Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-25
HOW FELL IN LOVE.

Did not Frederick see at once that was
madly in love with her? She said not, after
ward. She was not vain; she moderated her
own attractions she only thought me kind
and sympathizing.
= She did not speak any more of herself
at that moment. 1t was late. We returned
to the house. Tomorrow she said, ~ will
tell you something about your friend-about
this forlorn creature whom you have so ge-
nerously borne with. l am not" Mrs.
Ashton met us at this moment, and chidcd me
for keeping Miss Rawdon so long in the even
ing dew.
/ thought Frederick looked brighter during
this evening. l supposed others would no
tice it, but they did not. She seated herself
with book, near the sofa table, read till ten
o'clokc, and then slipped off to her own room.
What dreams l had that night How little
they foretold what the morrow would reveal
Well-the moment came. We were sitting
alone, as we frequently did, in the bay-wind
ow of the drawing-roOm. The Venetian
blinds were closed. the light was soft and sub
dued, the perfume from each flower which
grew in the garden beneath stole gently in
upon u.s. The air was languid and yet cool.
A distant voice every now and then reached
us: the billioTd room was the attraction TO-
day. and we were safe from interruption.
Each circumstance is impressed distinctly on
my memory. / see her now as she sat In the
great chair, with her old, yet perfectly neat
dress, her hands folded above her head, her
eyes cast down. l had long ceased to think
her plain: wondered how had ever done
SO. How could any one be plain over whose
face every emotion traced itself in light or
shadow? But, after all, l confuse my impress
sions then with my impressions later; In fact,
write very badly. | have half mind to
pause here-shall [? No; as well go on.
spoke first. 1 reminded her Of her pro-
mise the night before. She sighed, and told
me her story with little prelude and In the
fewest words. can tell tt can never tell
how Jelly, how heavily it fell on my heart.
She was not Miss RawdOn, she was not nam
ed Frederick She had invented the name.
She was widow-Florence Raymond. The
only daughter, only child, of rich and tyr
annical father, the largest planter IN the
Southern country Il had often heard OF him.
and the most violent and obstinate OF men.
She married for love at sixteen, married most
unhappily, led dreadful life; Raymond died
and left her once more dependent upon her
father, at the age of twenty-five. Since then
three years had passed. Eighteen months
back she met with one whom it was plain to
see that she adOred. l would have needed
only to bear her tone, without catching her
words to know that he was her earthly idol.
Very casually she mentioned him; with rls-
ing blush and vailed lids. "My father at first
approved" she said, ''Of our acquaintance;
we were bctrOthed with his consent; but l
have a a cousin, my fathers nephew, who is a
wretch. miserable creature, whom | have
destested since | was in my cradle. He hates
Inc too; but he loves my fortune. DisappOlnt-
ed by my first marriage, he counted upon
making his way now. Again baffled, he crept
to my father with lies, only TOO well calculat
ed to infiame and anger a person easily pre-
JUDGED. You can guess the rest. L was to
have been married on that very evening, ten
daos ago, which you asked me last night II L
remembered. instead of which. | was flying
like culprit from my home, owing to the
kindness of stranger my escape from perse-
cution or a marriage with a man my very
soul abhOrs. Yes, my father required that
should give my hand to his nephew; he ac-
tually -desired-that | should ex-
change husband as quietly as one does a
chair or a servant. who happens not to suit
you or your friends!'
And where was he?' l asked, forcing my
parched tongue to speak, when she paused,
indignant and overcome.
What he ? Alfred ~ and she cOlored Grim
son as she spoke his name for the first time.
what could he do? He is as poor as | am,
in reality. He can not. Would it be right
for him to put an eternal barrier between my
father and myself?'
Ny lip curled, perhaps involuntarily.
Don't blame him ~ she cried; Il convey
a wrong impression if you consider him mer-
cenary. Would l not, probably, in future
years, think him selfishly imprudent to have
deprived me of my Inheritance for his sake? '
These words were not hers; she had heard
them before, and repeated them like a lesson.
my father is as stern and infiexible as he is
hasty. His favorite sister, whose life he had
saved, whom he worshiped, displeased him by
her marriage, and he allowed her to die in
poverty aud unforgiven. Mr.. Ashton advis-
ed too that we should wait, that we should
hope; he rescued me from my fathers anger
and his fierce determination, and sent me
quietly here. ] was going mad among them
ALL"
''At least. you had the comfort of knowing
yourself beloved; of feeling that, although
apart, he would be faithful and true to you.
There is consolation in that" / said slowly.
She turned upon me, tears in her eyes,
Eyes" she said simply, but with effort, and
sighed as if she felt great comfort indeed.
''He will come with Mr.. Ashton TO visit
you perhaps?'' | pursued. There will be no
great danger or trouble in such a STEP
'.You tease me,'' Florence said; for now l
shall call her by her true name.
"How?'
81 don't like your tOne-you mean more
and something besides what you express. You
are unkind. .'What child | amp she inter
rupted herself-.'A widow twenty-five years
old. and as full of sickly sentiment as a girl
of fifteen! You must forgive me. / cannot
tell why have taken the liberty of confiding
in you; forget, if you can, all that / have
said. | am behaving like heroine of ro-
nance. Look upon me as prosaie reality,
and pardon my forwardness and want of del
icacy. / am amazed at myself as much as
you must be at me-"
She rose and bowed. | caught her hand.
sit down--pray sit down again. plead
ed. Indeed you wrong me, you misunder-
stand me. Can you suppose me insensible
to the trust, the honor you have shown
mes"
| spoke with warmth and sincerity. l re-
assured her. We talked on for long hours. l
wanted to be convinced of what suspected.
Not from idle curiosity, but from the strong,
the intense desire TO know if her lover was
really true TO her, or if, in this time OF trial
and dismay, he had abandoned her because
the fortune was insecure.
She defended him aud herself bravely;
pride and love were both in arms; woman s
vanity and passionate devotion helped her
long To keep her secret, but held it at last.
This bad been the browning drop in her cup
of bitterness. Her fathers unfounded wrath
against her lover, his anger with herself, his
threats of forcing her to marry, his violence,
her Cousins hateful attentions-all, all had
been borne not meekly-fOr one could easily
see Florence was no creature of angelic tenn
perament-but these could be borne aud they
were, till he, the loved one, the adored of her
heart, spoke to her of necessity for separa-
ton. He loved her-he would never, could
never love again-but fate divided them. He
wac poor, had no profession, lazy (she ac-
knowledsed), spoiled child, used to luxury
what could they do, if they did marry!-
And them she sighed. my temper is so
uneven. / am naturally SO rebellious.
lie has had such trouble with me, poor tel
lowi''
''Ah! he is very amiable!'' suggested.
She laughed merrily. 1t was the first laugh
L eyer h..nrd from her lins-n lin .rerinnr