The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-03-19
Allie

Allie
was standing BY the mirror, training my re
fractory curls into some appearance of neatnes
in part to punish them for having strayed S
wantonly over the pillow during my restles
sumber They are beautiful locks-soft, curl
ing, and of a captivating golden hue The fac
that they were just the very setting 10 reliev
an otherwise homely face-and that my broth
er Fred had declared them to be the very su
perlative of beauty give as an offset to th
charge ofegotism, which may already have re
solved itself in the readers mind And let m,
tell you, the opinion of such fne gallant
good looking fellow as Fred, was worth a gooe
: deal! My thoughts were on him, now, as
stood before the mirror In fact, it was on tha
very day, year ago, that he had sailed fo
Europe. / was thinking it was time I ha,
) another letter from him, when the door open
ed, and cousin Allie bounded in the room.
'tOh, Kate! what do you think?' cried the
little girl, as she pirouetted round the room
'a letter from cousin Fredp'
4 "Oh, Allie, can it be-" replied, my face
rejecting the happiness upon her own--'1 had
Just been thinking Of Fred. Come, let us si
down and read it'''
We both seated ourselves upon the sofa, and
commenced perusing the letter. Allie threw
her soft white arm around my neck, while hel
dark curls mingled in sweet contrast with the
lighter ones of mine.
A beautiful girl was Allie. Her dark, liquid
eyes, so full with dreamy tenderness, bearned
with almost spiritual beauty; and a hasty word
or touching incident would bring the tears to
her eyes, the warm blush to her cheeks, and a
sweet, imploring expression to her countenance.
| tha f,;p ,fh hor AL
ed sufficiently to allow those with whom she
conversed, to mark the beautiful and fitting sha-
dows of the deep and sweet emotions Of her
loving spirit. There was quiet dignity and
purity about the gentle girl that repulsed the
most presuming. She was easy and unaffected,
because seeking to appear no higher nor better
than she really was. Her look and manners
were peculiarly winning in their tranquil sub
dued gentleness, yet when this was occasional
| ly laid aside for awhile, amid the inexpressible
mirth Of childish amusement, her laugh had the
ringing melody which seems the musical es-
sence of enjoyment. g.
"Oh! how Interestingly" cried the delighted
Allie, as we poured over the manuscript
how do love your brother Fred!''
I started with agreeable surppise at this re-
mark, and as l gazed up into her sweet, inno-
cent face, and drank in the glory from those
dark fascinating orbs, that were so rarely un-
yelled, a thousand sweet emotions came swell
| ling up in my soul, and straning the dear girl
to my bosom, covered her lips and cheeks
with kisses.
"Dear cousin Allie,' replied, "and Fred
loves you in RETURN
"Oh! Kate, do you think so?" murmured
that rich, musical voice, while her eyes flashed
with renewed briiancy. A moment afterward,
a dark shadow passed over her fine features,
and she added, in a low, mournful tone, ''but
he may forget me among the beautiful, the
wealthy, and the gifted
"No--no; never, Allie! I cannot bear to
hear you talk so sorrowfully, or speak thus of
my dear brother Fred. Few are more beaut-
full than your own sweet self-few weather. in
a loving, trusting gdsposition-few more talent
ed or gifted. Believe me, Allie,' continued,
watching the light that again irradiated her fea-
tures-sshe loves you with all that fervency his
generous, throbbing heart is capable Of and
| even now l feel and know that he is longing to
see his dear Allie again-the little missona-
ry, sunlight as he called you when you came
to our saddened home, and with the magic
power of your gentleness threw the Sunlight
OF happiness everywhere" .-.......
i. The tears stood in Allies eyes, and pressing
my hand with gratitude, she nestled her head
upon my bosom, while | read aloud to her the
remainder of the letter-which in fact was a
very pretty postscript of some length-and
which made Allies heart beat vivdly against
her boddice. It ran as follows:
''P. S. Ny dear sister Kate, you may sup
pose that have become by this time consider
ably 'Frenchifed and you no doubt imagine
that, on my return, l will exclaim, after an at
tempt to speak good English, 'Ah ma chere,
cest inutile; ce villain Anglais me reste tou
jours au gosier!' ('Ah, my dear, it is useless;
this ugly English will stick in my throatH)
"Oh, my sister! How I wished felt once
more your soft, white arms around my neck,
could hear the sweet murmur of your voice, or
have your head, with its wealth of sunny hair,
nesting confdingly on my bosom as of old,
while gazed down into the glorious depth of
your eyes, growing softer and softer, beaming
only for me, since we laid fond, loving, and
q manly heart into the quiet grave!
ooh! where may that blessed dream be
sought, which can fling over the pensive eve
ming of life the sunny brightness of its morning;
which nourishes the hearts young warmth
through the successive lustres Of passing years;
leads the unwasted spirit to its last flesh, and
seems extnguishable only by that power which
stills the vital throb, and quenches the ETHEREAL
flame together.
e'The echo ofthe heart answers Home, and
/ am coming home soon, my dear, dear sister.
Il miss Allie as much as do your sweet
self. How is she? Growing more beautiful
and captivating every day, suppose? Kate,
! love Allie fondly, dearly. Oh, often when
the quiet shades ofevening gather around me,
DO involuntary murmur- "
"tAllie dear!
Call thou me home From thee apart
Family and low my pulses beat,
As if the life-b blood of my heart .o..
Within thy own heart hold its rest,
And fowereth only where thou art!
Oh! call thou me home!'
"But must draw my letter to close. If
you think Allie has ever ore than kind, cou-
sinly thought for me, read her this postscript.
shall write again by the next steamer. In
the meantime, dear Kate, may the richest bles-