Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-16


long before youth and happiness grew weary
of the revolving make But when at last she
complained of dizziness, he playfully whirled
her out upon the piazza, and placed her on q
lounge under the Cherokee rose her mother
had trained, which was now q mass of bios
sons He seated himself in front of her, and
! they remained silent for some moment watch
ing the vne-shadows play in the sunlight. As
Loo Loo leaned on the balustrade, the cluster
ing roses hung over her in festoons, and trailed
on her white muslin drupery Alfred was
struck, as he had been many times before, with
the unconscious grace of her attitude. In i'm
aginaton, he recalled his first vision of her ear
ly chihood the singular circumstances that
had united their destinies, and the thousand
endearing experiences which day by day had
strengthened the tie As these thoughts
passed through his mind, he gazed upon her
with devouring interest. She was too beauti-
ful, there in the moonlight, crowned with
roses !
Loo Loo, do you love me ?" he exclaim
ed
The vehemence of his tone startled her, as
she sat there in mood still and dreamy as the
landscape.
She sprang up, and putting her arms about
his neck, answered. Why, Alfred, you know
your sister loves you"
Not as u brother, not as brother, dear
Loo Loo" he said. impatently, as he drew her
closely to his breast. Will you be my love?
Will you be my wife 2"
In the simplicity Of her inexperience, and the
confidence induced 10y long habits of familiar
reliance upon him, she replied, l will be any
thing you wish"
No flower was ever more unconscious of a
lovers burning kisses than she was of the strug-
gle in his breast.
His feelings had been purely compassionate
in the beginning Of their intercourse his in
tentions bad been purely kind afterward but
he had gone on bndly to the edge Of a slip
perry precpce. Human nature should avoid
such dangerous passes.
Reviewing that intoxicating evening in a
calmer mood, he was dissatisfied with his con-
duct In vain he said to himself that he had
but followed o universal custom that all his
acquaintance would have laughed in bis face
| had he tod them of the resolution so bravely
kept during six years The remembrance Of
his mothers counsels came freshly TO his mind !;
aud the accusing voice of conscience said, "She
was friendleSs orphan, whom misfortune ought
| to have rendered sacred What to you is the
sanction Of custom Have you not higher
law within your own breast 7"
He tried to silence the monitor by saying,
When ! have made little more money,
will return 10 the North. | will marry Loo
| Loo on the way, and she will be acknow' edg-
ed to the world as my wife, as she is now with
| in nv own soul"
Meanwhile, the ophan lived in her fathers
house as her mother had lived before her. She
Eever aided the voice of Alfred's conscience by
pleading with him to make her his wife for
she wss completely satisfied with her condition,
and had undoubting faith that whatever he did
was always the wisest and the best.
SCENE ".
They had lived thus nearly year, when
one day as they were riding on horseback, AL
fred saw Mr.. Grossman approaching. Drop
your veil" he said quickly, TO his companion !;
for he could not bear to have that Satyr even
look upon his hidden flower. The cotton-bro-
ker noticed the actiu2, but silently touched his
hat, and passed with a significant smile on his
uncomey countenance. A few days afterwards
when Alfred had gone 10 his business in the
city, Loo Loo strollcd to her favorite recess on
the hill side, and lounging on the rustic seat,
began to read the second volume of "Thaddens
of Warsaw" She was so deeply interested in
the adventures Of the noble Pole, that she for
got herself and all her surroundings. Masses
| of glossy dark hair fell over the delicate hand
| that supported her head the morning-gown
of pink French muslin, fell apart, and reveal
ed o white embroidered skirt, from beneath
which obtruded one small foot, in an open
work silk stockings the slipper having fallen
TO the ground Thus absorbed, she took no
note of time, and might have remained until
summoned 10 dinner, had not q slight rustling
disturbed her She looked up, and saw a coarse
face peering at her between the pine boughs
with disgusting expression. She at once re-
cognized the man they had met during their
ride and starting TO her feet she ran like a
deer before the hunter 1t was not Till she
came near the house, that she was aware ofha-
wing left her slipper. A servant was sent for
it, but returning saying it was not TO be found
She mourned over the loss, for the little pink
kid slippers, embroidered with silver. were a
birthday present from Alfred. As soon as he
returned, she told HIM the adventure, and went
with him to search in the arbor of pines. The
incident troubled him greatly. Whats nox-
louS serpent, 10 come Crawling lUIO our r-ueh
he exclaimed Never come here alone again,
dearest and never go far from the house, un-
less Madame is with yon."
Her circles of enjoyment was already small,
excluded as she was from society by her snom-
alous position and educated far above the caste
in which the tyranny and custom so absurdly
placed her. Bot it is one of the blessed laws
of compensation that the hrman soul cannot
miss that to which it has never been accus-
toned. Madames motherlv care, and Alfred's
uuvarying tenderness, suficed her cravings for
affection and for amusement, she took refuge
in books, flowers, birds, and those changes of
natural scenery for which her lover had such