The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-08-24

of evils in which they and their constit-
uents have no direct share, and from
which perhaps they may think they will
derive benefit.
The Beginning and the End!
The First and Last of a Desperate.
A SKETCH HOF REAL LIFE
Mississippi, with its fiat lands. its
sluggish streams, great shallow lakes and
bayous. is not in its scenery suggestive
of romace or poetry. A few rugged
bluffs exhibit its upland-it has no cloud
capped mountains, no running cataracts
no shadowy glens.
But it has dark-eyed sylphs, formed
for love aud love alone-men, too whose
veins run wild with blood as hot as is the
lava's flood which oyerruns the red vol
cano's crest
In 1S4S, a young man stood on the pi-
azza of his fathers's almost ptincely man
sion near Natchez, engaged iii earnest
conversation with his father-the veal
thiest planter in the country. The young
man was in shape and feature, very
handsome-but when excited, his dark
eyes and frowning brow spoke out but
too plainly that he had a nature which
would brook no control.
"Tomp said the old planter, and be
spoke in a low, resolute tore; "Ton,--
this marriage must not, shall not come
off You are my only son-if you do as
l wish all my property will soon beyours
and until it is, you shall have all the
money YOU can use to purchase life's
enjoyment. Excepting this one thing /
lave never denied you anything! / say
again-you must not think Of marrying
that girl? %
"Father, you speak plainly and posi-
lively. 60 OH little further and tell
me why / must not marry Mary Pres
colt ?"
And tie young man spoke quite as
low as his father, while his face wore a
look of set determination.
"First, BECAUSE / say it shall not
bew
"Well, father, go on; / wait for, youl
secondly."
'She is as poor as d church mouse and
has only blood to beprodd Of"
"Well, sir-have you a thirdly2 II
so let me hear that before / give you hct
only first, but a final answer.
"Yes-thirdly, years ago her father
crossed my path-we quarreled-1he got
the better of me, and l swore / never
would forgive him, and l never will
His blood shall never mingle in friend
| ship with mine ?"
"Is that your lastly, father"
"Yes, Tom, it is-and now obey my
wishes
"Where a man truly loves, he has
but one thought, one hope, one de,
sirer'
"a man-you are boy yet!'
"Father, at my age you married.
"Yes, and pleased MY father. while
doubled the estate you will own l. you
obey me-
"Then shall never own it. l am Ell;
gagged to marry Mary, Prescott, and
will keep the engagement"
81 doubt it Mr.. Tom Williams
doubt it. In the first place, my sister
will never be allowed by her family to
beg place in rich mans family; in the
next; my father hates yours too much to
ever forget the past, or to sec his blood
mingled with YOURS ~
1t was young man, rather coarscly
dressed, but fne-looking in person, who
spoke.
Tom Williams in an instant recogni
zed the brother of her whom he loved SC
well.
II viii not debate the matter will
you-Mary and myself will do as W.
pleaser he said, as he turned to entel
the house.
! cry to see her again and see who vii
stand in your path" cried young Pres
colt, and he turned the horse on which
he had ridden up and galloped away
"Now, / hope; sir, you are satisfied
To be rebuflcd and scorned by her FAM
Ilv ought to be enough to rescue YOU
pride at last"
1T is sir! 1t makes me proud to fee
that have enough courage, too to mar
ry the GIRL | love in spite of all opposi
ton! / did not intend to hurry up th
matter quite so fast, but flow / will maxi
Mary Prescott my wife before to morrow
sun goes dow II, or the devil will have
mortgage On MY soul p
| These last words were uttered as tn
(young man passed in, and the father wa
left alone op the piazza.
"He will not dare TO persist in thi
| disobe bediencer' soliloquizcd the oil
man.
"The thought OF disinheritance vii
check him in time"
Another day-a lovely day and a love
ly scene. a cottage under the broa'
spreading limbs of live oak-a cottag
almost covered with red honevsuc1le
and white climbing roses. Aud stand
ing in the doorway of this cottage, tai
slehder girl, with eyes of that soft drca
my hazel which at times seems black
hair hanging in jetty curls over he
shoulders is graceful as a sculptor coul'
ask for as 4 model.
This was Mary Prescott, and holdin:
note from Thomas Williams agains
her throbbing breast, while her swec
eyes looked anxiously down the limetre
lavenue she murmured.
"Will he come-oh, will Ee come
"IIe had better not said stern Eoic
close to her ear.
1t was her brother who spoke.
"Oh, Jesse, you surely could not in
} terfere with our love- she said beSeec
Iingly