The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-06-09

ever dreamed or thought of marrying
even as a possibility aud far off contin
gency. Never before, solennly aver,
had | seen the woman whom | wished to
make my Whenever before had | SO
longed to call anything my own as did
that lovely face lying Oh my heart! No,
it was impossible for me to sleep.
In the morning We reached Buffalo. and
spent the day at Niagara. If | had
thought her lovely while sleeping, what
was she when the light OF feeling and cx-
preston played over her face, as she elo-
quently admired the scene before US, or
was even more eloquent still | don t
think | looked at the Cataract as much
as looked at her, or thought the one
creation more beautiful than the other.
She was now quite familiar with ME in
her innoecDt way, calling me cousin
Frank" aud seeming to take certain
pleasure in my society and protection
1t was delightful to be greeted SO gladly
BY her, when | entered the hotel parlor,
to haze her conc forward from the lonely
scat where she had been waiting, not uu-
observed or unuotieed, to receive me-to
have her hang on Ely arm--look up into
my face, tell ne Il her little adventures
alone. and chide me for leaving her 80
long, chow long it seemed to nlc), while
every word, look and smile seemed doub-
ly dear to me because knew the preca-
rious tenure by which my right to them
was held. She busted herself, too, while
I was gone out, with our joint bag
gage, and running all over ber trunk, to
fnd book which l bad expressed de-
sire to see-she mendcd my gloves, sewed
the band Of my travelling cap, and found
my cigar case whenever had lost it,
which was about twenty times day,
while she scolded me for the carelessness
which she declared equa!led her own
Loug ago she had given over into my po-
session her elegant porte monnaie, with
all her money in it, which she was sure
she would lose, as she could never keep
anything and as she had ordered me to
take out whatever was wanted for her
travelling expenses, l opened it with trem-
bling hands when was alone, andsexam-
ined the contents. There were, besides
all the bank bills with which she had
probably been furnished for her journey,
and which, with pious care, she had pack
cd into the smallest possible compass, as
much gold as her little toy could carry,
a tiny pearl ring, too small to fit any fin
Gers but hers-which | am afraid | kiss.
ed--a card with her name on it, a mem-
orandun in pretty hand, No. Olive
street, St. Louis. which, as ishtly con
jectured, was the residence OF her cousin
Jennie, whose husband ] was; very for
tunate discovery for me. Indeed, thus
far, had not found the way of the trans
gressor hard, in external circumstances,
at least, aud when with her forgot eye-
rything but her grace and beauty. aud
my firm resolution to be to her 10 more
than her cousin should be; but out
Of that charmed presence my conscience
made me miserable.
| am afraid [ must sometimes have be-
trayed the conflicts of feeling had, by
my manner; but when was reserved and
ccremonious with her, she always resent
ed it, and begged me SO bewitchingly not
to treat her so, and to call her by her
sweet name Florence, that had dread
ed as much as | longed to do it, coul3
not have refused her. But the conscious
ness that was not what she thought III c,
but an inpostor, of whom our connection
had ceased and she had discogered the
deception praeticed upon her, she could
think or remember nothing that would
not cause unmerited self reproach and
modification, all innocent and trusting as
she was-this reflection. more than any
other, confess, and the knowledge OF
the estimation in which she would forev-
or hold me, after my imposition was dis
covered, agonized me, and | would have
given all possessed to own it to her,
and leave her sight at once, though the
thought Of never seeing her more was
dreadful. But that could not be.
At last VIC reached St Louis. Do
say "at last!' When the sight Of those
spires and gables warned me that my
brief dream Of Happiness was over, and
that the remorsetul reflections | had been
staviDg of so long were now to commence
in earnest, the thought Of the coming
banishment from Florence was dreadful
/ to NE, and the time seemed to fy on
lightning wings as it drew nearer. She
was all gaiety, and astoni-hed at my sad
ness aud absence of mind when SO near
home and Jennie, and when We entered
the carriage that was to convey us to our
destination, | bad half mind to take a
cowardly flight, rather than encounter the
scorn aud disappointment of those bnc
eyes; but | mustered courage and follow
ed her in, giving the address found in
the porte ounaie, which, fortunately, was
the right one, to the driver.
Almost home ! said she, turning her
| bright face towards me-we were rafting
up the street, and my time was short
how can you be SO cool and quiet!'
Because, Miss Florence, answered
the time has come in which must cen
| Foes - ron tbaf I Lo,a -,