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

ell ana the Dram whlrl, from very SVmpa-
thy; and then returning to her favoritc in
struncn', She sung, to II low plantivc nc
compartments, simple English ballad,
telling OF mans hcartIessncSs, and wo-
mans trailty and despair. The last verse
ran thus.
So faith and hope her spul corsakinr,
Each day to heavier sOrrows waking,
This crEcl love her heart Was brcalinr;
Yet, ere her breath
Was hushed in DEATH
She brcathed n prayer 70
For her bctraycr-
Scarcely had she finished, when. rs if
IN thorough contempt Of the maidcn's
weakness, she drew her hand violently u
cross the strings with discordaut crash,
that startled little Annie painfully. and
pushing the harp from her with an impa-
tient gesture, abruptly quilted the room.
The old lady had gone in tc enjoy Il
gossip with her next door nci~hbor, and
50 the brother and sister were alone. The
signs OF tears We're on the lattcr'S check us
Edwin approached and sat down by her
side; attrlbutiny this to her extreme scnsi
bllty wrought upon by What they had
Just heard, he spoke some kind and cheer
ing words, and then began to talk cnthus-
lastically of their cousins beauty and ac-
compllshmcnts. She listened to him quct-
ly for some time, and then,
"Dcar brother" she said timidIy. ",ou
must forgive me for what | am about to
say, when 1t is to warn and. caution YOU
against those very charms that have al
ready made such an impression on you.-
am not one, Edwin, rs you know, to
! speak Ill, even Otmy enemies, if such there
be; and to any other but yourself would
hide her faults; and try 20 think Of some
! pleasing trait on which to dwell, when her
name was mentioned. Nay. do not inter
rupt me, for rest assured, ! am only
prompted by 4 sisters love. | have seen
| much of Catharinc, and heard more: |
tea her dreadful tempcr-hcr different
faith; although, indeed, she seems to neg
lect all religious duties, even those of her
own church. Then | think of her rude
ness and lnattcntion to our dear mother.
who is so kind and gentle to her. Had
you been in London when we first met
you would not wonder ut our being shock
cd and panied at all we witnessed there"
"But, Annie, DEAR" said her brother.
"why should you talk thus earnestly to
me: Surely | may admire and praise a
handsome woman, without falling hope
lcssly in love-"
~ on may, or YOU may not" continued
Annie, warmly. but this | know and
feel, that, unless she were to change in
every manner, thought and action, She -
the last person in the world that would
see possess hold upon my brothers heart.
why, do you know, she mal,, boast or
the many lovers size Ia, cnc",.aged AM
discarded; and even shows. with nj rin.i
Jests, letters rom her admirers. contl.n.,.s
protc>'a,'Hus Of affection, and scErlr.....
that amy woman Of common feeling wou.l
at least consider sacred"
And have You nothing, then. to say
III her taYor:" asked young Evct. Iuiclly.
"Can you make no allowance for tllc man
ner III which she has been brought M! or,
may she never change from what YOU re-.
present herr"
She may, perhaps; but let me beg of
you, Edwin, to pause and think, and not
be infatuated and led away, against vour
better Judgment, as so many have already
BEEN"
"Why, my dear sister," he replied, III
we were OH the point of running of to-
gether, you could not be more earnest in
the matter; but have really never enter
tanned such thoughts as you suggest, and
II did, should consider myself quite at
liberty to act as pleased, whether were
guided by your counsel or not"
""eil, Edwin, be not angry with me;
perhaps L have spoken too strongly on the
subject. You know how much | have
your happiness at heart, and this is it that
makes me say so much. often think
have not long to live, but while am here
would have You promise me-"
A chilly breeze swept over the lawn.
and the invalid was seized with violent
tit of coughing; her brother shut the case
ment, and wrapped the shawl closer
round her slight figure. Mrs. Reed enter
cd the room at the same instant, and their
conversation ended.
Catharinc Arnatti was in her own cham.
Der, the open window of which was within
a few yards of where her cousins had been
talking. Attracted thither by the sound,
she listened intcntly, and leaning out, an
Parently employed in training the branch
es OF creeping plant, she had heard cvc-
ry word they uttered.
The winter passed away pleasantly
enough, for two at least, of the party at
the cottage.
Catharine and Edwin were, of necessi
ty, much thrown together; she sat to him
as model, accompanied him in his walks,
and fiattered him by innumerablc little at
tentions, that were unnoticed by the 9th
ers; but still her conduct to his mother
and sister, although seemingly more kind
OF late, was insincere, and marked bv n
want OF sympathy and affection that of.
ten grieved him deeply. Her temper she
to control hut So,oo+;r,l, -.