The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-11-24

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part and quiet persistence on hers contin-
ued to estrange us, until [ generally en-
ded by conceding everything, and plead
ing for one word of kindness to end my
misery.
was wrong--to, quick to resent, too
ready to conclude. No doubt, it was to
her secret qualification TO exercise her
power over me; and at last I was convin-
ced that she wounded me purposely, in
order to provoke temporary estrange-
ment, aud enjoy arepetition of her tri-
umph.
1t was at a party; the thing she did
. was to waltz with man whon.s she knew
l detested, whom I knew she could not
respect, and whose half-embrace, as he
whirled her in the dance, almost put muir
der into my thoughts.
Margaret l said, zone last word! If
you care for me bewarer
That was foolish speech, perht ps. 1t
was certainly Intellectual. She persisted,
| looking SO calm and composed, that a
great weight fell upon my heart. Iwalk-
ed away; | wandered about the saloons:
I tried to gossip and be gay; but the
wound was too deep.
accompanied her home, late in the
evening. We scarcely spoke by the way.
AT the door, she looked me sadly in the
facc-she gave me her hand; l thought
it trembled.
Good night she said, in low voice.
.Good-bye!' I answered, coldIv, and
hurried from the house.
1t was some consolation to hear her
| close the door after [ had reached the
corner of the street, and to know that she
| had been listening to my footsteps. But
was very angry. l made sterns. resou-
tons; vowed to myself that | would
wr:ng her heart, and never swerve from
my purpose until | had wrung out Of it
abundant drops of sorrow and ,ontrition.
How | succeeded you shall hear.
had previously engaged her to attend
a series of concerts with me; an arrange
ment which did not regret, and for good
reasons. Once q week, with famous
punctuaity, called for her, escorted her
to the concert-room, and carefully recon
Quoted her homc-letting no opportunity
| pass to show her a true gentleman's de-
| ference aud conversing with her
! freely about music, books, anything, in
short cxcc;t what we both knew to be
,lecrcst in each others thoughts. Upon
other occasions, I avoided her, and even
RETAINED from going to places where she
was expectcd-e especially where she knew
| that knew she WAS expected.
Well continued Westwood, ''ny de-
signs upon her heart, which | was going
to wiring SO numerically, did not meet
with very brilliant success. 10 confess
the huIniliating truth, soon found that
| was torturing my, elf good deal more
than l Was torturing her. As a last des-
perate resort, what do you think [ did g
"You probably asked her to ask your
forgiveness"
"Not l. | have will of adamant, as
people find, who tear away the amiable
flowers and light soil that cover it; and
she had reached the impenetrable, 'rm
rock. l neither made any advances to-
wards reconciliation nor invited any.
But I'll tell YOU what did do, as final
trial of her heart | had for some time,
been medita'ing European tour, and my
interests in her had alone kept me at home.
Some friends of mine were to sail early in
the Spring, and now resolved to accom-
pany them. | don't know how much
pride and spite there was in the resolution
-rrobably a good deal. | confess |
wished to make her suffer--to show her
that she had calculated TOO much upon
my weakness | could be strong and
happy without her. Yet, with all this
bitter and vindictive feeling, | listened to
a very sweet and tender whisper in my
heart, which said, Now, if her love speaks
out-now, if she says to me one true,
kind, womanly word-she shall 90 with
me, and nothing shall ever take me from
her again. The thought of what might
be, if she would say that wcrl, and what
must be, irrevocably, if her pride held
out, shook me nightly. But my resolu-
ton was taken; wonld trust the rest to
fate.
On the day of the last concert i'm
parted the secret of my intended journey
to q person who, 1 felt tolerably sure,
would rush at once to Margaret with the
news. Ten, in the evening, | went for
her; [ was concious that my manner to-
wards her was little more tender, or
rather, little less coldly courteous, that
night, than it had usually been of late; for
my feelings were softened, and l had
never seen her so lovely. | had never
before known what treasure | was about
to lose. The subject of my voyage was
not mentioned, and ifshe had heard of it,
she accepted the fact without the least
concern. Her quietness under the cir
cumstances chilled me-disheartened me
quite. / am not one of those who can
give much superfiuous love, or cling with
unreasonable, blind passion to an object
that Yields no affection in return. A quick
and effectual method of curing a fancy in
persons of my temperament is to teach
that it is not reciprocated. Then it ex-
pires like flame cut off from the air, OF
a plant removed from the soil. The
death-struggle, the uprooting, is the pain
full thing; but when the heart is thorough
" convinced that its love is misplaced, II
gives up, with ore last sigh as big as fate,
sheds a few tears, says a prayer or two,
thanks God for the experience, and be-
comes wiser, caluer-yes, and happier
heart than before" E