The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-07

murmured, looking wretchedly i'll, and al.
so wretchedly cross. But upon the terms
we were,a last interview, a final under.
standing. is necessary =
What termsF he savagely uttered. It
cannot be that you were engaged to him9'
Not engaged. But
But WHAT Trust me as friend, Selma.
Had it not been for this-had Ledbitter
remained where be ought--we should have
been.'
Il am g'1eued to hear it. 1t is lucky
escape for you.'
oh, aud it is this which makes me an.
gry,' she bitterly exclaimed. why did he
monopolize my society, seek to make me
like him, when he knew himself TO be a
base, bad mani, who might have chosen
from all the world! Let me go, Mr.. Crane;
shall be more myself when this is over
You can have nothing to say to him,
now, but what may be said through a
third party he persisted, still holding her
Suffer me to see him for you
Nonsense she peevishly answered. You
cannot say what have to say
She broke from him, and walked with
hasty step along the passage. He did
not dare to follow her, but to Judge by his
looks he would have liked il, and to have
boxed her ears as well. The two servants
were whispering in the kitchen, but Selma
could see no signs Of Mr.. Ledbitter. Molly
pointed with her finger towards the door OF
the best kitchen, and Selma went in.
Standing in the middle Of the cold, com
fortless room, his eyes fixed on tie entrance,
as if waiting for her, was John Ledbi,,cr
She walked up, and confronted him with.
out speaking, her action and countenance
expressing both anger and scoin.
4 see,' began Mr.. Ledbi.ter, as he look
ed at her, Il need not have come from
Higham 10 DO my e,rand this afternoon.
1t has been done for me-.
i feel it cold in this room,' said Selma,
glancing round, and striving, pretty sue
cessfuly, 10 hide the agitation she really
felt under u show of indifference. BE so
good AS TO tell me your business, that
may return to the fire.
My business was partly to see how this
accusation had affected you towards me-
| see it too plainly now. Had it been
otherwise
lie stopped, either from emotion, or from
loss how to express himself But she
stood as still rs post, and she did not help
him on.
Then have only to say FAREWELL he
resumed. and TO thank YOU for the many
happy hours we have spent together.
came 10 say something else; but no matter
see now it would be useless
And | beg she said, raising herself up
that YOU will forget those hours You speak
of, and which | shall never reflect on but
with sense Of degradation. blush
blush, she vehementlv repeated, TO think
that the world may point 10 me, rs pass
through the streets, and say, There goes
she who WAS engaged to the felon John
Ledbitter" | pray that may never see
your face again
You never shabby my seeking. Should
! ever hold converse with YOU again, vii.
hngly, it will be under different auspices.
lie quilted the room, stalked through
the Kitchen, and across the fold yard into
the side lane, his breast heaving with pas
sIonate anger, for she had aroused ai the
lion within him. Molly and the dairy
maid pressed their noses against the kilch.
y" "'"O"' anu et'"eu ditef itiHl tliI he WAS
beyond view, as they might have stared had
some extraordinary foreign animal been on
exhibition there, and with quite as much
curiosity; whilst Selma Cleevc, repelhng
softer emotions, which seemed inclined 10
make themselves felt within her, strove tc
shake John Ledbitter out of her thoughts
and to say to herself, rs she returned to the
sitting.room that she had shaEap him on,
of them forever.