The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-12-19

/ the hour, and then consigns them to their
betrayers under the name of ,cite :, to
make them tread over the comfortless and
thorny desert, where no JOY shall ever
call up smile, or awake in their bosom,
the song of devotion, which gladdened
their youth with the fire of love. All
gone = the "reminiscences of girlhood are
blotted out, when Beauty becomes toy !;
and the lost scenes of life are oyerclouded
with the deep mourning of illrequitted
affection. This day thousands of the
young and beautiful walk the streets for
saken, and their cold blooded betrayers
never feel one pulse of shame, or blush
to reflect, that they have embittered the
lives of those who once loved them with
life giving devotion.
Camilla, with bowed head and pale,
ashen face, awaited the issue of the stran-
gers visit: when, after few minutes,
her father broke the silence by saying =
" Permit me, Camilla, to introduce
this amiable gentleman, as one worthy of
your highest esteem, and every way cal
culated to render you happy by an hon.
orable alliance. l trust that, in a few
days, you shall be tolerably disposed to
cultivate his acquaintance, aud to profit
by it, as it is my most earnest wish that
you should return to US again. Permit
me, Mr.. Edgerton, -" And as he
spoke drew the shrinking Camilla for
ward, and placed her hand in that of his
acquaintance.
Cold and bony = like the spectral hand
of an uneasy conscience, when by mid
night it arrests our slumbers, by the in
tervention of dark and fearful Dreams
1t clutched, in eager grasp, the soft and
warm hand of the young girl; and thrill
of pain ran through her body, caused by
the unearthly pressure, which sometimes
is given in token, or in deciding a ques-
tion of love: it was wierd, ghostly and
painful. and Camilla, on the slightest re-
taxation, withdrew hers, and turned away.
You see, Mr.. Edgerton," he contin
ued, that despite her attractions she is
bashful, fault not altogether unbecom-
ing; but thatseventually will disappear
when she knows your amiable qualities. J"
Mr.. Edgerton nodded, and he went
on in the same strain
"Sanguine, too, Mr. Edgerton = natu
rally so. Upon my honor, there is no
characteristic peculiar to young ladies, as
this is so ornamental, magnaminous
and grand; were | to be married again,
tits another such should seek - confid-
ing, beautiful, and -"
Mr. Edgerton laughed lightly.
Camilla turned to her father and
said =
Father, if l am to suffer, let it be in 81
lence | pray you depart, and leave me
to the darkness and solitude which you
have forced me to submit to. If you are
so wilfuIly blind to your own honor as
to permit others to witness your system
of cruelty, speak on, and let the guilt be
upon you | loathe and detest the mo-
tives which moved you to this strait,
and tell you that the fulfllment of your
base intentions will be resisted with my
life. Depart, and summon the mercenary
horde whom you fatten upon, to visit the
whereabouts of your daughter, and tell
them that their zeal for the country can
be purchased by her shame. | tell you
go, and order your slave-dealing soldiery
to come hither -go!"
And she waived her hand wildly in the
direction of the door, her dark eyes gleam-
ing from their sockets, and her long
tresses disheveled and streaming down her
shoulders There was a reaction in her
quiet, submissive nature which appalled,
| her guilty father, and convinced the as
tonshed soldier that she was any thing
but an easy prey. Both were smitten by
! her determinate outbreak of anger, and
recoiled backwards as she advanced to
the door.
Gonsalvo was the first to recover. He,
fully posted in exciting scenes, such as
result from war or crime soon interposed,
and forced her back from the entrance by
a slight exertion. Tears rolled from her
eyes, and she sank, with fatigue, upon
the bedside.
The stranger turned pale as he contem-
plated the scene, and was about to de-
part, but at that moment she arose from
her knees and detained him.
"You serve in battles" she said
hoarsely, Il know you do. Well, when
you encounter my brother Austin spare
him, will you not? He is young, gentle
and pure. feel his warm kisses yet :
Oh! how good and loving = he was al
love, and we used to sail by moonlight to-
gether, and ramble in search OF wild flow
crs to make me garland, and when
put it in my hair he would smile and
whisper, Cammy | love you, and then
he would kiss me, and press my hand
fondly to his bosom aud kiss me again
Will you know him? He is beautiful
and comely = eyes like father, mouth
chin, and brow; but father says, he Is
none Of his
And she looked into his face. Memo
ry now only remained with Camillia.-
The vital fires which breathe with the
spirit in the common being OF mankind
were now almost extinct in her existence