The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-01-14
A Night of Peril.

LIvIngstOneS descended to me. The
bulk of this inheritance--the monetary
part smean--consisted of an enormous
cotton and sugar plantation, lying on
the Mississippi River. / had been rear
ed with full instructions as to the best
meshod of producing the largest amount
of the "staple king" with the least ex-
pense, and had SO far succeeded so well
that l was reputed by my Older neigh
bors around to be rapidly making for
tune. -
This much was true-i had more than
enough for all the wants Of this life-so
much more that like the. fool 1 was,
considered myself entirely justifable in
recklessly throwing away at times what
other men might have regarded as 9
comfortable competency.
lived we'll but unostentstiously on
my estate for three-fourths Of the year,
and for q young man of twenty-six, ]
considered that walking about as we'll in
in the rigid path of duty that my father
had pointed out to me, as human nature
could expect
I waited patiently through seed time
and harvest, watching the labor of my
hands with unswerying zeal, but when
the winter came on with its usual una
yoidable days Of idleness and dream
ing by the fire, my young blood grew
restless and impatient. The great world,
with its illusory destinations, drew me
from my retreat as by some potent mes
meric spell, and | yielded, perhaps unre-
sistingly, to its influence. @
/ had baled a goodly crop of cotton
on my estate, shipped it to my commits
sion merchant in New Orleans, and was
ready packed 20 start on my annual visit
to the crescent city the next morning,
when the idea came to me that / must
see Angela Dumont, the pretty daughter
of my nearest neighbor, once more be-
fore set out
/ had been visiting at Mr.. Dumont's
quite regularly for year or more, and
had felt powerfully attracted toward sthe
dearest girl in the world" but I don't
know that 1 had become quite desperate
enough just yet to stand the chances OF
rejection with many other Of her suitors,
rather than remain in the dreamily pleas
sns uncertainty Of a partial understand
ling. Sometimes l rather fancied she
liked me; but then, even in my initiatory
stage of existence, had seen too many
aCressids'' to feel exactly sure of my
footing, and it was rot without pane
of regret that / rode up to the house,
thinking should not see her again fol-
some months perhaps, and that in that
time she might learn to forget ne, for
Angela was only eighteen. s,.g
She came down to see me--a second
! Red Riding Hood--in her dress Of rich
est black silk and jaunty little crimson
velvet jacket, and / thought if I could
just take her in my arms right then and
there, and know that she was mine fol
| life, should be the happiest man in all
this broad continent; but contented
myself with kissing her little hand,a pro.
ceeding that made her velvety cheeks
almost as red as her jacket for the mo-
ment, and sat down at her side.
thought I saw her turn pale when
told her of my approaching departure
but somehow the words of regret
would fain have uttered stuck in my
throat, until / looked at my watch and
found it time for me to be returning
home. i .5a
fingered over the goodnight, bui
nothing came of it Angela wished dc
q happy visit in such clear, natural
tone, that stiaed sigh, in thinking
how foolish / had been to suppose she
had cared for me, and half crushing hel
hand in my own, passed out under the
starlight to the gate.
As | was preparing to mount my
horse, remembered that I had left o
Ijeweled card-case on the center-table in
her parlor, and as it was q toy / might
need in the gay city to which / was 60
ing, / concluded to return for it.
/ stepped quickly back under the
frowning arch of the portico and into
the lighted hail. The parlor door was
elosed,' but / supposed Angela had shut
| ii in coming ont to 60 to her room, so
turned the knob very softly and moved
across the carpet to the table, ! was
startled by sitting sob, and looking
quickly around l 5eheld Angela kneel-
ing By the crimson ottoman we had oc-
cupied, in an agony of tears, With my
card case pressed to her lips.
She uttered cry of horror on behold
ing me, sprang like frightened deer to
her feet, and was rushing from the room
when l caught her in my arms, and she
fell faintins upon my breast
Her complexion, through whose pure
and transparent whiteness the warm cur
rent of life had wandered so gently yet
so blushingly an hour before-softly I'M
dulating, like young -ose leaves which a
zephyr just stirs into trembling-was
now blanched with an alarming pallor.
Nv kisses brought the faded color back
to her lips and cheeks; and as pressed
her to my wildly beating heart / fancied
that hers was throbbing with the inten-
sity of kindred sympathy. Yet there
was nothing of alarm as | held her thus,
i would scarcely, if / could, have re-
called her to entire consciousness just
then The supreme bliss of that mo-
ment was worth living, aye, dying for
| was unmindful of all things but that
dear faceso close to my own. She loved
me, and the thought wrought d great et-
stacy in my soul. Wild, broken, pas
! sionate words fell rhapsodically from my
lips I was as incoberent as mailman
until ! felt the silken fringe of her heav.
enly eyes remblmg against my cheek =
Then for one breathing moment j held
her thus,in silence more vocal than a
poets song. There was no longer a
great holIowness" beneath the heavens
It seemed to mo that the universe had
been created expressly for lis, and that
our joy could Gil iu.
But Angela was rowling Sic lifted
her eyes to mine, the blood rushed back
to her cheeks, and she shrank from my
embrace threw myself at her feet and
bcsought her not to leave me- l Poured
| forth an irDpetaous torrent OF protesta-
tions. / told her how / had loved heI
for months past with devotion that
could find no utteranca in language, and
! hv lie creeS she liateued IN nc with GREAT