The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-01

''It was not Henry Soutbron?"
"No. 1t was not''
''But thought Henry waited upon you to
the party"
so he did,
"And did he not remain until the close?'
| "Yes-I believe so.'
! A cloud came over Mrs. Burnet's face, and
she seemed troubled. She gazed upon her
! daughter for some moments without speaking
! further. Louisa was nineteen years of age;
a bright-eyed, happy, mery-making girl, pos
sessing true and loving heart, but little in
clined to be thoughtless in her moments of
social Joy. She was an only child, and had
confined to the circle that met around her own
hearthstone, More than a year before she had
promised Henry Southron that she would be
his wife as soon as time and circumstances
rendered such step proper Henry was an
| orphan, and had just gone into business on his
own account. He was young man of whose
friendship any sensible maiden might have been
proud; generous, upright, steady, industri-
GUS youth; fixed firmly in his moral course, and
of fair, manly personal appearance.
my child said the mother, after reflect
ing awhile, "what have you been doing? Why
did not Henry come home with you?"
Because he didn't choose to, I suppose, -
replied Louisia.
THAT is not the reason" said Mrs. Burnet
with assurance. Something that you have
done has caused this. Now tell me what it is -
"You are too anxious altogether, mother
There is no damage done. assure you"
'StiIl, my child, should like to know wha
you have been doing"
''Well-I'll tell YOU" returned Louisa
giving herself rock in her chair Henry is
altogether too attentive. One would think tc
see him at party, that was already his wife
and about the only female present"
"And you have become tired of so mucf
attention."
"Of course [ have'
"And you have been throwing it off?''
Eyes | took occasion this evening to show
him that didn't like quite so much overseeing
talked with every body else, and suffered Mr.
Pingree to wait upon me down to supper. Poo
! Harry looked as though he had lost his las
: friend 1t will give him lesson, l guess; ant
, in future | hope he will make a little less low
in public"
, my child said Mrs. Burnet, with mucl
r feeling, "you are trying dangerous expert
4 ment. The time will come, if you ever MARI,
0 with Henry Southron, when you will be prou'
! of his undivided attention"
'It will be time enough for that when we ar
} married." replied Louisa, with a toss of th
e head ''But don't give yourself any uneasi
(; ness. He will come around again all right.
= 'Dd he offer to wait upon you home thi
s evening?'
''No He was rather shy of me after sup
y per- and when the party broke up | ran d
:. alorfe Mr.. Pingree overlook me on the way
I and accompanied me to the door"
), Il think, my child" remarked the mother
v after another season of reflection, ''that yo
= have been not only very foolish, but, to a Gel
tain extent wicked. Stop-listen to me. Yo
know that Henry loves you most truy-th;
: =. ".ole soul is devoted to you-and that h
demOnstrauUu wHrUH yU" 0uvUies 0o PrVue
for, let me tell you, an undivided, unanswerin
love is something not always to be secured
Now you have been trifing with Henry's hea
/ you have both panied and mortified him; an
it so happens that those hearts which love tt
i most strongly and deeply are the ones whic
e suffer the most from slight or neglect, an
IS which shrink the most quickly from coldne
y and trihing. Believe me, Louisa, you are el
n tering upon dangerous ground. Ii you cal
n for Harry love, l advise you to ask his pardc
h as soon as you have an opportunity"
s, "Ask his pardon!" repeated the thoughtie
girl, with an expression of surprise. "Mert
d. on mel what are you thinking Of? You shs
n: see him at my knees before the week is out
"Ah, my de + one, you don't know so mut
about the human heart as you think you d
I'd A heart may revove steadily around its cent
- of affection for long tme-for so long TIN
ID that it seems fixed in its course like plan
around its sun-but sudden strain may sni
er the cord in sunder, and the stricken heart +
= off in tangent, and never come back. If y
's must trife, trife with anything rather than WI
: the heart. We are going to Mr. Winthrop
+ tomorrow, and | hope l may induce Polly
tell you little story of her experience in life
h. Louisa said she would be very glad to he
ch it; then she tried to laugh; and then, haViI
in told her mother once more that she was nee
Is, lesslv anxious, she went to her chamber
all On the following morning Mrs. Burnet N
,s her daughter as usual, making no alluslon
IS the circumstances OF the previous evening.
k the afternoon they walked out to call at M
r. Winthrop's, having had an urgent invitation
II visit there They remained to tea and spe
es; the evening.
US Polly, Of whom Mrs. Burnet had spoke
ap was Mr.. Winthrop's sister. She was a maid
ts' lady, past-three- score, and had for many yei
It, found home with her brother. Her head v
now sivered, and time had drawn deep MAJ
!, upon her brow, but still there were marks
10 beauty left upon her face. During the event
.bo she came and took seat by the side of Loul
ia. and after some commonplace remarks, the
lady said, in quiet way
,ic "'Your mother told me that you would
he to hear little of my life history
ar .ne s'If you would please to tell it, certal
the should, for anything which you deem wort
of telling must be interesting" replied Loui
cry "Then let US walk in the garden. !
he moon is up and the air is warm and pleasan
KS g They went out, and when they had reacf
. the grapery they went into the arbor and
down.
There is no need that should make E
m preliminary remarks" commenced Polly, g
ers / have come out on purpose to tell you sh
ew story, and shall tell it to you as plainly 8
ry, simply as possible, and when | have DONE J
OF may know why your mother wished that
md should hear it."
l''' "When l was of your age people called
su- handsome; but still, with all my faults, do
.l,;,I, T ,,oS ovar ,aroud or vain T knew +