The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-08
w O m a MS T e AIS

- "
never move me to pity! Why, Tom, a woman
can weep tears enough to-weH, to blot cut
some OF your numerous transgressions, and
never feel heartpa Woman's tears? why,
they're mere crocodile dropsp'
"Hush, Bob, what scandal! I'm perfectly
shocked at such daring skepticism! Why didn t
| see you nearly fainting at the opera scarce a
week ago, because pretty Lille Dewdrop's eyes
glistened a moment with briny pearls?"
'Briny pearls! Yes, did whiten little, I'll
acknowledge, and my heart beat a pretty quick
| tune for minute or two for fear she would
go off into Mysteries, and then what should
have done? Imagine it, when so hate a scene! !!
But as for plying her, little flirt-.'' Words
failed, and he placed his cigar between his lips
which would have curled had it not been there
and leaned back in his chair with intense dis
dan.
:Well, Tom, to silence you and convince
you of the power of the crocodile drops as
you term them, III make a confession now
don't fall asleep till I've finished, and III tell
it you," and tossing the halfconsumed cigar
away he began:
"When | was in B studying law. some
four years ago, had a friend, Frank c.,
you've heard me speak of him, right good
fellow, but little too susceptible Why I've
known him to break his heart for-let me see
one. two-yes, five ladies, and attempted
suicide for two. Yes, he was altogether too
susceptible, inconveniently So Well. one day
[ was in my room writing busily-I worked
mighty hard that winter, brought on disease
Of the brain, and have never been able to look
at a law book since-what in thunder are you
laughing at, Tom? AS [ sat there on a cold
winters day, the door burst open and in rushed
Frank d.. | knew in moment that be
was in love again; saw it in his eye, and the
peculiar way in which he uttered his "Well
Bob" and heaving sigh, Iprepared to listen.
to his rawlings about some new goddess who
had enraptured him. / was not wrong; he
launched forth into very rapturous speech, ex
pressive of the beauty and worth of certain
Eleanor Gray, who had just arrived in town,
and had already snitten his too-impressible
heart 30 Bob!' he cried, 'sshe is beautifully
SO queenly and majestic, with such dark rich
waves of hair, such noble brow and scornful
mouth, with its curling upper lip; but her eyes,
0 Bob! He sank into a chair, utterly unable
to say more. could not refrain from remind
ing him, laughingly, Of certain damsels, both
night sunny raven, and chestnut haired, whose
praise he had spoken in bygone days. He
sprang to his feet, exclaiming, Bob, Bob, why
will you remind fellow of heart-sorrows he is
trying to forget?' and be paced the room impa-
tiently, then suddenly cried, Bob, Bob, you
must see Eleanor Gray! She is staying at the
F. hotel, and I'm going to see her this
evening I'll drop in and tell you about it in
the morning, and he left me.
Il resumed my writing, and thought no
more Of Eleanor Gray. In fact, l did not place
much faith in Franks descriptions of his ladies
love. Not many weeks before, after listening,
for an hour to his mpassioned dissertation
upon the lovelness of farmers daughter il
perfect Hebe, as he said, hidden gem which
he had discovered, promised TO ride with him
to see her. So we went off. in heavy Storm;
rode some miles, and reached an old farm house
within which dwelt the Hebe. Hebe! why, she
certainly weighed two hundred! You know how
detest a fat woman. Faugh! her face looked
like full moon!
''But Frank was ri ght for once. That eycnr
ing, when [ went to my boarding house,
found all the gentlemen talking of the belle
and heiress, Eleanor Gray, and all agreed that
she was very beautiful, very proud, and very
cold hearted. !
why" said Harry Marks, dashing young
fellow, a somewhat of an oracle among US,
1--we known of scores whom she has Tilted
She thinks nothing of breaking heart Why
there was Charlie Lee, the best hearted boy
you ever saw-only nineteen. She led him orr
by smiles and hattery, till he was ready to die |
for her; and so he did, for she rejected him
coldly and cruelty when he offered her his
hand, and it killed him. She has no heart her.
self; if she had I'd try to break it!' and he |
turned on his heel and left US. !
Il have heard enough to make me wish for
a sight at this cold and. naughty beauty. bad
a plan in my head, which was to find her
heart-I did not doubt her having one-and
then wound it, not break it, as Harry Marks
had said, but punish her for her many firla
ions. i
s'The next morning Frank C. was early
at my room. He gave me glowing account
If his CALL and told me what sleepless night
ne had passed, thinking of Eleanor Gray, and
ended by saying, ooh, Bob you we're never in
owe, and cannot sympathize with me now, nor
know the agony of hope and fear in my heart
Oh, Bob, she is so beautiful" and he bowed;
1iS uedu ou MS HdLiuS, anu SiSleu. l. Snou4u
rave thought him really in love, and another
'ictim to Eleanor Gray's wiles, had not seen
lin in precisely the same situation several
lines before.
GAS it was, | suppressed yawn and said,
Well, Frank, my boy, how shall see this
wonderful damselP"
ooh, l forgot, here are cards for a little party
1t Mrs. Monteith this evening. She is to be
here, Eleanor Gray, my peerless Eleanor!
Viii you go?' Without waiting for an answer.
,e rushed from the room.''
Evening came, and found myself at Mrs.
donteith's. Now, Tom, don't ask me to de-
crbe Eleanor Gray. I can't do it. She was
beautiful as an angel and before [ had con-
ersed with her ten minutes / was almost ready
o fall at her feet with her other worshippers.
Ter eyes were her chief efcharm-arge, lustrous
lark, beautiful obs, flashing at times with such
iazzling light they almost blinded the gazer. ::
3ut they did not quite blind me, though at
ines, when they flashed a look at me, I was
orced to turn my head away, and whisper to /.
Myself "Never yield Bob, you have duty to
perform"
ssDays passed on. Frank c. had offered b
/