The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-09-10
The sweet relic Of golden sunstiny hair


was observing only yesterday that-surcly,
surely you have made some mistake-see,
what is that written in the paper3 Juliar'
Fred hastily looked again the little
pigeon hole, and drow forth another rose
colored envelope-another and another.
smiled-so did he.
"What avile, narrow prejudice it u.s."
said Fred.
"Whatp
"That a man loves only once. have
twenty-fifty-nay, a hundred times.
always love some one. Sometimes two at
tme-sometimes twenty"
"Heartless !" exclaimed +. "This is not
love! Love is solo, absorbing, pure, con-
slant immutable."
"Hark ye," said Fred. II seldom cease
to love. Adding another angel to the list
does not infer the striking out any of the
others. There is nc limit. A man Of soul
loves just as he happens to be placed in re-.
lation to women. am warmed by them,
as am when stand in tho sunshine. Be-
cause l have garden here, when the beams
Of the god of day fall on my shoulders with
pleasing ardor-must l not feel the
warmth when l stand in your garden yon-
ders 1t is great priuciple-should the
Object Of my early love die, must be ever
thereafter dead to the most exquisite of hu-
man passions! Death is My absence. l
know twelve pretty women. They are bet
ter than men. Nature made them so.
They aro all different-all cxcellent-all
| divine. Can be blind Can be deaf?
Shall I deny that their voices are sweet
their hearts tender-their minds clear and
intelligent No. love them all-Julia,
Mary, Fanny, Helen, Henrietta Eliza.
never think Of them without sensations of
delight"
Frederick felt hand upon his shoulder.
He looked up. 1t was Mrs. B., his wife.
"The d-l!" said he.
had withdrawn, of course. l am q
bachelor myself Curtain lectures are no,
in my way. Mr.. B. did not como down to
dinner. Mr. B. did not come home to tea.
J did not get up next morning to breakfast
So could not know what was the result.
Mrs. B. is one Of the very loveliest women
l ever met with. believe have met two
or three! 1t is pleasant enough, but thon
every rose has its thorns.
"Ouly thiuk!" said she to me, her eyes
moistened with tears, her cheek crimsoned
with shame, her bosom palptating with
distress, "twelve! he loves twelve, he says"
"a whole jury" said I.
at is monstrous," said she.
"Monstrous indeed" echoed I,
"Whal if should love twelve officers !"
said she.
"rit for tat," said I.
"Or six" said she.
"Too good for him." said /, taking her
hand.
"Or three" said she.
"Or one" said |, drawing her towards
me, and kissing her soft lips. She was my
only sister, and l always loved her.
The plot was arranged. Frederick had
meditated journey Of two days, but was
called back by an anonymous note, at nine
the same evening.
Tall women are scarce. We hired the
uniforms at the tailors'.
81 ain thunderstruck !" exclaimed Fred
to me. ''The world is at an end. The sun
is out. What! Hate-my dear Kate w
Tears gushed from his eyes.
81 saw it myself" said the servant.
"Kiss her ~
Six times" said John.
Frederick caught the pistol, and pointed
it at his head. wrenched it from his
grasp.
"Come with me,' I said. "Perhaps it
may be a mistake"
We opened the door softly. In the next
room sat Mrs. B.; at her feet richly dres.
sed young soldier, who kissed her hano, re-
ceived from her lock of hair, swore he
loved her, and left her with an ardent en-
brace.
II am suffocating," said Fred.
"Hush !" I exclaimed, "See there is an.
other. How familiar he seats himself by her
side-tekes her hand"-
II shall ssrangle to DEATH"
"Patiencen
dearest Colonel!" exclaimed Julia.
"rhe other was only the Lieutenant"
whispered John.
II am blessed with TOO few such faithful
friends" -
I,held Fred still with the grasp of giant.
"rhat l love you cannot deny. Il ,uo-
neanef soul LOVES just as she happens to
l. T.