The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-16
Confidence and Confessions,

gathered without. z...5...
Cousin Harry and l sat costly beside it, en-
Joylng the pleasant warmth, and giving full
rein to our wandering fancies.
He was leaning back dreamily in his easy
chair-l, silently musing opposite him, with
my feet (they are not large ones, you may be
sure, resting on the border of the low fender.
Ny eyes were fixed on the glowing fire; but now
and then / could not help stealing glance at
cousin Harry's face, in order to conjecture the
subject of his long reverie.
He was in right dreamy mood and his
dreams were evidently pleasant ones, though
many varying emotions swept across his manly
features. -.s,
| too, as I sat there looking demurely into
the fire, had certain little dreams of nv own.
Did | mention that cousin Harry was not nv
real cousin-only ward of my fathers, rear
ed in our family, to whom that title was given
merely by courtesy? But that, of course,
had nothing to do with my dreaming, or not
dreaming Harry broke the long silence at last
by saying: ..E- =.
'tCome and set here by me, cousin Olive, I
want to tell you something" ... ....-5
went and took low seat at his feet, and
leaned my head against his knees, as I had
done from childhood. Dear cousin Harry, how
I loved him. .,....-....-.-.t..
Hepassed his hand caressingly over my curls
and said: .....-.... -,
"O]iye, did ! ever speak to you about Miss
Ruthersford-Miss Mary Ruthersford?''
mo, cousin.''
s.And yet have never had, and do not
wish to have any secrets from my little cousin
But this is proof" he added, laughing, ssthat
the old line which says, the heart feels most
when the lips speaks not is true. If have
not spoken to you of Miss Ruthersford it must
have been because have felt too much to give
easy utterance tony thoughts. Olive, she is
the loveliest creature ever looked upon. I
met her last summer, when travelling. We
travelled together, and each day that spent in
her society admired her more In short, o.
i've, fell in love with her.
"Yes?' said I. I was glad 10 be able to ut
ter even that one word, and so glad that my
face happened to be turned so that Harry could
not see it.
"She hasjust returned to this country" he
continued, land this very night decides my
fate senta note to her this morning request
ing an interview. An hour from this time sees
me the happiest man in America, or the most
miserable ...
| clasped my arms tightly round Harry's
knees, and am sure even in that bitter moment
| breathed prayer for his happiness, come
how it might. - ~.-...
My tears could no longer be quite restrained
but Harry naturally misunderstood their cause
He patted my head with playful tenderness,
and rising himself he raised me too, and kiss
ing my cheek, said: ....-
THANK you, dear Olive, for your sympathy
am going now-give me your good wishes
for success s -.
Farewell, Harry" whispered and he was
gone. How much there was to me in the one
word had farewell! III
l did not sit up to wait for Harry's return as
l at first intended to do.
By the time began to expect him, my head
ached SO, and my eyes were so swollen with
crying that knew it would not do for him to
see me. So went to bed, and laid awake the
whole night through, and thought of cousin
Harry, and how kind he had always been to
me, till my heart ached. .,...
The next morning | was really quite i'll and
feversh, and kept my room all day But the
suspense was intolerable to mel longed to
hear Harrys voice again, even though his
words struck to my heart like daggers-there-
fore when the darkness of twilight came [
thought | might venture; so slipped on my
wrapper and stole down stairs to the little sit
ting room where I knew he would be seated by
the fresGe. -. ~ e..
Yes, he was there, and sitting very quiet
and still. could not tell anything by his face
asI entered; but perhaps that was because l
had not courage to half look. s-.. ..
slipped in very softly behind him, and be-
fore he could see me was nestled on the sofa
by his side, with my face screened behind bis
shoulder. --a e.= f.. r8r.- 5.l
I thought he would be surprised, or pleased
to see me; or at least l expected him to speak
to me. But he never said word. He sat still
looking into the fire.
Then l knew how it was-he had received
bitter-a terrible Disappointment. My heart
smote me-what were my girlish griefs com
pared with the deep, manly sorrow, which sha
dowed that dear, beloved face? realized that
to see Harry unhappy was to me the cruelist
Of sorrows Iput my two arms around bis neck
and wept bitterly. :..r, &. ...--.0 4s
Harry turned then with such kind, gentle |
smile, and merely said, as he drew ME nearer
10 him:
"Do not cry, my poor little Olive. Do not
cry He soothed me and caressed me as lfl
were child. Afterwards he added in stern
er voice: ..... -.gr.. s-s--...-..=4.r
Yes, it is all over now, and must bear
like man. '
He did bear it like man. saw and un-
terstood all his struggles-his stern endurance
If his sorrow. saw how keenly he suffered,
md yet how bravely and cheerfully he bore
himself and loved him more and more; and yet
was SO sorry for him that if i had thought it
you'd have been of any use, would have gone
myself to the lady whom he blessed with his
owe and pleaded with her for him. But for
his it was quite too late. Miss Ruthersford
'as already engaged to another when she re- S
arned home :r .gsE .4.5L s.y.-sa'. !
But much as I suffered in seeing Harry suf- t
II, had one consolation. He did not brood !
! moody silence over his disappointment; he /
wed to talk with me on the theme nearest his g
cart. He liked to tell again all the particu- G
lrs Of his acquaintance with Miss Ruthersford. e
# the pleasant days they travelled together Q
her exceedingly loveliness, and the many lit I
e incidents on which he founded bis hopes, '
is almost certainty of her preference, and of n