St. Landry democrat., 1878-08-31
ualI knswn tinted envelope was handed

false to his olt~repeated vows. AS soon
as had entered the privacy of my own
chamber, tore off the covering OF the
little note and read:
"DARL1NG FANNY-Forgive me for
the step am obliged to take, fcr it is
only you thAt I love, and be assured that
your suffering will only equal my own.
When you receive this I shall be welded
to one for whom have only common
place regard, But unless | do this un'
hsly deed my father will be bankrupt,
and he declares he will commit suicide
unless I consent to save him by mar
riage that has long been contemplated by
our parents. Forget one who is un-
worthy of your true devotion.
Your unhappy HARRY.
remember putting the note with the
rest of those / had almost worshipped.
Then there was blank in my lie.
When next realized my whereabouts
I was at home, and stern old winter was
holding carnival. recovered from my
illness very slowly. For many months
fingered seemingly on the brink of the
grave. Though the very best physicians
were sought they could not effect cure.
| had no ambition to recover. No desire
to 20 forth into the gay world; to min
gle with society. Not single object in
life could I see that was worth effort.
NV parents were in good circumstances,
50 had no need to exercise my faculties
for self support; physicians needed the
support their visits demanded, and as
long as I was considered an invalid,
nothing would be required of me in the
way of doing for others. I grew thor"
oughly selfish. seldom saw any one
but the members of our own family.
Books and papers I thoroughly hated. l
even kept the sunlight from my room l
could not endure its cheerful brightness.
What right had it to shine and make all
the world bright, when there was only
the blackness of darkness in my heart?
A year from that to me eventful Sep
tember morning I asked my sister to
bring me my writing desk, and then to
leave me alone. While she was taking
it from the bottom of the trunk-for
had never used it since that too we'll re-
membered morning-Saidy asked who
that Harry was of whom raved so much
in my illness.
Chow should I know?" / inquired.
Probably one of the students, as am
very we'll acquainted with several by
that name. Why, what did say?"
Nothing that We could understand,
only occasionally we would hear you
muttering, MY Harry or Poor Har'
ry."
Twas sure then that none knew the
real cause of my illness, and I would
make myself sure that none ever did.
When my sister left the room, I burned
the heartsickening letters without an
other perusal. Dust on ashes was my
first and last love. The little gifts that
I once priced, put safely away in Sc.
cret drawer. I could not return them to
the giver, for I did not know where on
the continent he was located. I learned
by accident that he had gone south.
Months were woven into years, and
still kept my room. I was not we'll.
Physicians called my disease spinal com
plant, and l allowed them to prescribe
accordingly. You may think it passing
strange how one could be so perfectly
inactive and still retain a good use Of
their five senses. And yet there are
thousands wasting their inheritance
allowing their energies to lie dormant
till every good impulse is covered i've,
with rust that will eat up every God.
given talent.
l had no aim, no object in life; and
would not seek one.
It was enough that I no longer suffered
acutely, and my wants were all sup
piled. In this thriftess way ten years o.
my life were passed.
Then my dear old father sickened and
died. 1t was during his illness that
nerved myself to leave my own room
-for all this time had kept my OWL
apartment like the veriest hermit-and
sit by him while the rest of the family
sought needed rest or attended to domes
tic matters.
Although he was very quiet man ir
his family, yet we were very lonely
without him. And for mothers sake,
mingled more with the family, in the
hope of comforting her in her Affections
I soon found that eur neighbors were
really intelligent beings with warm
sympathizing hearts, anu that book
and papers could be source of enjoy
ment.
One morning when the June rosel
were in bloom and the bees were gather
ing their wealth of sweets alike froz
roses and nettles, and birds were feedins
their young, my idle, listless hand
picked up the weekly paper that siste1
Moretta had left upon the ssta.
My eyes wandered dreamily over it
columns and finally rested on these evi
IDENTIFY heart.spoken words: "Oh! le
not the night come and find 30 littl'
accomplished; let not these golden Jewell