The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-01-22

town while at dinner that the young people
return in good time. | promised to send them home
before dark consider late hours and night air rui-
nous
Her thirtieth birthday Seldom did aunt Luindulge
thoughts sombre those by which this recollection
was attended They brought her, indeed, Of the
bitterness of feeling which it is often womans lot to
share at the prospect of advancing years undgnfed by
the ties which invest them with influence and authority
but they whispered mourntu warning that the hopes
hitherto preserving in her much of the freshness OF
youth, must be aside forever We have said that
she had had her early trials She had loved with all the
hrmness and ardor of strong mind and warm heart,
and her affection was her first sacrifice at the altar OF
lia obedience The attachment that had elected her
own, yet followed her Strengthened by time and enhanced
value by the rpened virtues of its possessor but she
had prayed against temptation when, after
year. it proered to her acceptance. Stil to feel
herself the object of devotion noble, precious
consciousness and she had trusted, though without
that she might day be released
to reward it. Bat now she felt that to cherish such
dream was weakness unworthy OF one whose long
course Of selfdenia should have been preparation to
sustain her in any effort Had not her fathers peculiar
tiles increased with his age; and were her patient ser
vices atera few years be repaid with the gift OF
freedom, would she then be offering worthy of one
who richly deserved her in her best and brightest day.
Her thrtieh birthday! Would not her heart soon be-
come chill her person changed-was it not already fad
ing2 And she glanced at mirror before her. Bat her
check rouud in the days of her giFhood and
almost as glowing her hair was as dark and axuriant
her eyes they were even brighter han usual for they
we're slightly spfiased with tears; and her hand, the
member widch perhaps, the soonest Of all shows the
creeping on OF tune was NIite ahd iul and taperng as
ever. On no there was no change Tor the worse IN
aunt Lu and the bali smile which broke upon her tace
showed That she perceived IT. but she reapsed INTO her
sadness, and sat still, taking her satisfaction OF It.
She was at length aroused by servant handing her
packet she glanced at the suPerScrPtion and hastily
broke the seal An enclosure Tell beside her but she
continued eagerly to peuSe the envelope Then she
started up, seized the fallen letter and with coante-
nance all radiant HeW out OF the rooa she Ilad quite
forgotten her own greiS IN the prospect OF belnS
messenger OF happiness to ano'heF-just i!ke her!
stop stop, aahShterlH-"hat Iejter Is that:7 caed
her father meeting her ont TOR once hS voice was m
needed, ana with ercoIal haI blown oin the fapoity
OF her notion and sta ding up tom her neck Ike an
hnzaoeIhan run sue passed inm swiftly as ord.
Mean"hHe AJtte Lucy, at TIE request OF her grand
father had made aef toilette though creIesSy and with
great feHctahee 10 receive tHe AESt h'oce o guests
ana then gone INTO the garden to arrange seat 1or n
m ms taFoii5e sumher-honSe she had broken OIL, as
She strol"d ms essy along some sPrayS ot the oFiI"nt
nom'S'a4ate ana ne atea52 %aE-oeTTl' ucohSeiousy
u seemed, j,ouSA sAe nal a'eNt remembrance tIal
Cement Noei ADMIRED inc contrast OF t'e Fich scarlet
oGHS o. '4e one WIN INC peafiINe S!oDGeS q tae
vi su aie lG stu'9,t "SL 81 i'tEo