The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-18

toilette her busy fancy could devise.
Charles conquered himself at last and
managed to appear at table with some
show OF camncSs. Eveinc was so ex.
tremely gay that she became quite over
powerlng. She armed herself with all the
graceful little coquctries she knew so well
how to employ, each in their right time
and place, and heightened them in re-
venSe for her late enforced cessation from
all excitement while grudgingly going
through the dull task of pleasing Il
sick husband and rich matron. Even
Mrs. Fitzgerald, who had expected much
war surprised at the open manner in which
her Irritation with Graham went on; and
although believing it to be nothing more
real than the folly of Il vain girl, vet she
could not deny its grave appearance, nor
the compromise that it made OF her sons
honor. She determcned to speak to Eve
line serious y, and to endeavor-by arru-
ments, It affection were of no use bv
threats il! argument fell dead-to opeu
her eyes to the true knowledge of herself
and her conduct, and force her TO abap-
don farce that might end in tragedy.
EvcIme seemed to foreSee this lecture: for
nothing would induce her to meet Mrs.
fItzgcraId'S eyes. Sho shrank from her
words and drowned them in thicl, show
ers OF banters to Horace in her behaviour
to whom there was kind of defiance
and bravado, that betrayed 4. much fear
OF the future as indifference of the past.
In the evening they strolled out into
the little garden; for they boasted a plot
OF blackencd ground, dignifcd by that
sweet name of fruits and fowers-Eyeline
and Horace wandering away together.
and Charles ad his mother return inr
soon to the house. Speaking to his moth
cr OF EvcIine, a flash of his old tenderness
returned and with it his old hatred to be-
hc'e III evil. amer all EyelIne was Young
and glddy. She meant no harm and did
not know the full significance of what She
did. She was his wife too-she must be
gcntly dealt with. He could not bear TO
TO hear her condemned. When his moth
cr replied to him, he shrank nervouslv
from every subject which threatened to
lead to discussion on her conduct. Mrs.
Fitzgerald read his heart, and kept silent.
But while he was thus careful, he was
Haunted, restless, and tormented: and at
last, unable to contain himself he went
into the grrden, where the shadows had
deercncd into darkness, walking slowly
and silently towards the silent trees plant
cd to hide the upper wall. Horace and
Evelne were there seated an bench to-
gcther. They were talking low, but talk
Ing love-and dear Horace" and "be-
lov" Evclinc," were often mingled with
Their talk. They sat Ike too silly chill
drem, hand in hand.
Charles stole bacl: to the house and en-
tercd-a creature from whom life and
soul had departed. Eyeline had seen
him, and he knew that she had seen him.
There was no more disguise and, AS she
sad, discovery had at least spared her
the necessity Of deception."- ."-She threw
off the tlimSy veil she had hitherto worn
and boasted openly of her Ieve 70 Horace;
still coupeling it with perfect innocence.
Which was true. For indeed she was too
shallow and too intrinscally selfish to
commit herself even where she loved.
After this discovery and the distressing
scene between the husband and wife which
followed 1t, EVeline went out more than
ever and was with Horace more than
ever also; many plying her for bein"
married to Jealous irritable fool, and
Iamenting that such lovely young crca-
ture should have been so sacrificed bv an
ambitious mother, against her own cx-
press inclinations many more deplorinp
her wayward, systematic neglect cf her
husband
Charles Fitzgeralds eccentrctics of
temper-his bursts of passion and OF vio-
Ience, mingled with his fits of silence and
OF SIoom--became every day more ma, k
ed. Even his mother was no longer a
soothing or a restraining influence; hut
capricious, violent, irritable and uncertain,
he made his home hadcs for others, as
his wife had made his life a torment to
him. At last his language became, oc-
casionaiiy, so bitter aid iIfuria.sl; and
more than once his arm had been raised
to strike, and more than onc1 his hand,
twisted in the meshcs Of her hair, had
threatened her with deaih-that EyeIine
was justified in demanding legal sepa-
ration.-She was advised that the law
could not grant it, unless both parties
consented; and Charles vehemently re-
fused But what the law denied nature
gave. A thousand airy nothngs of speech
and conduct, each innocent apart, all mad
dening together, had worked on the hus.
bands weak brain until they produced an
unsettlemtnt of intellect, which a few DAYS
of wifeIy tenderness might have prevented.
The world only said that Eveline was
right in saying that her husband should
be placed in restraint-poor, young, beau
tiful thing, married to such terrible per-
son Charles was placed in proper hands.
The blow was strnck beneath the applaud
ings of Eveline,s wide circle of admiring
acquaintance. She took refuge among
her crowd Of simpering sympathisers, and
was received will. all honor and piety,
like some martyred saint, There were