The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-12-19

/ NSISiu'i'SO oiiu uuoy ~ tiioSC tlilOuSH
whom she was under obligations would
have drawn from her consent to wed
this man. There is want of honour
SO loathe from my soul in the use of
such advantage for any purpose that l
never hear Of it but my pulse quickcns
and my blood bounds fierccly through
/ my viens, and now when it made the
power to rivct chains upon a young
hearts sympathics, and hold them in
hopeless durance through lifc---to tu,n
within the flame that would prey upon
that heart ccasclcssly.--.I secretly VOW
ed to challenge these dcstroycrs hcrcaf:
ter and make them answer where at
last they must.
"And your letter 100, Charles, seem
ed to INC so cold," said Mary, and ia
king from her card case slip Of paper
she handed inc the following lines, adj
ding, ''In my first impulse after reading
i, copied thcm--.thcy may DO un-
kmd.'
"'lhe eoniiict IS over-,hc struggle is pas,
have looked, hove loved, have wor>hppcd
ny last.
New h,ck /" 'hc world and l-t fate lo her wors,
Ga Il heart that for thee such devotion hath
nurscd,
F"r ,hce It's hest feelings were trusted away
Lie hereafter hath none to bc,ray."
Believe nc. dear Mary" I exclaimed
af,cr reading them "you arc unjust. If
my letter spoke not oflovc it was be
cause ] dared not encourage a hope
that mi lit interfere with your welfare.
However much I might have wished to
become your protector and Heaven
bear me witness | did wish it fer
vcntly [ could not offer even q hint
that might have exchanged this certain
ty for the vague uncertainty that must
attend my fortunes. Self denial was
hard but it is very much harder to DC
ccnsured for it."
'Why--.why, did I not know this be-
torc?' said Mary, so broNon-heartcdly
,hat it startled me Because said
|, if for no other reason Heaven did
not will it. You will be happy yet
Happy at least in the consciousness of
duty pcrformed--~of q correct and up
right walk in the path you have chosen.
Your husband is kind and wealthy and
above all loves you sincerely. Max
his home happy and yours will be 50
too.
That night I brcathcd one pure
prayer for Mary. The next day they
were to travel homcward and the time
arrived for our parting. 1t was short.
We claspcd hands and exchanged one
look over the barrie, that was between
us for lifc-aud sigh and tear, and
was gone. l was apparently happy
but she was sad and sad too in the
thought that l was not so.
Years have passed since have seen
her during which I have been the vic
tim Of false friendships and | have
learned her true worth and long ab-
scncc has increased, not diminished my
love.
Thus resulted trihng with the heart
and thus too did l fail to grasp a treas
urc | had looked for SO longingly
through, life, pure and true hearted
woman who had leave to love me-
1t will be argued that we even sigh
for what is inattainahle, and that if Ma
ry were single now | would not wed
her. The conclusion may be correct
but the premises are wrong. That she
is the only one | would marry is true
for | have been near enough since then
to scorching my fingers badly not to
venture near unsteady flames again and
have no wish to induce any woman to
deliberately and solcmly pcrjurc her
self by swearing at the altar to love nc
when she as socmnly knows she never
did and never could. If | would
not link my fate to Mary's it would be
from fear that | might change and
crow cold and, if her. But her mem
ory is apart Of my not already, SO be-
come unworthy Of cherished life and
Will be always.
Can any one tell us why natural
tools. idiots. or innocents, are so very
proud? 1t is 4 fact that this species of
property arc nightly stuck up and
naughty. 1t answers one good pur.
pose. 1t prevents them of1cntimcs
from being taken advantage of, as they
keep their distance with so much hau-
tour that strangers will not approach
them So, may ro,norl; rh;s fact th,t