The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-27

never consent that his son should marry the
daughter of lazy, dissipated man, and he said
that my city rearing was scarel y better pre-
paratlon for the duties of mistress of the Home
place, than | should have received at the hands
of that brawling slatternly fathers wife.
Leander was firm, and talked of the future,
and of patient waiting. But felt that I had
been scorned, and my indignation was un-
bounded. [ wrote to my aunt, telling her all
in no measured terms, and begging her to send
for me to live with her again, if possible Her
answer was to come to her at once, and | de-
parted, much to the CONSERVATION of my father
and the i'll concealed delight of his wife, who
Col. Holmes remark.
l. left note for Leander, who was absent at
the time, saying that the engagement had bet
| ter end, and releasing him fully and uncondi-
tionally. I wrote and sealed this note without
hesitation or faltering, though it cost me Sc
we're pang to do SO. .-.-e ..
| did not know until had been settled in
my aunt's house week, and my letters in a
package directed in Leander's hand, arrived
without a line from him, how had hoped that
he would not consent to be released but would
still cling to me. w .s. -..a-...
But he, too, had his ndignation-he was
hurt that should have arranged for my de-
parture without consulting him, and he was
panied at the coldness of my note So through
the fault of others, and misunderstanding of
their own, two hearts that really and truly
loved were severed. Alas! that the story had
SO many counterparts!
MY aunt's income, by considerable economy,
supported us, and enabled us to retain ourplace
in the society to which we had been accus-
toned. 1t had been more than she anticipated
when she sent me to my father, or she would
never have exposed me to the trials | had
passed.
As the time passed on I had lovers, as any
pretty girl will, for, if I might believe my mirror
and my friends, | was not without attractions,
but none of them touched my heart.
On looking back can see that was always
waiting, waiting for an underlined expectation
of something that never came. Was it for Le-
ander that l waited? If it was, never ac-
knowledged it to myself, but it was with ii ter
rible pang dumb but real sorrow, that served
as an excuse for illness, it was 50 like it, that
heard, after two OF three years, that he was
married.
Ny step-mother wrote it to me-this we'd
ding news-dilating maciously upon the beau
ty and wealth Of the bride, who had come from
distant city to live at Holme place. Upon
the planting and fencing, the painting and glaz-
ing, and general beautifying of the old house,
and upon the loads of beautiful furniture which
the BRIDES father had sent to refurnish the old
rooms.
Ianswered that Leander Homie was worthy
of any woman in the land, and bade her con-
graduate him in my name if she saw him. hop
ing thus believe, to disarm her suspicious
and convince him that I had forgotten my love
for him.
Invent into society more after this, and it was
remarked that l was gayer than l had former
ly been. | was not aware of for only knew
that was trying to forget. had no other OBJ
ject in life now.
The years seemed very long and weary
Society did not satisfy me, and | came to be
looked on as coquet when, one after another
L rejected the sultors whom my gaiety and
brlliancy of manner brought to my feet.
became restlessly unhappy: with craving fol
some object for thought and duty that would
not find satisfaction in the life | led.
At this time my aunt had severe illness
and the new cares which then devolved upon
me were very good for me. From this illness
she never fully recovered, and for two or three
years before death came to her relief, and
while ] was lbusly occupied in ministerng to
her comfort, grew more patient and quiet.
Bye-and-bye, | was alone. | had laid her
who had been all that mother could have
been to me for so many years, in the grave,
and | was left without care or duty, Ny means
were now ample, for my aunt had bequeathed
her property to me, and, except a tender sor-
row for the dead, l should have been very hap
py. But | was not ...--..
brought one of my little sisters to live with
me, very glad to receive her from such home.
went for her, and while on my visit went
to the village church, and from beneath my
black veil, saw Leander Home and the woman
who occupied the place that should have been
mine. She was looking pale and i'll. 1t was
said that she was unhappy, and that her hus-
band treated her, though always courteously,
with great coldness. | felt a miserable chock-
ing feeling half delight, half bitterness, at the
thought that he did not love her, but baffled
even my step-mother's curiosity by my impen-
etrability. am sure she did not learn that
took any interest in the dwellers at Holme
place.
More years passed l still had offers though
no longer young. AT last I determined to ac-
cept one Arthur Meriden was a man worthy
of my esteem-worthy of my love, only had
no love to give. He was satisfied when | told
him all, and promised to become his wife.
But as soon as had promised, the old
wretched, waiting feeling came back. 1t seem
ed as if vaguely expected something to inter-
pose and prevent the consummation OF that un-
holy engagement. And as the day approached
grew more and more wretched, till finally on
a sudden impulse, determined to so down to
my fathers to look once more upon the old fa-
Fmiliar scenes, the village church and the Holme
place, before should have promised away my
freedom, miserable as it made me, of thinking
of the past and my past love. ....a ---
| went, and the first sound that greeted me,
as entered the village, was the tolling of the
bell, and the carriage drew up beside the road,
as long funeral procession passed. In the
first carriage sat Leander Holme, very pale,
but calm! 1t was his wife-she whom | had
always thought upon as occupying my place
that they were conveying to the tomb.
Iremained at my fathers for many days, not
that hoped or wished to see Leander Holme,
but because literally lacked strength and en-
/ u.