The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-02
TERMS. 1926 PER ANNUM.

slow paddles the waving of handkerchiefs
! FROM the decks, and the responsive signals
from tie crowd lining the wharf; off at
last--the faces of friends, the crowd, the
piers, and lastly the city itself. fading from
/ sight, the dash of spray, the freshening
breeze, the novel sight Of our little world
detaching itself and floating away; the
feeling that America was past, and Europe
was next all this filed my mind with an
imation and excitement, which shut out
thoughts Of Margaret. Could l have
looked with clairvoyant vision,' and be-
held her then, locked in her chamber,
should have been SO happy? Oh, what
fools vanity and pride make of US Even
then, with my heart high-strung with
hope and courage, had known the truth,
should have abandoned my friend, the
voyage, and Europe, and returned in the
pilots boat, to find something more pre-
cious than all the continents and countries
/ Of the globe, in the love of that heart
which was carelessly finging away.
! Here Westwood took breath. The sun
was now almost set. The prairie was still
and cool the heavy dews were beginning
to fall; the shadows of the green and flow
cred undulations filled the hollows, like a
rising tide the headland, seen at first so
far and small, was growing gradually large
and near; and the horses moved at quick
er pace. Westwood lighted his cigar,
drew few whifs, ard proceeded
We had voyage of eleven days. But
to me an immense amount of experience
was crowded into that briefperiod. The
fine exhilaration of the start-the breeze
gradually increasing to gale; then hor-
rible sea-sickness, home-sickness, love-
sickness; after which the weather which
sailors love, games, gayety and Irritation.
There IS no such social freedom to be en-
ijoyed anywhere as on board an ocean
steamer The breaking up Of old associa-
tions, the opening of fresh existence,
the necessity of new relationship-this
fuses the crust of conventionality, quick
ems the springs of life, and renders char
acter sympathetic and fluent The past
is easily put away we become plastic to
new Influences ; we are delighted at the
discovery Of unexpected afinities, and as
tonished to find in ourselves 50 much wit,
eloquence, and fine susceptibility, which
we did not before dream we possessed.
} This freedom is especially provocative
ofairtation. Wesee each fair brow touch
ed with halo whose colors are the refec-
ton of our own beautiful dreams Love-
illness is ten-fold more lovely, bathed in
this atmosphere of romance and manhood
is invested with ideal graces. The love
within US rushes, with swift, sweet heart
beats, to meet the love responsive in some
!, other. Don't think | am now artfullY
preparing your mind to excuse what [ am
about to confess. Take these things into
consideration, if you will then think as
you please Of the weakness and wild i'm
pulse with which fell in love With
I'VE will call her Flora. The most
superb, captivating creature that ever en-
shared the hearts Of the sons of Adam
A fine olive complexion; magnificent dark
auburn hair eyes full of fire and softness;
lips that could pout or smile with incom-
parable fascination; figure of surprising
symmetry, just voluptuous enough. But,
after all, her great power lay in her free
dom from all atfectatiOn and conventional
ity, in her spontanelty, her free, spark
1 ling, and vivacious manners. She was
the most daring and dazzling Of women,
without ever appearing immodest or re-
pulsive. She walked with such proud,
secure steps over the commonly accepted
barriers of social intercourse, that even
those who blamed her and pretended to
be shocked were compelled to admire.
She was the belle, the Juno, of the saloon,
the supreme ornament of the upper deck
Just twenty-not without wit and culture,
full of poetry and enthusiasm. Do you
blame me %
" Not whit" I said but for Marga-
ret
"Ah, Margaret !" said Westwood with
a sigh. " But; you see, had given her
up. And when one love is lost, there
sink such awful chasms into the soul, that,
though they cannot be filled, We must at
least bridge them over with a new affec-
ton. The number Of marriages built in
this way, upon false foundations of hollow
ness and despair, is incompatible. We
talk of Tilted lovers and disappointed girls
marrying 'out of spite No doubt, such
petty feeling hurries forward many prema-
ture matches. But it is the heart, left
shaken, unsupported, wretchedly sinking,
which reaches out its feelers for sympathy,
catches at the first penetrable point. and
cling8 like helpless vine to the sunny
sided wall of the nearest consolation If
you wish to marry girl and can't, and
are weak enough to desire her still, this
Ia NJ hnt nhn,rll l. l.