True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-03
First Rate LOVe)GStOry.
FROM TIE NEW YORK PRESS.
COURTNEY EASTWOOD.
GCoNcLUDED.1

CONCLUDED. I
They had recently commenced reading
Shakespeare. The subject for the days
reading was Romeo and Juliet"
He began. His voice was rich and
melodious, waiting The magic words of
The great poet with double force to the
ears Of his auditors. At first, he read
well, but calmly soon fred with the
subject he rose, and declaimed as he pro.
ceeded. His auditors scarcely breathed.
Their eyes were fixed anxiousIy on his
face. They hung, as it we're, upon his
lips, under the double power of the song,
the voice. He paused not. Though he
had read the play before, he was as deep.
ly interested as they-to whom it was
new. Presently he sank almost breath.
less. on the seat whilst Leonora and
Frances in vain strove to conceal their
tears.
" What nonsense I" suddenly cried
Frances, rising, and breaking in upon the
charmed silence, which had lasted seve.
raj minutes, "how weak we are to grieve
at imaginary evils! l shall 60 and pick
flowers, while you moralize over the
sorrows of Juliet and Romeo, who got
into all their troubles by disobeying their
parents. Good bye"
And she left them alone, under the in.
fluence Of one Of the most enervatng and
passionate Of Shakspeare's many tales.
There was still silence as they sal,
each brooding on their own thoughts.
Leonora." cried Courtney. suddenly,
as he placed himself by her side, II can
control my feelings no longer Why
should conceal them There is voice
in the air, in the blue heaven. on the
earth beneath, which bids me love the
accents Of passion are whispered by the
birds which sing around us. Leonora,
my heart is full to bursting. must speak
or die. can restrain myself no more.
Cousin, dearest, hear me. Ever near
you--by day gazing on your perfections,
BY night dreaming of them--you have
become my universe, my soul. my every
thing. l feel within me the high aspira-
tions, the burning thoughts, the will
which makes man do daring deeds, that
lead to renown. But must have an OBJ
jec,--a reward; and tha, object, that re-
wards-isyou, have no other"
She would have checked him. But he
raised his hands and eyes imploringly, and
proceeded:
Hear me out. the pent up torrent
must find vent. must speak or die."
And with that native eloquence which
true passion gives, he spake. When the
young are above peurillies, when their 4
is no parrot whining. learned by roie out
Of novels, when i. is really the hear
which speaks, the first gush Of their love
is glorious sunrise, as bright, as beam.
ing as effulgent, as the ordinary passion
Of modern boys is yapid, ridiculous and
sensual. The rate at which we live
makes half our youth believe that the
heart has spoken when The senses only
are alive.
Bewildered, astonished, taken utterly
by surprise, Leonora heard him. It woult
have been difficult to have checked thu
voluble flow of words which burst from
the Gagged recesses Of his heart. In ,
voice half inar,iculate at times from anxi
ETY. and passion, he told his day dreams
his hopes, his fears.
"Your love, or the world is an utte
blank" he said at length. al am a
your mercy, Leonora. Do not reject .h'
prayer Of one who lives but for YOU"
" Courtney" said Leonora, in low
sweet accents accents that went to hi
very heart--"I have been too much il
your society not to appreciate, as all mus
who know you, your very many goot
qualities. Perhaps I have been to blam,
or This would not have happened. vii
not deny that / have been as faulty a.
yourself. We have associated too mucl
together, considering that the time is fas
approaching when l am to be your bro
Tiers ,oJs."
Courtney turned deadly pale, and lean
ed against the bench for support. In th
selfish pursuit Of his own ideas he ha
) utterly ignored the past.
"You-my-brolhe her's-wife!"a. gasp
ed he.
"The arrangement has been made, an
, it's too late now to alter it," replied Lee
nora, in as calm accents as she could as
sumo.
"You do not love mel" cried the pas
sionate youth.
"My God p said the girl, tears gush
ing TO her eyes, will he then force m
to speak. |, TOO, have been living in
guilty Paradise. If il will'please you I
know it, learn that The insidious poison
for poison il is--has invaded my heal
: also. Your fatal passion is returned.-
Hush speak thus frankly because il
the first and last time we must ever spea
on tho subject. am the, affianced {
! another, and that other one dear to yol
His honor and happiness concern U