The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-19
4 5rlcfte1 Gale.
PRIDE AND FASHION.
A Tale of Fashionable Lite In CnaIles'on'
WRITTEN FOR THE "cHAELEsToN-EvENINe NEWS
Bythe Author of Money and Mo'rimony, DC
(Concl"'cd.)
CHAPTER VIII.

ceasing Journey. Lays Passsu, "e -.
into months and anot!:eryear had gone ny "l'n-
out bringing any Improvement IN our heroiHe ;
situation. Brandcn and herself were never
seen toeether. If she walked, it was alone II
she visited, it was among persons ne knew no,
thing about He was seldom at home, ana
when there treated his wife with contemptuous
silence. Emma was not of nature to concll-
late. where she met contempt and therefore by
tacit agreement they became alienated Emma
had eyinced a talent for poetry, and now that
she lad so many lonely hours, she cultivated
her taste with renewed ardor, producing num-
her of pieces of considerable merit. Of this
she was not conscious, until one evening as she
looked over them, intending to assert and put
them awav, Courtenay was announced as
visitor. The confusion she betrayed, with her
haste in collecting them, induced him to believe
that they were original pieces. Courtenay had
always admired Emma. tie knew that Emma
was talented, and thought if he had been her
husband, how gladly he would have relln?ulsli'
ed all society in which she was not appreciated.
He did not, however, blame his friend, as nc
knew his faults proceeded not from depraved
heart but defective education. Mrs. Bran
dom" said Courtenay, "will you allow me to
look at those pieces!" She, careless of praise
or blame, put some of them into his hand
These he perused and reperused with evident
pleasure, and then exclaimed, Exquisite" lie
remained for few minutes with the papers in
his hand musing. He was generously concoct.
ing plan by which he could make Edward
proud of his wife At length he said, "Nill
YOU do me the favor to let me have these e
"You may take them ALL" she replied; "they
have served to while away the weary hours,
but attach no value to them" He took them
with eagerness, and made another petition that
she would allow him to publish them. The
name of the author, he said, should not be
known except by her own consent. Emma
expressed surprise and disspprobation. He
persisted, and at length gained reluctant con-
sent One of the pieces was entitled "lhe
Neglected WIFE," which she would have abb
stracted, but he resolutely withheld it, and she
was obliged to give up the contest.
In shorter time than such matters arc usu-
ally managed, small volume was presented to
the public entitled, Fugitive pieces by La
dy." By the reading part of the community,
the book was spoken O., and her sons OF taste
admired it. Among others, Edward procured
a copy, and took it home. Seated in his study,
he read piece after piece, until he came to the
NEGLECTED WIFE" The pathos, the hcart-sut-
ferings, the truthful trials depicted in that place,
awakened him to a sense of the injustice he
was doing his own wife, for Edward, in spite
of many failings, was man of sense and sensi-
bility "Such trials" thought he, "must she
have experienced" Again he read it. Every
line came home to him with sickening sense
of his unworthy conduct. Touched and SUBJ
dued, tears gathered in his eyes, At this mo-
ment Emma entered the apartment for book
she had lett there, and was leaving the room
without noticing him, when he looked up, and
extending his hand, said "Come here, Emma.
have bought something which l want you to
see, my love. Emma was for moment rooted
to the spot 1t was so long since Brandon had
spoken kind word to her, that she was doubt
full if she heard Alright But observing the tear
full eyes, and the look of contriton, she precipi-
tated herself toward him, and fell upon his bo-
som. And now he parted the dark hair from
the sweet white forehead, gazed into those ten
der eyes and kissed them fondly as il days Of
yore And at length placing the book in her
hand he said, Here is something worth read
ing; who can the writer be! if married, how
proud and happy must the husband be of such
q companion! What pathos, what delicacy,
what noble sentiment breathes in every line!-
The pieces were her own. Oh moment Of eX-
quisite happiness to be praised by Brandon -
She became flushed and excited as Brandon
continued reading and extoling. Her heart
futtered and futtercd until she thought it would
burst its prison house to proclaim the secret
And yet what right had she to do so. She had
given the pieces to Courtenay and he had pub
lshed them at his own risk, with what motive
she could not divine. She could therefore tell
Brandon nothing until she had scenhm. While
these thoughts were passing in her mind Bran
don had fixed upon her deeply blushing face a
searching, inquiring gaze. 1T is barely posi-
ble,' thought he, that she may be the author,
but no she never could write like that He lit
tie dreamed how woman can express such
feeling when she has experienced them to her
hearts core This was happy hour for poor
Emma, she thought her trials were all over,
that halcyon days were yet in st"~e. 1t was a
renewal oflove. The long negv"!"'' harp was
brought out end the sweet melo. >! Emma's
voice filled the apartment. IT, dinner bell
sounded ere they thought it no".', for swiftly
glides the foot of time that only t.'vlds on flow
ers.'
In the evening Brandon went out, and Emma