never cared to hear
much of the details of the elopement, for he saw
how completely he had overshot the mark.
.-. --oc~~~~>~-o~o-.-o~~~0-~-~
Goethe Learning to Dance.
From childhood his strange didactic father
had instructed him and his sister in dancing,
task, in whichaas we picture to ourselves, the
cold, formal, rigorous old Frankforter, seemed
rather ludicrous He was perfectly unconscious
of any iHncongruity. With the utmost gravity
he drilled into minuet, playing to them on the
fageolet Since then Gethe's dancing had
been neglected, and when he stood up to min
uet once in Liepsic, he got through 1t so awk
wardly as to draw upon himself the suspicion OF
having done so to prevent being invited again
A handsome youth unable to dance was an
anomaly in Strassburg. He resolved at length
to learn. A friend recommended him to dan
cling master of repute who soon pronounced
himself grati6ed with his progress.
This master was dry, precise, but amiable
Frenchman, whose two daughters were assisting
him at his lessons, both acting as partners and
correctors. Two pretty girls, both under twen-
ty, charming, with vivacity and coquetry, could
not fail to interest the young poet; nor could
the graceful, handsome youth fail TO create an
impression on two girls whose lives were some
what lonesome. Symptoms of this interest We
ry soon showed themselves. The misfortune
was that the state of their feelings made what
.dramatists call .'situation'' Goethe's heart
inclined towards Emilia, who loved another;
while that of Lucinda. the elder sister, was be-
slowed upon him.. Emilia was afraid to trust
herself too much with him, but Lucinda was al
ways at hand, ready to waltz with him. to pro-
tract his lesson, or to show him some little at
tentions. There were not many pupils, so that
he often remained after his lessons to chat away
the time, or to read aloud to them romance
dangerous moments! ......-.--...
He saw how things stood, yet puzzled HIM
self about the reserve Of the younger sister,
The cause of it came out at last. One even
ing after the dance was over, Lucinda detan-
ed him in the dancing room, telling him that
her sister wasin the sitting with fortune
teller, who was disclosing the condition of low
er to whom the girls heart was given. "Mine, y
said Lucinda, ''s free, and | must get used to
its being sighted" '..@
He tried to parry this thrust by divers little
compliments, and indiscreetly enough advised
her to try her own fate with the fortune-te]ler,
offering to do the same himself. Lucinda did
not like that tampering with fate, declaring that
the disclosures of the oracle were too true to be
made matterof sport. Probably this piqued
him into little more earnestness than he had
shown, for ultimately he persuaded her TO GO
into the sitting room with him. They found
Emilia much pleased with the information she
had received from the pythoness, who was
highly fattered at the new resort to her shrine
A handsome reward was promised her if she
should disclose the truth. With the customary
ceremonial she commenced to tell the fortune
of the elder sister, She hesitated. so; see, .
said Emilia, "that you have something unpleas
ant to to tell' Lucinda turned pale, but said
''speak out, it will not cost me my life." The
fortune teller heaved deep sigh, and proceed
ed with her disclosures. Lucinda, she said
was in love, but her love was not returned, an
other person standing in the way. And she
went on with more in the same style. tits no
difficult to imagine that the sybil should readi
ly enough interpret the little drama that was
acting by the youth and the two girls before
| her eyes. Lucinda showed evidence of dis
tress, and the old wowan endeavored to give z
better turn to the affair by throwing out hopes
of letters and money. Letters" said Luc!n
d. Il did not expect, and money do no
want If love as you say, have right tc
be loved in return The fortune teller shuf
fled the cards again, but that only made mat
tiers worse. Lucinda burst into passionate
food .of tears, and rushed from the ROOM
s'FoIiow her," said Emilia, '.and comfort her..
But he hesitated, not seeing what comfort he
could well give, as he could not assure her o.
some return for her affection. "Let us 60 to-
gethes,' he replied. Emilia doubted whether
her presence would do good, but she consented
Lucinda had locked herself in; and paying the
old woman for the work, Goethe left the house
He had scarcely courage to revisit the Sis
ters but on the third day Emilia sent for him
and he received his lesson as usual. Lucinda
however, was absent, and when he asked fol
her, Emilia told him that she was in bed, de-
claring that she would die. She had thrown
out great reproaches against him for his un
grateful behavior "And yet do not know,
said he, "that am guilty of affection for her
| know somebody who can bear me witness o
that" Emilia smiled. Il comprehend, 'she
said, "but if we are not CAREFUL we shall find
ourselves in dangerous position. Forgive me
if | say you must not go on with your lessons
My father says he is ashamed to take youl
money any longer, unless you mean to pursue
the art of dancing; since you know already wha
is needed by a young man in theworld." "De
you tell me to avoid the house, Emilia?" he
asked. YES" she said, ''but not on my &C
count. When you had gone the other day,
had the cards cut for you, and the same an
swer was given thrice. You were surrounded
by friends and all sorts of good fortune, but the
ladies kept alooffrom you. My poor sister stood
furthest ofall. One other constantly came neal
to you, but never close, for third person, a
man, always came between. will confess thai
l thought myselfth this second lady, and now you
! will understand my advice. have promised
myself to another, and until now loved him
more than any one. Yet your presence might
become more dangerous TO me than it has been
and then what a position would be yours, be-
tween two sisters, one Of whom you would have
made miserable by your affection, and the 9th.
| ar h1, vour coldnpss - She held ont her hand