The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-11-06
A ReiDcied Bacl,.l0rs ERev nge.
NUMBER 20.

| Matilda" said l, 81 am sorely
tempted to say something in all frank
ness II paused. .5fr
"Weii," murmured Matilda in the
lowest of voices, after Silence OF sew
eral minutes. ..-e o.ai ..9r Iii In
"a burnt child breads the fire,
replied. 'To be refused twice by the
same woman would be a desperate
wound to mans vanity. Have you
forgotten, Matilda, here, in this very
room, two years ago, how You replied
to my offer !? | remember your very
words. You are such a muff = 49,
ooh! never said that. Oh no At
least, osurely-surely, l never could
have said anything so rude. Well
yes-I believe-I recollect I did say
so, but" She laid her hand on
my arm with gesture full Of cpquet'
ry, and shot a glance at ne from u IN
der her long eyelashes which she in
tended aud probably believed 10 be II
resIstible,a as she added 'lretract them
you are no longer the same man. Y ou
are quite changed you know. You
are not muff now. y1gs.)
You, are right l replied I am nc
longer The same man. Will you listen
to me without laughIng?' There was
little need for this request. Matilda
manner presented very decided con
trast to her demenor of two years ago.
Her shoulders did not now shake with
suppressed mlrth. She sat like stat
ne all afectation, ali cQnyentionali4
for the time forgotten, utterly absorbed
in the words which tell from my lips
Miss Mansbane, two years ago, when
l was pure and good, you rejected the
noblest offer which can be made to a
woman--the offer of q sincere faithful
heart You were not satisfied with
simply rejecting-you treated me with
ridicule and scorn. was then, yes
[ say 1t myself-a man whom VIRUS
Gus woman might have been proud to
accept. | was unpolluted, and l.
loved you! / believed in You! / would
have cherished you | saw my type
Of female excellence in you You
were right, | was indeed "a mufff then
What am : now ? / have sown my
Wild oats, as the world calls it.. DO
you know what that implies? q 1t
means that / have degraded myself
in my own esteem, lost my robe of pu-
rity, and whit my beautiful Illusions
respecting yoyr sex. Now ! can re-
echo Byrons complaint: u.as
No more.--no moreOh never more me
The freshness. of the heart shah ia ike dew.
But the dissipation into which men
are permitted to plunge with impuni
nifty is is ftting--a necessary
to enable us tosink
to that deprayity OF the mind and
heart which can make us worship
women ike you. stars not. | have
suilled my soul, and society good
parfiSaic Il society-indeed OF
spurning, "opens her arms and welcomes
the roue. /, is such women as yol,
who wearing the mask Of Hyprocrit-
zeal prudery, ARE the ruin OF men who
hold out premium to sin, who admire
us forour errors But you shall not
havethe satlsiac ton of finding that
you have utterly ruined me. / loathe
and despise a society which cares
ses me because | have forfeited my
own selfesteem. Hencefortb / quit
old associations and return toa ra-
tional life. .... r....
Perhaps some day I may again be
come worthy Of the love Of a good
woman. Miss. Mansbane, i wish you
good morning" ar. .. ...
Matilda Jane regarded me with a
ook of rage, in which all feminine
dignity, cunning and grace, were for
gotten. For once l saw her without
and heard her speak with sim
;erlty as she Missed out he words
You have behaved shametuiy and
hate youw .lss t.a,eL |
Thank YOU replied +; 4 shall quit
his room With much better idea OF
myself team | nad when / entered
it. And / withdrew. ..rr TX.
Whether Mazda Jane appreciated
.he practical lesson had given her
it was her pride alone which |
was wounded, or fher conscience had
oeen touched, [ know not. Women
have the power Of concealing Their
better than men. ! don't !
.hink my old flame will coquette with
any body else in hurry. sq |