The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-30

her blameless life, rs admired for hen
her beauty; she had but short time previ
ously come 10 the village OF W, for
the purpose OF learning millinery, her de-
sire being first to obtain initiation into the
mysteries of bonnet making, and then pro.
ceed 10 London, that city Of tabled golden
pavements, where alone she believed for.
tunes were TO be made
Asleigh quickly discovered Hester's call
ing and place OF business, and frequently
waylaid her in the evening. on her return
10 her solitary lodging. AT first, curiosity
and mere idleness induced him to seek her;
then, piqued by the coldness ofhe manner
and resolute endeavors TO avoid him. he
became more earnest; lastly, information
which reached him from the metropolis re.
newed the idea that his marriage, and such
n marriage, would of all things most deep.
ly wound the woman who bad rejected him;
and thus 1t. ended, that on one October
evening, when, as usual, he had been wait.
ing for Hester, and at length in the dsrken-
inc caught sight Of her light figure hurry.
ing across the common, lie joined her. and
ere long had declared himself her suitor,
ellcitlng in return from her quivering lips
the assurance that she loved him.
She knew no.hiug Of her lovers real rank,
and ii pleased him 10 think how great would
be her surprise when soute day she should
lind herself u countess elect. There was much,
however, TO do in the meantime. George
Asleigh's wife must be educated as well
as beautiful, and this he resolved to under.
take himself. She was not wanting in tai.
ent and dehcacy Cf taste, and year devo-
ted 10 study would work wonders; then
would come dis hour of triumph. So
thought the newly. .afiianced husband, AS he
parted from TIE trembling girI destined Ly
AN evil fortune To be his wife
And they were married: not in the vii
agc the place of their first meeting; he
did not wish it should be so, and none Of
the friends She had made III W knew
of tie step she WAS about 10 take. Their
marriage was celebrated in distant town.
and A>leigh conveyed his bride thence To
pretty residence he had chosen. where.
both being unknown, he intended fhey
should remain until such time as might
please hlm to re appear in the world with
tie lovely companion he had chosen.
Hester had been a wife iIIle more than 4
fortnight; when one morning A>lriuh en-.
tered the room suddenly, 10 tell her that
business of pressing nature required his
'nme'i'"e prss.ne. in london aud that he
must leave her for Il few days
Il lave marked your studies. Hester: we
shall finish the Tempest together dearest.
when | return; he sure To write ont your
portion of Milton daily; God bless YOU;
good by"-and he was gone.
The cause OF her husbands hurried de.
parture, which Hester guessed not, was this:
a paragraph IN the morning papers had
met his eye, announcing Tie dangerous i'll
ness of the Earl of Redland, at his house in
town.
Lord Redland was A>leigl's uncle and
guardian. George had been almost as "A
son to the old man, and fondly had they
hoped lie would ia very truth become so.
But such WAS not 10 he: had she not driven
him from her! And now barrier was
between :hem. which Aseigh smiled bitter
y As he thought uron- poor Hrsier,
lie reached town 10 find his uncle in the
extremity of Illness, and his cousin more
interesting in her grief ihan he had ever
thought her in her brightest DAYS. There
was unidity in her manner towards him
self which touched him more than any
other reception could have done. AT one
Time he had believed she loved him: could
1t be possible that he had mistaken her
when lately she had refused TO allow il was
SO! The doubt almost distracted him: and
ms agony was complete, as his uncle, igno
rant of what had passed between them.
joined their hands, and blessed his children,
ha NynpIl Ill a.
cIung to the society OF his nephew, decar.
ing he felt always better when George was
by, and in truth he seemed SO. With an
atiectIonate garrulity lie would speak of
the union of his children when he shonld
6e we'll again. Helen" he said, required
protector" and though Helen would blush
deeply, she did not dissent.
1T WAS al night, when in solitude the voice
OF conscience spoke IouJest. that George snf
tered most. During the day he could scarce
~ be SAID TO struggle against the ft Gina
ton OF his cousins society: and it was no
slight ordeal; for Helen. although she had
her faults, WAS very lovabe; her CHIEF fail.
ing being pride-lhat old fomiv pride
which had been almost inculcaled as a
virtue. Her mind, highly stored, rendered
her htung companion Tor man of intel.
lect; her refinement and beauty admitted
OF no question; and whenever the Lady
Helen appeared, all others fell for the time
into the shade. Her very pride seemed 10
add to her periecllons, and gave her that
high'born look of dignity which is neves to
be acquired.
George's thoughts would revert to his
bride far away, iIliIerate though most love
ly; and 1t must be written-lhe toy was be-
coming unsghtIy to his minds eye, and Mt
length grew hateful. He had intended
writing to his wife; by the close of the
fourth day he felt he could not address her
with bitter regret, half in remorse, half in
anger, he recalled the acts of the past three
months; now lie would curse his own folly
now hls innocent victim, the obstacle he
mad with his own hand upreared to prevent
the accomplishment Of his dearest wishes.
nal nppr IastarI st;Il ,.,.t.,...-