The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-30
CAROLINA SPARTAN
From Blackwood's Magazine.
HESTER BENFIELD.
CHAPTER I.

CHATTER i.
Stretched upon the pebbly beach which
fringes one Of our southern counties, q man,
whose appearance indicated that he belong
ed to what are termed :he "higher classes"
watched, or rather seemed to watch, on a
lovely afternoon in August the progress Of
the incoming tide, of which the waves, as
they followed with pleasing sound, ap
preached him more nearly at every rush.
He did indeed but seem to watch, for
the distracted look told plainly the spirit
was far away, and had no part in the
strange intentness with which he leaned
forward and endeavored, by using his stick,
to draw towards him n portion of pink sea
weed, each time as the rippling water
washed it almost to his feet, and AS quickly
bore it back, until, at length, he with earn
est vebemence beat the mass 10 pieces. aud
scattered here and there the clinging trans
parent leaves, which moment before, had
tloated SO lightly before him.
George Maldon A>leigh was one of For
tunes iavorites: heir to "a title, and possess
ed OF means sufficient to procure for him
everything that wealth could purchase, ii
had been rare for him TO find n wish IN.
gralitied. Sufficiently good looking, and
gifted with talents above the average, he
had been couried until life seemed one long
sunshine. Naturally of an easy temper.
he could be capable of acts of Kindness aud
generosity in cases where his own interests
or whlms were not in question; but, like u
spout child-as the crushed sea weed illus
trg,ed--his best energies were too frequently
exertesl in the pursuit of objects which, when
attained, were Ca aside go v.luDlaSs, aud
speedily forgotten. And still, inconsistent
as 1t may seem, If ever pure aud true at
fiction warmed the heat of man since the
DAYS Of our great foretatEer it had burned
within his bosom for one who, believing
him TO be in all things tickle, had refused
10 listen to his prayer; yet he the envied
Asleigh, would for her sake have gladly
sacrificed wealth and ,ille-would have
served cheerfuIly to win her, like another
Jacob for his Rachel: but, denied the treas.
ure OF the love lie sought, he looked upon
all the gifts showered on him by bounti
ful Providence as worthless now.
His humor altered from despair To angry
defiance; at one moment the desire to end
life now SO aimless was nppermost, at
another the wish for retaliation took its
place. He would marry, aud wound her
thus-yes. marry at once the person he
thought she would like least; that would
pierce her woman's heat. A victim TO
such feelings, and stunning society, he had
sought refuge in distant village on the
southern coast of England. where we first
fnd him.
The sea-weed completely demolished aud
scattered 10 the winds, he took his way
dreamily across the common, until the cry
for help IN woman's voice aroused him,
and turning hastily, he PEI ceived at short
distance girl running wildly along, follow
ed by sailor, whose unsteady movements
told plainly how Ike morning had been
spent
"Protect me, sir, for Heavens sahe!" she
screamed. and, totteriug forward, fell faint
ing on the ground, while IA blow from AS
leigh at the same moment arrested her
pursuers progress.
Asleigh looked round for assistance, but
no one was to be seen, and To leave the
fsinting girl there was impossible. Her
drunken prosecutor, after giving utlerance TO
some innocent abuse, and making several
intellectual attempts TO rise, lay where lie
had fallen, and seemed to be already set.
ting himself 10 sleep. Nothing could be
done but to endeavor TO restore animation
as best he might; and Aseigh, after loosen
ing her bonnet and shawl. ran to the beach.
and dipping his. handkerchief ia the sen
water, returned to place il on her pale fore.
head; and as he chafed her cold hands. Eas.
iidious as he was, their whiteness and sym
metry struck him, notwithstanding that one
first finger bore marks of The needle. Bat
when returning consciousness brought back
the color to her cheek, ho was astouished
at the beauty Of the young creature so un.
expectedly thrust upon his notice.
With the instructive feeling of n gentle
man, he endeaYored to lessen his compan.
ions confusion, rs he conducted her across
the common, until perceiving her to grow
uneasy as they approached the village he
gently took leave of her, and turned to.
wards the house which for tho time lie call.
cd his home.
He occupied himself that evening in
specuIating upon what his new acquaint.
ance would turn out to be, where she lived.
dc. She was certainly very lovely, and
her language not i'll chosen but she could
scarcely be in the rank of lady; her print
cd gown and common shawl belonged to a
different class; and yet the delicate sof.
hands bore testimony to no rough work:
she must, he thought, have occupied
higher station in life than her plain dress
indicated; what could she bel
Reader, Hester Benield-for such was
her name-was a sewing girl, and an or.
phaD: her father had died during hor carly