The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-06-27

ness and desolation came over her, that
she hid her face in her hands and sob.
bed conclusiyely, Mrs. Russell looked
surprised ,and for a few moments did
not speak, but at length she began soft
":
6 My dear Agnes, why you weep SO?
i would not regard it if I were you; no
woman marries o man whose heart has
been untouched by love until he gave it
to- her. My husband was engaged
three times, and he once told that at
our wedding one word from that pert
Emma Brown would have made him
change brides with her betrothed
Charles Smith . .5
But sobbcd Agnes, Harry has SO
often told me that / was his first love;
and it breaks my heart to think that he
deceived me so cruelty. I would not
have blamed him, and Z ao not blame
him, for having once cared for another,
though it soas buttwo weeks after their
separation, when her image must have
been fresh in his mind, that he saw me;
and he has so often said that from the
very first moment
Here her tears streamed forth and
checked her utterance.
I am sorry for you; indeed, / am
said her companion, 'but it only proves
what l was saying, that Happiness is
not the growth of earth.' IF you had
not trusted SO blindly in your husband, !,
who is a man and frail and imperfect
as men usually are you would not be 40
miserable now. AS it is, you are ac-
ting childishly; when Harry arrives no
will observe your emotion, and must
either tell him the cause, or bear re.
proachcs and insinuations from him.
q And .doyou SUPPOSE exclaimed the
young wife, Indignantly, shat I will
not tellhim the cause?' must hear
it confirmed by his own lips before l
allow myself to credit it all. It may
not be so bad; he may know many pal
liating circumstances. He has so of.
ten told me never to give ear to any re-
ports concerning my friends, until they
could no longer be doubted, and -
Yes sneered Mrs. Russell, 'he fear
ed that you would discover this affair,
and was wise to forwarn you. If you
choose to be still his dupe, care not;
but for your own sake advise you to
keep quiet for awhile. Wait one week
and then talk to him calmly and firmly;
it will do him more good than an ocean
of tears and tempest of sighs. Few
men can endure the latter. and Harry
Monteith least Of all. Iyerily believe
that Julia Ethridgo lost her control
over him in that very way; she was al
ways in the 'melting mood, and he de-
tested it, Much more was uttered by
her, but it failed to convince Agnes,
who still persisted in her determination;
until at last Mrs. Russell begged that
she would defer the explanation for a
few hours or at least while they were
in the house, as it would be exceeding
ly unpleasant to her to be present at
the time. The promise was scarcely
given before the door-bell rang, and the
next moment the quick steps Of Mon.
teith sounded on stairs. Agnes, con-
trary to her usual custom, did not rise
to meet him, but sunk back in large
chair, SO that the shadow of the mantle.
pcice might fall on her face. The lights
were dim, for she had requested Mrs.
Russell to leave them untrimmcd, and
the fire had almost died out. He en-
tered in his peculiarly rapid manner,
but stodped midway Of the floor. Mrs.
Russell rose and extended her hand;
he took it, and then said in o tone of
disappointment:
4 beg your pardon for this intrusion,
but | thought Agnes was here. The
servant must have been mistaken when
he informed me that he had walked
with his mistress to your door,
mo, she is here,' answered the lady;
sbut half asleep, l believe. Are you
not, Agnes9'
4 have a headache relied the young
wife, family.
The sight Of her handsome, noble
looking husband whose eyes wern spark
ling and his cheeks flushed from the
speed with which he had sought her,
almost overcamc her already nervously
excited frame, and she could not scarce
ly command her voice sufficiently to
reply. lie was at her side in mo-
ment; and the kind pressure of his hand,