The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-09-21

hours-to DANISH ennUt-to create a new
excitement for his palled spirit--to dissi-
pate the ever-prescnt dread Of de ath-the
last OF the Foscarini plunged headlong into
the vortex Of society, rs wildly rs If the
world was only just opening for his enjoy
nent: and thus he strove to conquer care
by rcrelry.
In this, after all, no harm. To some
minds So:ietv may be safer and better
than Solitude. But the Marquis did not
care for mere pIeasure-he craved excite
ment. lie found it in play. lie grew
accustomed to stake wealth OH tue cast of
the die, and thus spent long nights
At first lie played merely to divert his
thoughts, and used to amuse himself bv
watching the anxious faces around him,
and the varying passions developed, as
the game went on. Soon, howcrever, he
came to have an interest in success or fail
ure. Fortune turned against him, and
then he almost flushed to find himself
Doubling the stakes and calculating the
chances, and eagerly anticipating tie re-
suit Of each cast. Still he went on, and
still, thouyl: lac sometimes won, his losses
were frequent and heavy. Then he re-
solved TO play boldly-as he heard that
timid gamblers rarely win-and he would
bc content with getting back his losses.-
II, at times, the thought Of his daughter
came into his mind, he would still the in
truding recollection with "Tush she is
but woman--a girl! There will he
enough for her. What could a girl of ,'iyh-
teen do with all my palaccs--lny jewels
my picturcs--my gold hoardcd wealth,
long ago, for my heir; now, have none !:
let it 60 rs it may. Come Oh me on
it is vain to think of il! PERHAPS
may die tomorrow. There will be enough
left for the girl"
Teresa was aware of her fathers rcck-
less way of living. lie had not taken
any pains to conceal il from her. Wholly
""gardlcss Of how he wounded her sensi-
live feelings, he incessauily complained, in
her presence as in her abseuce, of. his bit
ter disappointment at not hu~ing n nrrvi-
wing son, nnl cursed himself for his i'll
fortune. Teresa was all gcutlcness and
iove-for She had warm affections, nn,l
never forgot that he WAS her fathcr-but
her love ma'le slight impression on heart
wtlrh hourly appeared to become more
ossite1. But gcntIcness md love cannot
always be ropulsed. They have power
which, at times, can pierce even heart
Of adamant. Never yet have they been
exercised without some good result
When the marquis saw his fair daughter
weeping bitterly, her hands clasped in
most unfc gned sorrow, her check pale
with e,noti"n-when he heard her hcsccch
him TO hcstow kind words upon her, and
impore par,ion for the involuntary crime
Of being ii woman--hc would ccr:e his
reproachcs and coInnlainings, and, looking
with tenderness and admiration on the
graceful form thus bowed in humble en-.
treaty bci' him. would press fathers
kiss upon her head. ana abruptly leave the
room, Ms II afraid that his awakened love
might pour forth its strong emotions in
words.
In fact, 'liougll hc very often treated
her harshly, the marquis did love Teresa
Not, indeed, with pure pntcmal love--tor
the better part Of the father was buried
with the son who, long since, had died in
youth but he loved her becasc she was
a teing Of whose beauty, grace, AMI ac-
complishmcnts he felt very proud. On
that account he obliged her to accompany
him in his travels-on that account he
had refused the richest offers for her hand
which u c admiring mobiles Of Italy and
Germany had made. With him Pride
was tie first and the hast. That passion
made him delight TO exhibit in society
that daughter who would, otherwise, Have
remained in her convent, or, under the
care Of n duenna, in one OF their lonely
country villas. While she was with him,
the object Of universal admiration. the at
tention she excited gratified his pride
She was his, and the admiration bestowed
upon her was reflected upon him. "Re-
main with Inc yet little longer" he would
sometimes say; "it will be time enough
for you to wed when the old man dies"
AZ Dieppe he plunged into rcvelry vet
deeper than Teresa remembered him to
have yet yielded to, and indulged in ex.
cesscs alike unsuited to bis advancing
years and failing health. To the fatal
temptations " the ganing-table lie now
devoted the greater part Of every night;
and, though naturally Of the most temper
ate habits, like other children of ''the
warm South" lie had now learned to in
dulge in the free use Of wine. 1t was his
custom to bathe in the sea every morning,
and thus recruit his strength for the ex-
hausting pleasures Of the night. It
CHANGED, one morning, when the sea was
more boisterous and his frame more ener-
yated than usual, thar, being overpowered
by a monstrous wave, he was dashed
against the beach, breathlcSs and fainting.
Tho next retreatiug rush Of the waters
would have borne him out In the midst Of
the eddying cafrent without the power
OF resistance, It g young maz, who hap
Pened TO be bathing near the spot, had
not dashed forward aud rescued him.
sFoscarini. on his recovery, recognized his
preseryer as a young officer whom he had
me. nc Vienna, and whose attentions 10
Teresa bad been 30 well received by her
as to cause him somc uneaaiEess Yet TO
CHS gentleman be nov owed his Tic. SO.