The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-15


solved that Edwin should be her husband,
by which means her revenge on Annie
would be gratiticd.
Neither was Edwin altogether proof
against her matchcSs beauty. At times
he felt an almost irresistible impulse to
knccl before her, and avow himself Il
slave forever, and rs often would some
hasty word or mcongenial sentiment turn
his thoughts into another channel: and
then they carried him away to an old
country seat i'll Wales. where hc had spent
the summer Of last wear on Il visit TO some
friends Of his family. \ Young lady, Of
good birth and education, resided there as
govcmcSs to some halt-dozcu wild and
turbulent children. Her kind and unoL-
trusivc manners and gentle voice first at
tracted his attention toward her; and al
though perhaps not handsome, her pale
sweet face and dark buo eyes made an
impression that dccpcncd each dav rs he
discovered fresh beauties in her intellectual
and superior mind. Attcr IN acuuaint-
ancc Of some months he made an offer of
his hHnd, and ker conduct on this occa-
sion only confirmed the ardent affection he
entertained for her. Candillv admitting
that She could joyiully unite her lot with
his, she told hcr previous history, and beg
%cd the young man to test hi, feelings well
before aIIyim@ himself to poor aud por-
tionIrSS girl, and for this purpose prayed
that twelve months might rlap>c before
the subject OF their marriage was renew
cd. She would not doubt him then; still
he might see Others, WHO would seem more
worthy OF his regard: but, if in thpt time,
hlS sentiments were unchanged, all that
she had to give WAS his forever. In vain
he trlcI to alter this rcSulu'iul: her arru-
mcntS were stronger than his own, and
50 at last, with renewed VOWS of fidelity,
he reluctantly badc her farewell. For
various reasons he had kcrt this attach
ment Il secret from his family, not alto
gcthcr sure of the light in which they
might view it; and the position of the
young govcrncSs would have been render.
cd doubly painful, had those under whose
roof she dwc!t been made acquainted with
the circumstances. Although fully aware
III cooler moments that, even had he
known no other, his cousin Catharinc WIS
4 person with whom, Us Il companion for
lite, he could never hope fer real happi-
hess, still he knew the danger of his Stua-
ton, and resolved not without STRUGGLE,
to tear himself away from the sphere ol
her attractions; and So, one evening. Ed
win announced his intention of Scltimr uii
next day on an excursion through Scotland
proposing To visit Wales on hi, rclurn.-
Different were the feelings with which
each of the ladies received this intelligence.
CathariLc TUNED away and bit her lip
with rage and ch"grim, as Miss Reed re-
peatcd TO her mother, who had grown
deaf Of late, over and over agnin t. make
her understand, that Edwin was about to
leave them for timc-wl> goiul. to
Scotland, and purposrd leaving the 10y
the Aall on the morrow night. She had
OF course no objection to ullrr, briug but
too clad to believe that nothing more
D.au .i'md>lip existed between her son
'n' -. ..r child; yrt wondered much what
i..,., 60 such a -.....'.f. ,. ,,,Iiun.
Catherine Amalu E........d BE-, eyes
nat miGu. one instan. tH-yi.. ,..a id
"a. loved her, and Only paused ,u owu il
inr tear OF refusal, ;nJ ndj,rMu.. hcr,,.i
that h" would not leave Without. These
th""r,s gave way To- bitter disnpp.int-
m'ut, hatred, and VOWS of revenge artin,t
.'m, and all connected with him, more
particularly his SISTER, whose words she
now recalled, torturing herself with the
idea that Annie had cxtorted a promise
from her brother never to wed his cousin
while she lived; and the sicklv Girl had
improved much since then, and might. at-
ter ali, be restored to perfect health; then,
the first time for years, she wcpt-cricd
bitterly ut the thought of being separated
from one against whom she had but lust
before been breathing threats and imprcca-
tons, and yet imagined was the only man
she had ever really loved. \ calmcr
mood succeeded, and she lay down, rcsolv-
ing and discarding schemes to Gain her
wishes, that occupied her mind till day
light.
The next day passed in busy prcpara-
tons, Edwin avoiding, as he dreaded. the
result of Il private interview with his cou-
sin. Toward the afternoon Miss Reed and
her mother happened to be engaged with
their medical attendant, who opportunclv
called that day, and often paid longer Wis
its than were absolutely necessary: and
Catherine, who with difficulty had re-
strained her emotions, Selling on the OBJ
portunity, and scarcely waiting to knocl,
at the door, entered Edwiu's apartment.
lie was engaged in packing Il small port
manteau, and looking up, Jchcld her
standing there, pale and agitatcd, more
beautiful he thought than ever, and vet Il
combination of the angel and the iiend.
Some moments passed in silence; then.
advancing quickly, holding ont her HAND.
she spoke i'll a husky voice:
TO BE CONTINUED.
y STORY is i'll circulation that, in Mid