The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-16

ing out of the gate, a voice close behin,
her. that male her very soul stand still
remarked
"Do you know, Miss Winslow, tha
Just now, as we left the church ward,
caught glimpse of face so like Rutl
Lees that it seemed to belong to her very
Seltf l have been looking in vain for tn,
same face under every bonnet around eve,
since"
hcScmbInnccs are very common" said
the voice Of her cousin Bertha. "But il
could not, of course, have been Ruth Lee
unless they have carried balloon.nakinp
IN Iowa to greater degcc of perfect IN
than they have with U.S."
Ruth heard as in dream, and pIiJed
on, reaching her home at lrst, worn out
both in mind and body.
MY Garling Ruth, what is it You
are rs pale aS our own white dress, and
you trembe like II frightened bird. What
has disturbed my precious child 2"
Ruth threw herself on her mothers bo-
som, and gave way TO her feelings in Il
Hood of tears. She had restrained her
self :" long that now the sympathisinp
voice of her mother unlocked the tcar-natcs
Of her heart.
"Oh, mother know | am weak and
wrong; hut when | am able will tell
you what troubles me-"
my dear child" said Mrs. co. when
kuth had made a clean breast, and told
all that oppressed her heart, all she had
thought and felt that day-"mv dear
child, have patience; all will vet he right
and well evil may prosper for a time,
but truth must prevail, goodness must
meet its own reward. You can see what
Is the design of your cousin, Bertha, but
she will out with herself would bc too
great wrong that ore so ariful and
truthless as she, should be the wife of one
SO pure and nobe-mindcd as Lincoln
Raymond"
But mother -"
Now your good heart is seeking to cx-
cuSe her can rAad it in your face. Well,
1t Is better so. Charity comes from God;
and, OF all Gods precious gifts, it is the
one least in use"
Day after day passed on, and Bertha
Winslow laid her snarcs more and mora
closely around her victim, until, blinded
by their artificial glitter, he seemed ready
To fail into their arttul mcshe<. Her ewes
were very bright, and the most dazzlinr
red burned upon her checks her voice
was very soft, and the touch Of her hand,
e Is i Jq me} d his s,, yibratsd through every fl
tensity and fire OF her nature. 1t might
have been well--it might have been, if he
would, by little and little, have influenced
her naturally noble spirit back to It's orig
iual simplicity and truth but, though
young in years. -hc had grown so old in
the ways of the world that she would have
been more likely to influence him, through
an unhOly love, to the destruction of his
own purcst and lotticst feelings.
Day after day passed on, each day
leaving Ruth Lee more weary and pale
from her endless toll. Every few days would
bring some fresh rumnr Of the growing
intimacy Of her cousin Bertha and Lincoln
Raymond. Her whilom companions,
who made her now feel herself to be their
servant, seemed to take peculiar delight
i'll telling her the welcome news, probably
frow sympathy for her, knowing she and
Raymond used TO be SO much together.
One such had just gone, when a car
riage drove up rapidly, and in momcnt
CIaricc came bounding into the room
where Ruth was.
ooh, cousin Ruth" said she, throwing
her arms lovingly around her, chow glad
| am to see YOU once more! And, oh. |
have something to tell you to which you
must listen at once"
"What is it, my dearest cou>inl am
all attention"
"Oh, it is a masquerade! Will it not
be delightful A real masquerade-a
private onc--nO one is to know about II
for, YOU know, it is against the law. Mrs
Summer is going To have it. 1t is to be
had at her house, which you know is
/ nvaTiy au acre large: wc w!l! not wan'
for room. She is going to have every
thing in style. The whole house is to b,
thrown open to the guests. | am going
in the character of IA tamborin dancer anc
fortune teller, and you are to make my
dress. | tcazcd mamma so hard that
far this once, she consented But you
need not put much york on it; make il
rs slightly rs you can, so that it will holC
together for one evening; you need no
mind the stitches, for no one will see them
Here is complete Partisan costume
confined Caricc, opening bnndle. 81
is one Of the richest materials, for chos,
them myself, and ordered the dress to b
made after this pattern. See, is it no
beautiful! 1t will be the most bccomin,
dress you could wear. You may hav
to take in the seams Of the tunic q LITTLE
to fit your slender waist: the skirts, thinl
will be just the right length. And her
are the little shoes-number three you Sc
remember The number. And here
the mask to tie over your sweet fac,
and"
dearest Clarice, whdt are you tall
ing about Not, surely, Of my going I
this"----
"Now do not say a word, for see III
; no upon your lips kave set my hea
, upon it. No one will know you
, Your mask will shield you, and yo
4 can see everybody, and enjoy the brilliar