Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-09-23

at was not Henry Southron?"
| "No. It was not"
But l thought Henry waited upon you to the party"
| $50 he did
And he did not remain until the close of the party?"
"Yes-I believe So"
A cloud came over Mrs Burnet's face and she seemed
troubled. She gazed upon her daughter for some mo,
ments without speaking further. Louisa nineteen
years of age brighteyed happy, merry making girl,
possessing true and loving heart but little inclined
to be thoughtess in her moments of social JOY She
only child and had been pet in the family but her
love confined the circle that met around her own
hearthstone More than year before she had promised
Henry Southron that she would be bis wife time
and rendered proper Henry
orphan and had just gone into business his
count He young of whose friendship any sensi
BILE maiden might have been proud generous upright,
steady industrious youth fixed firmly in his moral
course and OF fair, manly personal appearance.
"My child" said the mother after rejecting awhile,
what have you been doing? Why did not Henry
come home with you?'
Because he didn't choose to I suppose" replied
louisa.
That is not the reason," said Mrs Burnett with as
surance. Something you have done has caused this.
Now tell me what it s'
{" You too anxious altogether, mother There is
no damage done, assure you
Still my child, should like to know what you have
been doing"
Well-Ill tell you" returned Louisa, giving herself
a rock in her chair =
to see him at party, that I already his wife and
about the only female present.
And you have become tired of so much attention ?"
"Of course | have
And you have been throwing it of?
Yes. | took occasion this evening to show him that
[ didn't like quite SO much overseeing talked with
everybody else and suffered Mr. Pingree to wait upon
me- down to supper. Poor Henry looked as though he
had lost his last friend. 1t will give him lesson
guess and in future hope he will make little less love
in public
"My child said Mrs. Burnet, with much feeling,
you trying dangerous experiment The time will
come if you marry with Henry SouthroD when you
will be proud of his undivided attention"
" 1t will be time enough for that when we are
ried, ," replied Louisa, with toss OF her head But
don't give yourself any uneasness He will come around
again all right
did he offer to wait upon you home this evening"
No. He was rather shy of me after supper and
when the party broke up off alone MIR. Pingree
overlook me On the way, and accompanied me to the
door,"
g think my child" remarked the mother, after an
other OF reflection, that you have been not only
very FOOLISH but, 10 certain extent wicked Stop, lis
ten 70 me. You know Harry loves you most truly
that his whole soul is devoted to you-and that his at
tention is but the result of afeCtona demonstration
of which you should be proud, let tell you, undi
vided unswervng love is something not always to be
secured. Now you have been tring with Henrys heart
YOU have both panied and mortified him and it so
happens that those hearts which love the strongly
ard deeply the which suffer the most from slight
neglect and which shrink the most quickly from cold
ness and trfng. Believe me- Louisa, you entering
upon dangerous ground. II you care for Harrys love
advise you to ask his pardon you have an
: opportunity"
Ask his pardon =! repeated the thoughtess girl with
j an expression of surprise. Mercy on me what are
you thinking of? You shall see him at my feet on bis
e knees before the week is OUT
"Ah, my dear one, you don't know much about
the human heart you think you do A heart may
volve steadily around its centre of affection for long
tme-fOr so long time that it seemed fixed IN Its course
like planet around its sun but sudden strain may
snap the cord aSunder and the stricken heart fly of in
tangent and back. If you must rie, trfe
with anything rather than with the heart We 60
ing to Mr.. Winthrops Tomorrow and | hope may in
duce Polly to tell you little story of her experience il
e life"
Louisa said she would be very glad to hear it then sh
tried to laugh; and tt en-, having told her mother once
more that she needless anxious she went to he
chamber
On the following morning Mrs. Burnet met her daugh
ter usual, making alusOn to the circumstances
the previous evening In the afternoon they walked ou
to call at Mrs. Winthrops, having had an urgent nvl
tation to visit there They remained at tea and spcn
. the evening
Polly, Of whom Mrs. Burnet had spoken, was Mrs
Wnthrops sister. She was a maiden lady, past three
score, and had for many years found home with bel
. brother. Her head now silvered, and time haC
drawn deep marks upon her brow but still there were
marks Of beauty left upon her face During tie even
ing she came and took seat by the side of Louisa,
after some commonplace remarks, the old lady said in
quiet way
d" Your mother told me that you would like to hear
little of my life history"
If you would please to tell it, certainly should fo
anything which you deem worthy OF telling must be in
terestng, replied Louisa
}. "1hen let walk into the garden. The moon is up
n and the air is warm and pleasant
'f They went out, and when they had reached th
r grapery they went into the arbor, and sat down.
If "There need that should make any preminar!
It remarks commenced Polly, for have come out OF
y purpose to tell you story, and shall tell it to you
% plainly and simply possible, and when have done
" you may know why your mother wishes you shOu
y hear it,
"When was Of your age people called Inc hand
some but still with all my faults do not think | eve
was proud or vain. | knew that | was good looking
and meant to be good tried to do right as under
stood it and when failed it was from lack OF ud9
ment and proneness to be thoughtess where shouI
have been directly the opposite. When was elghtee
years of age, George Ashmun asked me If | would
bis wife. He a noble-hearted, generous uprigh
man, and never experienced season OF more ohsstt
1p ioy than when became thus assured that his heart
best love mine. told him yes and our vows wer
plghted. We were to wait year. and then, If we col
tnued to hold the purpose were to be married
don't know as any enved me but do know IN a
the country around there not better man than
was who loved me, nor was there one whose prospec
. in lie more promising.
~ From my girhood up had been sort of pet an
avore in social circle, and considerable atentlo
was shown me from all quarters. George was one
these honest minded practical men, who cannot appes
different from what they really are and who follow
ne true and just straghtforwardly When he ha
proposed for my hand and promised to be bis wife,
devoted his whole attention to me. 1t almost SCENE
as though he could not be devoted enough In publ
or in private it all the same. When out upon OF
social picnics and excursions he was constantly by