The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-10-04
LEON SWEETHEART.
by JUDGE CLARK.

Having laid in an average stock of legal
lone | selected, as field for its invest ment,
one of the interior parishes of Louisiana.
OF the many God speed-yous midst
which | took leave of my native New Eng
and village the most dearly priced was
spoken by gentle Alice Bond.
We we've engaged; Alice and | and as
SOou as my professional gains should Justify
lt-an event We both looked to as in the
near future-I was to return and bear off
Alice to be the mistress of sunny South
..rn home, of which Claude Melnntte's pic
.ured paradise on the banks of Como may
dffoid the reader faint conception.
But fees didu't ,ain down in golden
shower at first. Indeed, it was pinching
work for a time To pay Office rent and
board. Sometimes | was on the point of
Iesponding but then would come one nf
lear Alrce's loving hopeful letters, and |
must have been very coward not TO have
pucked up courage after that.
Things frightened after awhile. Better
and more numerous clients came, among
hem rich planter, owning thousands ut
ceres and hundreds of slaves. Colonel
AIvareZ-that was his name-ha6, more.
over, a beautiful daughter, the fist sight of
whom awakened in me strange fasclna
ton.
With the hospitality of his class and
Iuest at his huuse, and thus the chat mIug
Lconora aud myself were often thIuxn TO
.etneT.
Her beauty was of the rareSt Spanish
type. Her ancestors, indeed, had settled
~ the country when it VAS Spanish de
peudency. aud the pnrest CastIlIau blood
lluwed in her VEINS.
There Vas something so lofty in her
bearing, and tie flash of her black eyes
= r
>weet, modest image of Alice Bond began
pale in my memory like the soft lustre
IF a star befoIe the rising sun.
] know, now, | did not cease to love
Alice but, somehow, | began to neglect
writing to- her, aud, at last, through my
'emissuess, our correspondence dropped
altogether.
| spent most of my evenings at the
coloneIs. Le"nora would sing me plautIve
spanish aiIS: and when we CONVEX Sed
there was something So thrillingly tender
IN her tones that it seemed like breaking a
spell when the hour came for parting.
On my way to one of these visits.
left the accustomed path, aud took one
winding through the trees. 1 sOoa heard
voices not far ahead, one of which could
not fail to recognize.
The moon shone brightly, but | was
i'll the shadow of a clump of magnolias,
whence, without being observed, | could
see, at a few rods distance, two persons, a
gentleman and lady, standing side by side,
who were c"nversIng earnestly. Her hand
was upon his shoulder, aud his ann eucir-
ced her waist.
so your father is still inexorable" said
the gentleman, on whose sOmbre featui es
| the light, at that moment, cnanced to fall.
Yes, dear Alphonso, replied Leouora.
| looking up into the other S face I'VE mus:
| live on III hope, and trust to times making
| all things even. But | must leave you
| now, OF my absence will be noticed -
| If only had few pal,ty thousands "he
! muttered, I'D marry you in spite of al
| the fathers in the woIl la -
! Then she held her lips for the kiss which
her companion gave, aud the wo Sc paIa Iated
| Stepping aside To let tue dear Alphon
! so'' pass | returned home without pawn.
the intended visit.
lie scene | hadewirnessed had a curious
| effect on me. | do not think it made m,
jealous, for | believe | was not at all i,
| love with LeouOra. 1t served, however, I,
break the enchanrment, or whatever it was
that bound me, and from that time | ceased
To be visitor at the colonel's house.
At last a letter came from Alice, whom
bad so long neglected. Through som
gosSipping corr espondent of friend a
heIs, the news reached her that | was pay
lug court 10 a wealthy planters daughter
Upbraid;ng me with my breach of rrOth !
""Ids which wrung my heart, she Ielease
me from our eug tgemeuI.
/ IL was then, when the danger of losin
her stared me la the face, that | realize
he full depth of my love fo; Alice Bone
bad laId up some money laiIeilS, an
besides had just won an important sui
for which | had been paid several thou
| and dollars.