The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-30

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She smiled, and said her ''head ached little, and
that vas ALL"
How anxiousiy we watched the doctors countenance
her mother and l. but be turned around cheertuy,
and said there nothing the matter and that must
not talk her into believing herself very ill., Alice did
really to be better after the doctor left us and
Mrs Pennington frightened up wonderfully. Aud so
the time passed; Alice in her room, and Pauline and
sitting with her, her mother fitting in and out busy,
like all good housekeepers looking after her
was very cold in my manner towards Pauline, and
think she felt it, for whenever she caught my eye, the
crimson blood would sutfGse her face. knew her
secret Towards evening she went awEy at Alice's
request, TO lie down awhile stole into the gar
den, to enjoy the still and solemn twilight alone. The
new moons silver crescent high in the clear sky.
Every thing around me spoke of purity and peace.
wandered slowly on. solitary night bird vas sing
ing the top of cherry Itceasedts song and
had only time to shrink behind neighborhg bush,
when two figures, turning into the path from another
passed my hidng-plaee. They walked tor few mo-
ments up and down, and then stopped near me. 1t
was Rodericks deep voice that murmured increasingly
on and surely who could he but Pauline with her
tiny graceful figure clinging to his arm.
Her light drapery foated in the breeze, and once
almost touched my cheek. held my breath with my
hand upon my heart to still the loud beating it seemed
TO me they must hear. Pauline spoke.
"What shall do? what shall do? Its killing me
this struggle. Must be the to snatch the cup Of
happiness from my friends lps' The words died
away in mournfu cadence.
is not your happiness of as much consequence,
Paune?'
Poor, poor Alice!" she sobbed out, you loved her
Until came here"
'Never as have loved you, that would be impossi-
bic. You are to me everything, life, light love You
ill my mind, so that can think OF othing else!"
"Hush!' she said desparingly. "Oh, Roderiek,
would to God had never left my home to bring sorrow
and de5oation into anothersn The words seemed to
Thp chords pf my heart la1 f,rb
who sooner or later must know of this. They went
on and hurried from my hding-paee and entered
the house unobserved.
The weddingd was appointed. Alices dress had
already arrived from town, and Mrs Pennington
expaating upon tin beauty OF the lace, and the rich
Of the satin to Alice, who trying it on, when
entered her dressingroom, one morning. My heart
siekened, poor child! poor chlld
rs it not becomingy" exclaimed the happy mother,
proudly gazing her child, she shOue out from her
bridal veil, like pale, pure lily, in her virgin lowell
ness.
"If Roderick could only see her now" The door
opened, Pauline stood OIL the threshold pale death,
open letter in her hand She started back, she
Alice look Of agony passed over her features.
The next moment she was casping Alice in her arms,
calling her by every endearing name
pauline, has anything happened, why do you look
and act so Strangely" Pasiue flung herself on the
floor and wept aloud "Ay darling friend, what is it,
tell me:"
'Oh, Alice, they have written to me to come home
directly my brother is dyingt
Alice burst into tears "Then you will not be my
bridesmaid after all But am very selfish, when your
griet is much more than minei'
Pauline gone. Sorrowing and in tears she
passed from the root where she had lately come in
oy and gladness, and Alice refused TO be cOmforted.
Roderick was to 20 that day to about busi
ness preparatory to his marriage He was looking
very pale and thin, and Mira Pennington thought the
change would do him good He would be gone
week, he said, perhaps more, but how much more he
could not saw He took hurried farewell of Mrs Pen
nngton and myself; Alice walked down the path with
him TO the gate where his horse waiting for him.
He fingered moment, pressed her in his arms, then
flung himself OH his horse and gaoped away.
Alice recovered her usual flow of spirits in a few
days, and week sped quickly away, engaged
in preparations for tie coming event. My visit
of six days had been heightened into six weeks and
knew not how many it would be before | again
went back to my home.
"Roderick will certainly be here to omorrow," said
Mrs Pennington on the evening of the tenth dav of
his absence 20 yes" said Alice, gazing ont Of the
window if she already him dashing up The road.
But the next day and the next passed and he did
come. / knew how it would end, he would never re-
turn. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" Poor
Alice, she turned pale every noise, and Mrs.
Pennington, although she tried TO disguise it, and
talked gaylv at times looked detected aud melancholy.
One day, weeks after Roderck's departure,
Alice pale and SILENT sat at the open window in the
twilight. Her form had lost much of its pretty round
ness, and she looked very fragile with her long cuFs
dropping dejectedly upon her BOSOM
"Motherl motherl here he isl" and with another
ed cry, she fell tainting feet.
The moment Roderck strobe in the midst of us.
He took Alice in his arms and carried her to the
window. Reproaching himself with having killed her
ooh! mol" cried Mrs Pennington smi e through her
tears soy never kills" Alice revived Quickly and in
little while all talking quietly it moth
ing had happened Roderick held Aces hand scarcely
allowing her to stir from his side, until 8. Pennng
declared she looked very pale and go to bed
directly, and so carried her off.
We were alone, Roderick and l. He pacing the
room with quick uneven tread; suddenly be stopped
beside me.
"Miss Madeline" he said, and his voice sounded
thick and unnatural "You loved my father, will you
keep hs sons for his sake" He waited eagerly
for answer his eyes d&ted and his tace rigid and
ale marble.
eyes" answered, mechanically, "You suspected
my love for Pauline Arduos"
"Yea"
"She is deadl"
'My Godl you are Geceiving me. It Is impossible.
She left here in perfect health
at is as true as that we are both living She was
going with her brother Madison, for his health The
ship with every soul board, lost the gale last
Friday night"
''And Alice"
81 will be good husband to her, go help me God"
'But will YOU marry a woman you 90 NOT fUye9"
"No, for when gazed on her tonight pure and
holy fame was krndled inmy bosom. know that
will both be happy"
We broke the news Of her friends death very gently
to Alice. She shed many tears and think was not
the happiness of the honeymoon Alice is cosy
matron now. Halt dozen children play around her
chair and in the porv, smilng-aced gentleman, with
his Youngest and tavorite daughter Pauline, his lap
while he reads a speech aloud to his wife, who would
recognise the brilliant, faeinang, passionate lover of
Pauline Ardnos.
How THE RACK WAS ABoLIsHED.-Torture, applied
TO extor confession was discontinued it is said in the
public courts of Portugal, in consequence of the fol-
lowing circumstance:
conscientious judge having observed the effect of
the rack upon supposed criminals in making them
fess ANYTHING to the sacrire of their lives to get