The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-12-19
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I see you and hear you speak, pehaps, I
might forgetit.' a3@
l felt no pride in all tllis--I heard
it with heartfelt sorrow. 1t might have
been unjust, but I blamed myself for
not foresecing this result from an inti-
macy 50 unrestrained and agreeable to
both as ours had been. Mary said
|, 1 would not willingly create a false
hope; aud although you are the dearest
friend | have, fear that my feelings
for you are not akin to that true love
that could alone make us happy through
life. You we're right---timc obliter-
ate all thoughts of me. For your sake
| will refrain from seeing you.'
Mono, dear Charles, / cannot lor.
| get you in life said Mary, warmly. Il
ouly wish for aud long to see you when
you are away. I cannot love you
more, and grant me the pleasure it is
! to be with you often. win you, dear
Charless9' II
Her head rested uponjmy bosom, rand
kissed away a teara I promised that
| I would. 1t was late when | depart.
( ed. @
/ The attempt to shun the society of a
woman who loves us amounts to iollv,
and so | found it. [ was so irrcsista-
bly, attracted towards Mary that /
came to believe | was in love myself.
We were very happy together and
would have been SO perhaTs to This day
had not my business called zoe to town.
We separated in the full hope that it
woald not be long before we met tagain.
| Our acquaintance was 'wintered
over 'and kept warm by correspond
encc; and aftc the lapse ofsa year, ]
looked as impaticntly for my eighteen
and three quarter cents worth OF pleas.
ure, letter love is a cheaper luxury now,
as ] did for any other qualification
periodically enjoyed.
| During this time, either to prevent
possible alliance with me, or thatshe
stood in their way, her friends advised
her to marry gentleman, thcna snitor
for her hand. He was much older than
Mary and althrough a pleasantman and
iii good circumstances, she could not
love him, and she said so. But this
did not repulse him-..he urged his suit,
supported by her friends and her.
position became unpleasant in the OK
trcme. Il scuse4 OF her dependence,
together with a recollection Of past ifas
yours, seemed to demand compliance
with their wishes; but opposed to this
was her love for another, and that act
would destroy her hopes of him forever.
Atlcngth, sick at heart and with a faint
hope CT my interference, she wrote me
| for advice. These facts / have learn
| ed since. s.
| At any other time I would have
claimed her hand: but circumstance,
that unspiritual God and miscreator,'
| presented barrier, and l pcnned a re-
ply for which to my dying hour I shalt
repent. Two path leading different
ways through life were before me, and
! God help me, / chose the scrony one !
Dear Mary, / knew not how much /
loved you.
In my letter I held up her position
in candid light, but l was not in
the picture, and carelessly, as one With
no choice now, she yielded lerhand.
| was not surprised soon after to re-
ceive a note from her, stating that they
were in town and staying atHotel
where she would be happy to receive
her friends. | lost no time in paying
my respects and following my card to
! the parlour was received BY her Eus,
band. Ofhim will not speak at any
length. 1t is enough that he treated
me cordially then and throughout. That
he knew cfmy position towards Mary
could not doubt and treating me MS a
man Of honour, and holding no petty
jealousics or fears, he gained my res,
pcct and friendship and there is not a
bribe considerable enough this SIDE of
Heaven to have made mo violate his
confidence. However much / regret
ted that she was the bride of another, /
determined not to mourn over it, and by
the time Mary entered the room my
face was as calm as it ever was in sleep.
| Her cheeks wore crimson hue, but MS
she took my hand all colour deserted
them and she sank upon chair. There
were other persons, friends of Mr.. Han.
~ Chat was his name) in tho room, yet
her embarrassment might have passed
unnoticcd had she not turned her chair
/ from me and q tear started in her eye.
a searching glance from the gentleman
opposite told me that it did not escape