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

ters. George was one of those honest minded,
practical men, who cannot appear different from
what they really are, and who follow true
and just cause straigh -forwardly and frankly.
When he had proposed for my hand, and had
promised to be bis wife, he devoted his entire
attention to me. 1t almost seemed as though
he could not be devoted enough. In public, or
in private, it was all lhe same. When out upon
our social pic-nics and excursions he was con-
stantly by my side, anticipating my every want
and ever ready to guard and assist me. |
| allowed myself to get tired of this; l allowed
myself to feel that l would like little more of
my own liberty; even went so far as to feel
annoyed by his close, undivided attention. 1t
was thoughtless, reckless emotion on my part,
but | was foolish enough to give it place in
my bosom. Some of my female friends ioked
me on the subject, and finally determined
that | would not be quite SO closely tied to my
lover | did not stop to ask myselfhow l should
feel if he were less attentive to me- | did not
reflect that I might have been very unhappy
had he bestowed his social favors upon others
of my sex. In short, l did not reflect at all
| was only seized with reckless determination
| to be little more free and independent.
"We had picnic in the grove near our
| NIIldSOs was DuO1 anu HnpPS' dho
| laughed and chatted with all who came in my
way. We had a dance before dinner, and
| George asked me if | intended to join in the
amusement, / told him certainly. Then he
took my hand, and said he would bear me
company; but [ broke from him in a laugh,
telling him at the same time that was engaged
to dance with another. He was disappointed
i could see it at glance-but he took It IN
good nature. Before the second dance he came
again; but again told him / was engaged. He
betrayed no ill-feeling at all, only | could see
disappointment. In little while was among
company of laughing, joking, merry making
friends, of both sexes, who had been compan-
ions for years, and one Of the gentlemen said
that | must go with him to dinner knew
that George had made arrangements for me to
take dinner with him; but what of that? Should
| be tied to his skirts? No | meant to be
free, and | told the man who made the propo-
sition that [ would go with him. | must have
been blind as | know was foolish and wicked
but did not stop to think When the dinner
, hour arrived George came, with happy, smil-
ing, hopeful face, and offered me his arm.
"For what?' said |. For dinner, my dear,
he replied. Then l told him | was engaged
, with another; and, before his very face, | took
| the proffered arm of the man to whom | had
given my promise, remarking to my lover, as
: tripped away, that he would have to find some
; body else l saw the look he gave me-a lool
of pain, of modification, and of reproach-anc
; as [ called it to mind after [ had reached the
S table [ felt little uneasy but I said to mysel
He will come around all right and thus
tried TO pass it off. Towards the latter part 0
f the afternoon George came to me again. He
asked me what l meant by my treatment o
him. He was earnest and anxious. tolc
J., him he must not question me in that manner
u But" he urged, only tell me if you mear
= anything by it,
IL YES said I, 1 do
It "And he asked me what it was. l told hin
S meant to teach him lesson.
{, SVyer L ""hS
o teach you not to be attentive to me- And
|. added, very thoughtlessly,-'you annoy me
t He did not answer me. saw hlshp qulYel
d and his manly bosom heave; and, as he turne
e away, the sunbeams that came through tn
h branches of the trees rested upon the big tear
d rolling down his checks. The impulse of m
IS heart then was to spring forward and detail
/ him; and ask him forgiveness, and make hlr
e happy. But foolish, whimsical pride re
n strained me- l let him 60, and tried to comfol
myself with the reflection that it would com
IS out all right.
v when the party was breaking up, he cam
il and asked me if he should see me home. IL
- was very cool, and seemed only to mean tha
h he felt bound to make me the offer, seeing ths
O. he had brought me there. was not going
re accept any such offer as that, and told him
,e should not require his attention.
ct "PoIly," he said, you do not mean this. D
ID not make me think that have mistaken you
" He trembed as he spoke, and l could see tht
u he was fearfully agitated.
h But | had gone too far to give up then; an
s with a light laugh l turned from him. | wei
to home one wayne went another. All II
-" next day | looked for him, but he did not com
ar And third-and fourth On the fifth ds
70 | received letter from him. 1t was from
l. distant town whittier he had gone to see b
widowed mother He wrote to me that
ct feared he had been disappointed. Ii cou
to trfe with his heart then might do 1t agai
In He said he was going out west, and might
IS. gone some time. If | still loved him when
to returned | might be sure of finding him U
Mt married, for he had no heart to give to anothe
Still he would like to hear from me-he wou
n. like to see me if | wished it. He wrote as o.
en- who had been deeply wronged, and there we
.rs one or two sentences in the mssive that touch
as me unpleasantly A week passed, and d
ks not answer it; but at the end of that time
of made up my mind to call George to me, a
ng confess my fault;for well l knew that had be
sa, very wrong. l wrote, and my letter reach
I'D its destination just twelve hours after he h
started on bis journey.
Ike Il never saw George Ashmun again.
less than a year he died in mad-house!
rly did wrong-he did wrong-very, very wro
nv to leave me as be did. He ought to ha
sa. made an effort-for his own sake and for mil
he But-oh!-that could not make my crime
t." less. | had done wicked thing-a cru
ed thoughtless deed it was-and the penalty
sat heavily upon. me!
Louisa, your mother asked me to tell y
nv my story. | have done so. If it can prt
for you, shall not regret the pain l have felt
ort the recital That have not ceased to sui
nd let thdse hot, bitter tears bear witness. Z
ou of all things within the sphere of your int
ou ence, beware how you triAe with trustIr
loving hearth
me Silent and thoughtful did Louisa Burnet
not turn to the parlor; and but very little did
hat say on her way home. On the following MOI