The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-10
-LAFITTE.
THE BARBARIAN CHIEF
ArALg POUNDED on PACT.

health, (heaven knows how much p cas-
ure such an event would give y you
must follow my directions implicitly" :"
| moved my head in token of submis
sion to her will pressed her hand to
my lips, and the blushing girl hastily
quilted the chamber. The mystery
which / had been unable to solve when
reAccting on my fair attendant, as be-
fore my sickness l had never seen her,
was unravelled when | had so fae re-
covered as to be able to con rise |
found myself under the hoapitable roof
of Col Morton, brother to the mer,
chant on whose account | had visited
Charleston, and to whose house | had
been removed on account Of its more re-
tired character, and where | should be
less liable to be disturbed by the noise
and hustle of the city
my fair attendant was an only
daughter of the Colonels, who had ar
rived in the city from visit to Colum
bia during the first week of my sickness,
and by devoting herself 10 my attend
ance, had voluntarily deprived herself
of the charms which that seasJn Of the
year presents to youth, when all is
mirth and galety and crowded theatres,
brilliant assemblies, splendid parties,
and facinating ball room, more than
compensate for the deserted and dreary
appearance of the city, during the sea
son when tho Malaria compels the in-
habtants to seek refuge in the elevated
part of the country, or by journey to
the north, combine objects Of pleasure
and health, which are frequently so
widedly separated.
My health returned slowly-but
never were days more delightfully."-
passed, than those which glided away in
the company of Mary Mornton; the
lovely person who had obtained so com
plctc an ascendency over my whole
soul, that the thought that returning
health, much as desired it, would has
ten my separation from he whose pres
ence felt too be absolutely necessary
to my happiness, threw chill over nay
feelings, and [ dismissed the unwclcome
intruder as an enemy to my peace and
happiness.
" had now so far recovered as to be
a bic to receive company, and even at
tend few select parties, where | was
introduced to young lady, an intimate
acquaintance of the lovely Mary's, of
the greatest accomplishments, and as
she fondly imagined unraveled beauty.
On the most friendly terms with Mary,
Miss Hanson was always received with
pleasure at Col. Morntou's, and now
that the rounds of pleasure had once
been enjoyed, she became a daily visi
tor. Intent only on the trausceudant
excellence of the lovely Mary, | had 0
time TO make comparisons between then
and had | undertaken it they would VI
doubtedly have been partial. A brother
of Miss Hanson's, whose name was
George was frequently visitor at my
residence, sometimes in company with
his sister, sometimes without and al
though his cold, naughty, supercilious
and ovebearing manner was far from
agreeable, not his rank, his station in So
clety, and his prospects in life contrib
uted to give him an ascendency over all
parties, which few felt inclined to dis.
pute.
"He had returned from Europe a
short time previous to my arrival in
Charleston, and the imposing superiority
which sea voyage across the Atlantic
enables man to assume as Judge of
manners and men, concluded might
not wholly have been laid aside. As 1t
concerned myself personally, cared but
little about him but there was one sub
ject which gave me more uneasiness than
any other, and that was the marked at
tention to Mary.-Though l closely OBJ
served her, l could not see anything in
her conduct to justify any apprehensious
yet l confess l felt it would be NOR.
ally impossible for her to reject the su.
perior advantages which union with
this man presented above any | could
offer.
That is the most charming creature
l ever saw" said George to me, one ev-
ening as we were together sitting on a
sofa, while Mary and his sister were
playfully discussing some question of
fashion or taste, in another part of the
room; 4" [ have visited Paris and Lon
don, but among all their fashionable
circles and their beauties, | never saw a
Mary Morton. Who could have thought
that the rosebud that l so heedl.ssly
overlooked three years ago, when | left
Charleston for Europe, would so soon
have expanded into so beautiful flow
err"
Perhaps no one" | replied, with an
air of indifference which i'll accorded
with my feelings The compliment my
hears told me was just, and | was IN
wardly pleased to hear it awarded, al
though | felt fearful of the result
should his preference be openly avowed. )"
"Ah Mortimer, said George, tapping
4 "a Al