New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-26
In Love or Mot in Love ?
ny II, w. DEVICES.

vey, to his friend Tom h, at the end of a long
and confidential Conversation the amount o. it u.s.
I'm ina confounded scrnpe. I've gone little too
far, perhaps in my attentionss the girls over head
and ears in love with me, and don't see how I'm to
get out Of it with hopor. don't like the idea of
broken hearts and all that sort Of tng-but what is
q fellow to- do? I've no more thought OF marrying
than have Of turning preacher Come, give us your
advice, old fellow Y sS .5i.{5a fil 49,, ~,
] Tom eyed his friend with a merry twinkle in his
eye. A sagacious and mschievons smile played
around the corner of his mouth. ==,g s5f
"Nothing easier in life than to get out of the
.scrape' as you call it, il You want to-
" How? howY asked Harvey, eagerly.
you say she's handsome, witty, amiable and &C
complished?'
"Well, them knocking the ashes from his cigar,
she's just the wife want, and I'll take her off your
hands,
pleasant smile the frown which suddenly darkened
His face. "impossible Tonl" he continued, amiably
it would never do. In the first place, you. would
not suit each other in the leastthere would be no
congeniality of disposition, intellect, etc.
ais she then SO decidedly my inferior?' asked
!, aInterior?'' cried Harvey, firing up with sudden
indignation. al don't know the man she is inferior
TO- She's glorious creature t!nst;dn tel tsyn o1 7,
"Well, meant-perhaps I'm not very civil to say
So Tom; but the fact is, though you're the best tel
low in the world, you're sometimes little rough
and she's SO sensitive and refined, tnat-that-be.
sides, as told you, Tom-confound itas told you,
she's in love with me, there's the rub" and he rub
bed his hands together with returning spirit as II he
had hit the idea he had been yany seeking at last.
THANK you Harvey for your you complimentary
of his cigar but the whole, notwithstanding my
extreme natural diffidence, | believe don't take
quite so low an estimate Of my character as you do
And as regards the being SO desperately IN love- and
all that know how much that means Trust me
for managing that. Nothing for curing a girl of a
fancy for one lover like the appearance of another
Why, if the odds equal in other respects, the
vantage, that there is no doubt Of his success Be-
Sides in this case we will have the advantage Of play
ing into each others hands, You have only to hold
off a little at first to give me chance You play
cold, while I play warm, and bet you o box of
cigars I win the day as easy as kissing as the
II think you are entirely mistaken" said Harvey,
stiffy, in tone of piaue and annoyance
" SWELL, shall try-Aaye OF" no?h asked Tom. .
ooh, certainly should be much obliged, of course
replied Harvey whose manner presented the greatest
contrast to his air of boastfnl security at the begin
ming of the conversation.
| That same evening Tom accompanied Harvey TO
| Miss Northwood's house.
| He found her all, and more than all, Harvey had
described. He was indeed charmed with her grace
| and beauty.
The conversation, after the first preliminary com.
mon-places, fell on works of art and the wondrous
galleries of Europe %Tom had been an extensive and
intelligent traveller and was in his element on this
subject. He had much of interestto say, and found
much pleasure in answering Miss Northwood' dserim'
mating questions.
Harvey who had never travelled, was, of necessity
silent, and thrown quite into the shade.
| From this subject the transition was easy and natn
| raj to music; and here, too, Tom was at home. Ii
fact, music was his strong point. He was an accom-
plished musician with all musicians enthusiasm fol
the art. Soon he and Miss Northwood settled
at the piano, singing, comparing tastes and ecstacs
| ing as enthusiastic lovers of music will
"Do you know this little ARP asked Tom. ~
learned it in Venice, and it is, think peculiarly
beautiful. 1t seems to carry with it perfume o
Italian flowers, and the sound OF ripping, moonl
waters"
+" Fudge u muttered Harvey from the distant sofa
to which be had retired from behind the book he wa
| pretending to read
Then followed the air referred to- sung in the mos
exquisite TASTE with the richest of manly voices.
Miss Northwood admired warmly, and expressed
what she felt. .,...
"Coquette," sneered Harvey, in an accent of con
centrated rage.
the musicians fingered over theirmusic. One favori
air suggested another, and there were scores to b.
looked over, and Duets to be sung. And Tom hat
so many anecdotes to tell Of such and such musicians
and such delightful little histories of how such AM
such pieces Of music came to be written, that tim
flew on swift and noiseless pinions
Miss Northwoods eyes occasionally went in searcl
of Harvey, but whenever she addressed a remark t
| Il
ton, he replied with such uncourteous brevity tina
she was repealed from further advances.
"Well!i' cried Tom, as they emerged from th
house late in the evening pretty well for begin
in most hopeful train Miss Northwood more tina
satisfies my expectations, and aatter myself mad
an impression. Hey, Harvey"
An unintelligble growl from Harvey was the onl
reply.
g I say, Harvey continued Tom, in the highes
spirits, q l don't see those unmistakable symptom
Of being in love, in your fair lady, which l expected
May you not have deceived yourself on that point?'
Another growl, ominous this time from Harvey.
Tom proceeded.
"You did very well tonight, Harvey l common
you. Keep your distance, that's right-no poachin
in my grounds, you know"
" Your grounds you rascalth burst forth Harve
in fit Of ungoVernable rage g I've great mind
knock you down for your insuterable assurance you
you puppy. And there sir, is my card, if you wal
the satisfaction of gentleman y
> Tom raised the card Harvey flung at him as he lie
! him. bursting with laughter as he did so.
" Tom, my good fellow!n cried Harvey, as
burst into Toms room the next day, with the mo
beamng Of smiles on his face" Tom, I've got som
thing pleasant to say to you. Wish me joy, my fiji
=, fellow! It's all settled We're to be married th
{ day three months It's all fixed, and I'm the uckie
dog Why don't you congratulate me, old boy?'
Because V you take taxi my breath away can't
a me to take her off your hands,
v "Nonsense?'
7, And that you considered yourself in quite Il Fl
u from which l, goodhumoredly, consented to he
YOU
Fudge y cried Harvey, a blush of vexation al
shame coming into his face
'And that Miss Northwood, poor thing, was like
to die of broken heart"
!! + Come, come, Toni no more Of that an til
is lowest me! The fact is Tom-and 7 may as well os
. ia does not know whether he is in love Or ut
u, sometimes, till little jealousy. something ell
~ opens his eyes for him. But it's all right now.
" :" Oh aye said Tom, with affected gravity, 4" y
s may think it's all right but there is something yet
~ be settled which may stand in the way of your tr
~ love running very smooth" AS he spoke he grave
p drew forth Harveys card from his pocket. 81 ha
W ordered coffee and pistols for tomorrow morning. a
IL Il, who knows? I may stand chance for Miss Nor
I'll woods hand yet"
Harvey snatched the card, and sent it spinning il
the air, as he burst into merry laugh. Tom join
him heartily. Their hands met q cordial grip, as til
a. ID excaimed--the one, q You may thank me- Harry
W. for teaching you your mind' and the other
~ understand you, Tom, you're the best friend e
~ 81 had. See if | don't prove my gratitude, some
'o these days by flirting with the lady you're in Ii
Nc with
Nv "Youre welcome" cried Tom, "by the time
ia in love you'll he like the lion, teeth and claws
or married man, and no longer dangerous"
adj The Defornity of Sin.
lis The following story is told by Harrington, in be
written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,