The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-15

eye ana the touch, should have arrived at no
more certain knowledge. ..,.
From the London Family Herald.
THE IMPR0MPTU MARRIAGE.
For Heavens sake, Susy. do be serious, If
You can, for five minutes. Pray, pray cease
this triaing, which Is but cruel playing with
my feelings, and let us treat this subject, as it
| deserves, soberly and. seriously"
Well, there theni" cried the laughing.
blsck-eyed girl, to whom Charles Westerly
spoke. There, then, is that grave enough !?
See, the corners of my mouth are duly turned
down, and my eyes are rolled up, and L am as
sober as patient who has caught sight of Il e
dentists instrument. Do suit you so?n
"You suit me anyhow, and you know it well,
| you witch !" cried Charles, gazing with emile
at the pretty face, puckered up in its affscta.
| ton and occurrences. But he was not to be
| driven from his point, and he resumed, gravely,
| after pause The time has come, Susy,
| when feel have right to demand an ex-
plicit answer to my suit. You have trifed
with my present feelings long enough. have
grown restless under my fetters"
"Shake them of, Charley interrupted the
saucy girl, with q pretty defiant toss of her
aead, which plainly said, " defy you to do it."
81 cannot, Susy-and you know it." replied
the hapless lover, impAtientIy.
"That being the csse," said Susy, stake my
sdvice-wear them gracefully, and don't pull
and jerk so; it only makes them hurt youD
The young man turned away, and walked
silently up and down the room, evidently fret.
ting and Tuning internally. Susy, meantime,
looked out of the window and yawned. Charles
continued his moody walk.
Ooh uhat hoo nt;Enl hid 90 ~ H.
tree " cried Susy, suddenly. "Do come and
see it."
Charles mechanically approached the win
dow, and looked ont.
"Don't you think, Charley" said Susy, lay
ing her hand on his arm, and looking up eagerly
in his face, don't you think you can manage
| to-
| "What, Susy dear ," asked Charles, all his
tenderness awakened by her manner. "WhstP"
| Drop pinch of salt on his back" return
ed the provoking girl, with an affectation Ct
simplicity for then, you know, you can
easily catch it."
His answer was to turn angrily away.
His walk this time was no longer as before,
And his cogitations were more earnest; for he
did not heed any of Susy's artfully srtless de-
vices to allure bis notice. At last he stopped
abruptly before her.
/ J.
suitor, without either confession of love or
promise of marriage on your part. Often as I
have demanded TO know your sentiments to-
cards me, you have always coquettishly re-
| fused me an answer. This state oil things must
sease. / love you better than my life; but
Jill no longer be your plaything. Tomorrow
ron are going away at distance, to be absent
for some month";; and if you cannot, this very
day, throw away your coquetry, and give me an
honest yes for my answer, shall consider
that have received a no. and act accord.
IingIy"
you dof " a,ked Miss Susy, curiously.
"Begin by tearing your false and worthless
image from my heart cried. Charles, fl.
riously.
at would be a curious piece of business.
Charley; and yCu woald not succeed, either"
said Susy.
:" / should, and would succeed" said Chsrles
as you shall see, if you wish, cruel, heartless
grill"
"But don't wish you to, Charley dear-I
love dearly to have you love me-" SAID Susy.
"Why, them" cried the foolish youth, quite
won over again, :" Why, then, dearest Susy, will
you not consent 2"
Remember, said liked to be loved" re.
piled Susy Il did not say anything about
loving. But pray, how long did you say you
had been counting me, in that pretty little
speech of yours"
three long years." replied Charles.
Nearly and accurately quoted, Charley.
Bot you know my cousin Rachel was only won
after Eve years. courtship; you don't suppose
/ am going to rate myself any cheaper than
she did, do you2 Suppose we drep this tire.
some subject for two years perhaps by that
time may be able to work myself up to the
fallina.in.love point-,here is no knowing what
wonders time may effect"
"lf you are not in love now, you never will
be-" returned Charles, sturdily "and / will
have my answer now or never"
Never, them" laughed Susy. But she
had gone step too far. Her often severely
tried lover was now too much in earnest to
bear her trifiDg and longer.
"Never be it, then!" he cried and seizing
, his hat, he strods from the room.
Susy listened to his recedng footsteps with
dismay. Had she, indeed, by her incorrigible
love of ccquetry, lost him. 1t smote her to
the soul to think 80. As che heard him open
the front door, impelled by feeling of despair,
she raised the window sash, and, leaning for
ward, whispered
"Charley, Charley you will be at the boat
to morrow to bid me goodbye, won't you
Surely, We are Sill Irlenos
As she spoke, she tore rose from her bosom,
and threw it at him. 1t lodged on his arm, but
he brushed it away, as through it had been
poison, and passed on without looking up.
I Susy spent the rest of the day in tears.
Early the next morring, the hustle of departure
began. Susy was going to accompany her
widowed mother on q trip for her health.
As they reached the wharf and descended
from the carriage, Susy's eyes made themse yes
busy in searching for one wished-for face but
1t Was nowhere to be seen.
The steamboat lay painting and putting, seem.
ingly impatient TO be let loose. Susy's mother.
aided by the servant man who had accompanied
them, had already creased the gangway which
lay between the wharf and the boat, and Srsy
reluctantly following, when the sound of a
voice behind her-the voice she was longing to
hear-atartled her. She turned 10 look round,
and, missing her footing, fell into the water.
Another instant Charles had thrown of his
coat, and calling ont, loudly, J" Tell the captain
not to allow the wheel to stir, and to lower me
o rope (" he sprang into the river But OF her
whom he was riskipg his life 70 save, he was
unable TO zee any trace.
Judging that the current of the river might
have carried her q little forward, he swan
around the wheel, but still he saw her not, and
despair seized his heart as he corjectured that
she might be under the boat. He strained bis
ewes TO see through the water, and at ler 9Th
1discerned, far below the surface, what seemed