The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-02-18
In Love or not in Love
''The amount of it is,' said handsome II

| diHOuul Ol IL IS, L LII III COnlOunQeO Scfape
I've gone little too far, perhaps, in my at.
tentions; the girls over head and ears in love
with me, and l don't see how I'm to get out o
it with honor. | don't like the idea of broken
hearts, and all that sort of thng-but what is a
fellow to do? I've no more thoughts of mar.
ryng than Of turning preacher Come, give
US your advice, old fellow!'
Tom eyed his friend with merry twinkle in
his eye. A sagacious and mischevous smile
played round the corner of his mouth.
Nothing easier in life than to get out of the
'scrape,' as you call it, if you want to-"
"How? how?" asked Harvey, eagerly.
|'You say she's handsome, witty, amiable
and accompIished?'
yes"
"Well then,' knocking the ashes from his
cigar, ''shes just the wife want and III take
her off your hands"
"Absurd!' cried Harvey, trying to turn in
to pleasant smile the frown which suddenly
darkeued his face. impossible, Tom" he
continued, amiaby, ''t would never dos In
the first place, you would not suit each other in
the least-there would be no congeniality oI
disposition, intellect, &C.
"Is she then so decidedly my nferior?" ask
ed Tom. %
''Interior?' cried Harvey, frngup with sud
den Indignation. l don't know the man she is in
feriorto. She's glorious creature, tell YOU
"Well, where's your objection, then?''
"Well, meant, perhaps I'm notyery civil TO
say SO, Tom, but Tie fact is, though you're the
best fellow Ill the world, you're sometimes q lit
tie rough, and she's SO sensitive and refined,
t-that-besides, AS told You, Ton-con-
found it-as l told you she's in love with me,
there's the rub-there's the rub" and he rub
bed his hands together with returning spirit,
as if he had hit the idea he had been vainlv
seeking, at last.
'Thank you, Harvey, for your compliment
tary hints, " said Tom, as he watched the ascend
ing smoke OF his cigar; "but on the whole, not
wlthstandlng my extreme diffidence, | believe
don't take quite SO low an estimate of my
character as you do. And as regards the be-
ing so desperately in love, and all that, | know
how much that means. Trust me for that
Nothing for curing girl of fancy for one
lover like the appearance of another. Why if
the odds were equal In other respects, the nov
city gives the last conner such an incalcuIable
advantage, that there is no doubt of his success.
Besides, in this case, we will have the advan-
tage of playing into each others hands. You
have only to hold off little at first to give me
chance. You play cold, while play warm,
and bet you a box of cigars [ win the day as
easy as kissng, as the ladies say"
Il think you. are entirely mistaken" said
Harvey stltfly, in a tone of plque and annoyance.
"WelI, shall try, aye CT no?" asked Tom.
"Oh certain y, certainly; | should be much
obliged, Of course" replied Harvey, whose
manner presented the gseatest contrast to his
air of boasttua security at the beginning of the
conversation.
That same evening Tom accompanied Har
vey to Miss Northwood's house.
He found her all. and more than all, Harvey
had described. lie was indeed charmed with
her grace and beauty.
The conversation, after the first preliminary
common places, fell on the works of art and
thcswondrous galleries Of Europe. Tom had
been an extensive and intelligent traveller, and
was in his clement on this subject. He had
much ofIntercst TO say, and to,G1d much plea
sure in answering Miss Northwood's discrimin-
ating questions.
Harvey, who had never travelled, was of ne
cessity silent, and thrown quite into the shade.
natural to music, and here, too, Tom was at
home. In fact, music was his strong point
He was an accomplished musician, with all
enthusiasm for the art. Soon he and
Miss Northwood were settled at the piano sing
ing, humming snatches of airs, admIrny. com
pairing tastes, and ecstaclsing as enthusiastic
lovers of music will
''Do you know this little air?'' asked Tom;
81 learned 1t in Venice, and it is, | think, pc
culiarly beautiful. 1t seems to carry with it
perfume of Italian flowers, and the sound Of
ripping, moonlit waters.''
"Fudge!'' muttered Harvey, from the distant
sofa to which he had RETIRED from behind the
book he was pretending to read.
Then followed the air referred to, sung in the
most exquisite taste, with the richest of manly
voices.
Miss Northwood admired warmly, and ex-
pressed what she fclt.
''Coquette,' sneered Harway, in an accent
Of concentrated rage.
But all unconscious of these muttered COM
ments, the musicians fingered over their music.
One favorItc air suggested another, and there
were scores to be looked over, and Duets to be
sung, ard Tom had so many anecdotes to tell
Of such and such musicians, and such delight
ful little histories of how such and such pieces
Of music came to be written that time flew on
swift and noseless pinions.
4 Miss Northwood's eyes occasionally went in
search of Harvey, but whenever she addressed
l remark to him, with a view of drawing him
nto the conversation, he replied with such un
courteous brevity that she was repelled from
urther advances.
''Well,' cried Tom, as they emerged from the
rouse late in the evening, "pretty we'll for be-
ginning, Harvey. So far so good. | consider
he affair in most hopeful train. Miss North
yood more than satisfies my expectations, and
fatter myself | made sn impression. Hey,
Iarvey?"
An unintelligibe growl from Harvey was the
'nly reply.
Il say, Harvey" continued Tom, in the hi gh-
st spirits, Il don't see those unmistakabIe
of being in love, lin your fair lady,
which expected May you not be deceived
7ourself on this point?" ..
Another grow, ominous this time, from Har-
'ey. Tom proceeded
""You did very well ight, Harvey. Icom-
mend you Keep your distance: that's right;