Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-02-07
591isfellaneous.
The C0Quette.

always W ioh, 'oi
love! Bah! it's all, mnonshine."
Spite OF his forged nlirlh, the voice Of tht
speaker grew tremuous. The scornfu
glance of that dark eye unnamed him
Was this but the wreck Of what had been Sc
noble, so beautiful! The sunken checks
the claw like hands, that fckeriug dealt
light, that unsteady glance of the dratt
bloom could this be ali that remained of Sc
much manly beauty?
You never knew me, Marshall"
His voice was low an broken. " "lnevel
knew myself. was an orphan; no one
loved me->ister, brother, | had none-anc
when my heart first learned the meaning oI
that mighty passion which makes earth a
Paradise, or dries those living springs anc
greeuness to deserts of barrenness, feared
for myself But was not happy. Dying
for love, you say; it is not that. The bitter
consciousness that where | looked for truth
for every divine virtue, | found duplicily
art, deceplion-a withered heart, buried in
a whtened sepulchre-oh heaven" aud he hid
his face in his wasted hands.
"My dear fellow, be man; bear up
more braveIy; do not, pray you, die fol
the love of a silly cir"
"She was beauttul!" continued the sick
man, "and she taught me TO hope-she
turned every string OF my heart till it would
Sihrate at her touch; she lead every pulse
till they beat only Tor her Smiles know ii
was all wrong for me to love her so, and
yet, isolated as had been from infancy, how
could | help its When The blot fell, it
crushed me. May you never know what it
is 10 be deceived-and BY one SO lovely as
Helen Murray"
again he had covered his face with his
hands. He had not seen the convulsiVe
start, the death.Iike palor of friend And
when he said "gond night" twilight was
falling, so that they parted, and neither knew
how blighting were the words that fell OH
each others heart
81 am beautiful said queenly girl, as
she stood before the mirror; beautiful
without all these" "-littinga pearl spray aud
frightening with it the rich gloss Of her
brown riuglets; and circling her wrist and
finger with gems of untold value.
6" shall he queen Of the ball room tonight.
Envied aud courted, aud not exactly happy.
How exquisitely rich this lace--poor Ned
what he said seemed so
real. | wish he had been rich, poor fellow
| half believe love him better than think,
now!"
Miss Helen, are you ready 2"
Yes, coming Luda-how do | look ?
Is Harvey waiting? There, take my bon.
net aud shawl-carry them down-I'l he
there. Poor Ned what makes me think Of
him TO night, | wonder! When | think OF
Harvey's proposal, and my brilliant pros.
poets in the Iulure, ! seem TO SEE his ghost.
Can he be dead! Was it not very cruel in
me to treat him so? | wish could see him
will he be at the ball, wonder2"
Thus sollnquizing, the fair, proud girl
hurried down TO meet her lover Resplen.
dent as she looked, bewitchng as she knew
herself, she was startled at his coldness.
lie came forward, took one white hand,
gazed at her from head to foot, and with a
smile that seemed even to her mockery, he
said, in measured tone, How beautiful you
are!" and turned abruptly away.
For a moment he seemed to have forgot
ten himself, then hurriedly performing the
office Of gallant, he assisted her into the carri
age, and they drove off.
1t was not before the brilliantly lighted
ball room that they stopped. No streams oil
amber light checked the dim pavement-bu
all was still, dark and solitary.
For heavens sake, where are we going?'
Helen exclaimed, as her lover made a motion
to leave the carriage.
"To see friend, my love" he answered
in the same freezing tunes; "you, whose
heart is so tender that it bleeds at the sigh
of human misery, will not, am sure, den,
me your company on the errand of mercy,
Through long, dinly lighted entry, ths
young man led her silently, hurriedly.-
"Pray to God it he not too late" he mur
INJURED, as he stood hesitaliug before a hal
closed door. Suddeny i, was opened to it'
utmost, and a shadowy figure passed ou
starting as it met the intruders.
They stood before the dead.
Helen shrieked, and falling beside the
couch, hid her face in her shaking hands
"Lo"k on your work, woman" exclaim
ed her lover. Murdered by your cruelty
there lies one of the nobest of his kind. Ay
start at the fallen jaw, the livid temples, tht
dull staring eyes! You will never again
with lips, voice, or smile, beguie the grea
heart to its ruin. He died with the mantle
OF his pure, steadfast love wrapped arount
him: he laid him down with the music o
that love breathing in blessings from those
lips
cay sob and shudder; we'll you may
for you are as truly his murderer AS if yol
had pierced his heart with cold steel, o
poured the poison from the chalce of deatl
upon his lips. Miserably coquet,e, spurr
you!
"And yet forgive me" he added, passion
atey, relently at the sight Of her agony
Vengeance is mine" said just God, an,
the arrow of eternal remorse is lodged il
your soul. pity you-from my innermos
heart pity you. Rather would be yon
der poor senseIess clod, than you-brigb,
beautiful, brilliant, as you are, with the mur
der of a fellowcreature heavy on your con
science"
"Mr. Harvey, will you take me home :
she asked.
Her face was as ghastly as the one befor
them, and the shining baubles, Knockers o
her sorrow, flashing and Pickering lik
.ar.,l;nu about q nall Rnlnntinn thai nal