The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-20

II presume so,'' SAYS Mr.. Merlbone, allow
ing the eye-glass to slip from its place, and to
depend gracefully from its watered ribbon-''l
/ know that there are hearts which respond to
the emotion Of those songs. Tennyson says:
Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest
/ thought"
and he spoke truly"
This is delivered in such fine. just-got back
! from-a- funeral tone of voice, that Henrietta
| looks up amazed.
| Surely, Mr. Merlbone. 2 she asks, tepderly,
"you cannot feel thus?'
/ Air. Merlbone sighs like the night wind
among cypresses-like several night-wnds, in
fact all blowing at once.
Il know seem gay" he says at length,
..but there are those who school themselves to
/ hide the desolated bosoms beneath garlands of
| flowers"
The young lady did not question the pro-
priety Of gentleman wearing garlands upon
| his bosom-she only thought how prettily Mr.
MerIbone could talk, and how black and fine
his wbi>kers were"
"What-what have you" asks she, "to-to
-sadden you?"
Mr. Merlbone makes pass TO take her hand
but she withGraws it. and he, signing again
puts both of his behind him. draws himself up,
looks straight into Henrietta S eyes, with sort
of sentimental knock down and drag out ex
preston of energy, and bending down little,
whispers:
"The terrible yearnings of an unlored soul!''
Quick as thought Henrietta answers:
'.OnlY those who love are loved in return" !"
"And as soon as the words are out. she re-
grets them.
Lazy littIe Leonore. sitting, with one foot
under her, upon the sofa. with her chin resting
upon her white diaphanous hand, is buried in
her novel She is reading How Colonel New
combe said "Adsum" for the last time, and
nothing short of an earthquake could arose her.
Mr.. Mcrlbone sees her abstraction at glance
and down he goes, plump on his knees, in front
of Henrietta, who has swung the plano-stool
around-ah who knows whether to give him
an opportunity or not?
Il do love-" gasps Merlbone, in splendid
agony of stage movement Il love you. my
angel Henrietta--madly, wildly, despairingly
Will you-wilI you be mine? Only smile upon
me! Say may hope, and my heart is conse-
Grated to you forever-I will be your slave!"
She turned her head far away from him, and
the pale gold ringIets conceal her face, but, as
he seizes one OF her hands to cover it with
kisses, she gives faint sigh, and presses the
hand which holds hers.
Mr. Merlbone. in very excellent and we'll
: done raptures, kisses her knuckles number Of
times, and says that she has endowed'him with
new life. 1t would be good thing for society
il she had, for his old hfe has not been very
eminenty profitable.
Then Henrietta Just remembers that Leo
: more is in the room, for that indolent maiden,
having finished the chapter, wipes little moist
ure from the sad eyes with the lace edge OF her
handkerchief, and says audibly, in reference 70
the book. GoodP'
Henrietta and Mr. Merlbone both think, al
fi-st, that she is eulogisng their little perform
ance, but seeing that she is still deep in the
brief conclusion which follows that charming
chapter in that wonderful work, they merely re
G sumo their old positions facing the piano, ant
Henrietta sings something about her heart being
, very gay, but her voice is a little tremulous
and she is much relieved when Mr.. Meribont
, proposes to drive her over to see the county sea
he has decided to buy.
The next morning, after Mr.. Merlbone had
taken his matutinal brandy neat (he was long
> past the age for cocktails, he sat down before
breakfasting, and wrote the following note
DA1sYvILLE, Oct Sd, 81.
Dear Jack: Our little speculation is per
fec!ly successful / have nailed her and. as
:. the old lady cannot last three weeks. you MAY
soon count on receiving your $1,000, with tht
cent per cent interest as agreed.
Yours, etc, MERLBoNE.
"Col, j. Fauntleroy,'
Read this note, my gentle lady reader, ane
take my advice:
Never listen to ''the warnings OF an unlovet
SOUL !" thirty five years old!
) AS Mr.. MerIbone sat, brooding over his ONE
lette and coffee. that morning. he betook him
: self to thinking Of the best method Of unde
eeiving poor Henrietta regarding his fortune
1T will be all we'll enough" thought he, 'fo
shall marry her just as soon as possible, betort
the old lady dies | have still some sever
hundred dollars, and rhat'll last during th'
= short while before Henrietta comes into hel
money. If not, Jack will advance another
Observation-Disclosures high rate of interest, that
cent per cent-when he hears how sure I've
got things fixed.
''I'll tell her--let me see-yes, that's it
I'll tell her that am specializing in Arkansa
, swamp lands, and, when hear of the old lady
death, III receive news the company has buFs
up. then, if play my cards right. she will tai
on my bosom, by Jove, and say that she ha
enough for both. That won't be such bat
go-no, demme, rather think not.
And Mr. Merbone laughed a dry cracking
laugh showing his white teeth as he did 50
and looking uncommonly like Mephistophlle
in the play.
+, Two weeks after that day, bridal party Sc
out from Daisyville. Mr.. Mtrlbone had prom
ised to endow Henrietta with all his worldl,
goods Consisting principally of goodly outfl
of wearing apparel, a large number OF unfe
cepted bills and tooth brush, and she hac
. promised to love honor and cherish him. Thes
promises were witnessed and ratified by tht
rev. John Bblebanger, whose pious and emf
nently respectable heart was gladdened by
twenty dollar gold dpiece, privately slipped int
his hand by Mr.. Merlbone.
The happy pair were off for flying visit Il
the BRIDES distant relatives. in different part
of the country, and il is fair TO presume they
had very pleasant time Of it until, one morn
: ing, shortly after they had arrived at small
town in one of the middle States where ont
of Henrietta's forty second cousins lived, Mr.
Mtrbone received telegram from Daisyvllle
: requesting him and his bride to return imme
diately AS poor cid Mrs. Elwell was sinking