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

ccive you-tell me that you understand
my motives-do tell me 80 Charles-I
would not have you leave me careless

would not have you leave me careless.
ly.'
'swcct Mary, believe me, 10 not
leave you without pain; but / feel how
necessary it is for your sake, and the
sooner it is done the bctter-once more
FAREWELL 81 al2 !, '
Her face lighted up--she returned
the pressure Of my hand and turned
slowly towards the house. I watched
her until she was hidden within its walls
before | Departed And then the re-
membranco Of pleasant hours yasscd III
her society bcamed upon my mind rnl-
lowed by the cloudcd reality that i
was lost to me for,tle future. 1t was
pleasant leaf taken from the book OF
my daily associations, md whether it
would bc returned | knew not. con-
fess that without really loving Mary, 7
was very sad.
The loss Of her society created an
uneasiness there was something want
ing; but by degrees The feeling wore
Oh and was almost lost, when one day
| received from bcr through friend,
an apple tied Nith q piece Of blue rib
bon about the siem.
This simple token cvinccd that she
bad not forgotten mc-a hope that it
would lead 10 renewal Of our intimacy
came across me and meeting with her
soon after at an evening party, eytcn-
dcd my band, which she accepted ,cad-
lily. | rc,nauctl at her side the whole
evening: AID as she was leaving for
home, | asked, somewhat llcsi,atingly.
tlmight be permitted to accompany
here. She cordially asscnted.
KNOW not how it was, but I
thought then and think nov, it was the
most agreeable two miles of moonlight
that even outlined my shadow.
Here already said Mary with a
sigh, as VIC reached tho gate the road
never appeared so short before
'Wc arc here l replied; 'but be-
fore we part, tell me the other reason
Dr our separation, yol limited att
Not now, said she; scall on NE on
Thursday evening and l viii tell you
all--till then, adicu.' s5a z..
Good night Mary pleasant dreams.
and you sDiH sIcepn R' 9H; :
One half the remainder Of that ni.ht
| lay awake thinking over Mary's
words, what she meant by ether .rca-
sons for declining my visits, L did not
know---Shc said, too, that perhaps it
would be better if / did visit her. aud
many other incomprehensible things
from which the only reasonable hypoth.
csis | could form, was that she loved
me. Resting my mind upon that, l let
myself fall to sleep and dream. The
only fear my curiosity experienced was
that lmight die before the day arrived !;
but as my constitution was tolerablv
strong, ] kept myself clear of falling
stones and runaway horses, and trusted
in Providence.
I called upon Mary at the appointed
time, and found her alone. Her COL
our, when entered indicated a high
degree of excitement, which passed
away gradually as convcrscd with her,
at length | asked for The promised cx-
PLANTATION and drew my chair near her,
prepared to listen.
She hesltated moment before she
commenced. Charles, l have told you
there were other reasons for our cs-
arrangement, and l did hope / could
summon courage enough to tell you
what they were; but I cannot now
indeed | cannot This was said with
a convulsivc effort it was painful to see.
Mary said 4 you know me too we'll
to believe that anything you say will be
taken in an unkind spirit. have no
means of knowing what it is that so ovi.
IDENTITY pains you; but I assure you that
there is little in my power l would not
do for YOU
IS not for anything you could do
said Mary; but | shall be happier
when you know it-that is all
Then why not tell me, Mary?' said
| soothingly. Il will will she
said, casting her eyes upon the floor
and speaking hurriedly st is this-I
felt that you were gaining rapidly upon
my aitcctions--that | had learned to
look upon you with more of love than
you could on me. Forgive me,
Charlcs-pity me. if you will--but for.
give me. | could not help it,--I could
not---.l had to tell ycu, and she buried
her face in her handkerchief.
'Therc is nothing to forgive, sweet
Mary, said |, circling her neck with
my arm, tear drop fell upon my hand
Let none condemn her for what NAV
seem unmaidenly or indelicatc. IF you
had known her sanguine temperament,
her childish simplicity and her free and
full con6dencein all that is good in human
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