The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-06-26

her, but in Il manner that sent nervous
chill to her heart. Not that he was stud
! iedly polite or cold not that he manifest
ed resentment; but in his eye, voice, face,
and manner, was language she could
read, and it told her that to him she was
no longer an object of interest
| For this she was, of all things, least pre-
pared. She had never felt towards any
! one rs she felt towards this Young
young man and now, when the first we'll
grounded fear Of losing him stole Ter bo-
som, she became iuwardly agitatcd, and in
spite Of every effort to control herself, mall
Tested too plainly the fact that she was i'll
ut case.
Fancy parties were novelties at the
, time, and all, except Ada, who usually led
OFT on festive occasions entered into the
spirit ofthe hour. Even DR.. bedford APP
rearcd to enjoy himself as much as any.
But the beautiful coqucttc, whose peculiar
style of costume attracted all eyes, had for
once, lost the gay exterior for which she
WAS ever distinguished, and there were
but few present by whom this was not re-
marked.
Once or twice Ada was thrown directly
int" the company Of DR.. Bctord, when he
treated her with an ease and poIiteness that,
more than anything else, tended to extin-
GuiSE the hope that had arisen into flame
in her heart. Had he manifested any emo
ton, had he looked grave, troubled, in,lig-
nant, proud, haSuhty, or anything else, but
calmly indifferent and sell. !f.possessed, AL,
would have tc!, sure of her power over him.
But Il perception of the real truth was rs
distant to her as it'thc most emphatic words,
sealing her fate, had been uttered in her
ears.
Earlier than the rest, -Ila retired, un-
able longer to control herself us she could
wish, and unwilling to expose TO eyes al
ready too obscrvant, the change that had
come over her feelings.
From that honr Ada Gi"nn ceased to be
the gay, buoyant, attractive girl who had
eX'"rtrd admiration from many, and
triiicd, in her vain pride and thoughlless-
ness, with I'LL. She rarely went into com.
pany, and then her sober mcin left her us
ually in the background. The lively belle,
III Il few months, ceased to attract attcn-
ton; and Young men who had been cap
tives at her feet wondered why she had
exercised such power over them.
AS for Bedford, he erred in believing that
with a single dash Of the will, he had ef.
faced forever the image of Ada from his
mind. Wounded pride and honest indig-
nation had raised him, in a moment, supe.
rior to this weakness Of his nature. But a
long period did not pass before line after
line began to reappear, and before lie was
really aware of what was going on within
he found himself gazing upon his heart
The discovery, when first made, was far
from being pleasant to the young man
and he turns from the fair image with im-
patient scorn. But which way lie would,
it was still before him. Occasionally, he
heard of Ada as greatly changed, and
sometimes he was thrown into company,
with her, w:lcn this was arprrent to h own
eyes. These meetings, wh,nev they took
place, left linn in a musing, sober state.
There was something about ADA that still
interested linn aud when, rs it OCCASION
ally happened, lie looked suddenly towards
her, and met her eyes fixed intcntIy upon
him with sad. earnest, tender look, lie
had feelings that lie " as hardly able to un.
derstand.
Thus affairs progressed, until, nncxpcct-
elly, the young couple found themselves
brought together in picnic. Dr. Bedford
was less dispicascd at this circumstances
than he would have been few months
earlier but he was careful not-sto throw
himself pu'poscly in Ada's way for his
elf possession and cold Indifference, so far
sas she was concerned, no longer existed.
Tie thought of her, even, had now power
to disturb the pulsations Of Ills heat.
The pleasant day had drawn nearly to a
close. Two or three times Bedford had
been brought into such close contact with
Ada, that lie could not, without appearing
rude, haye avoided speaking few words to
her. On these occasions he said little :;
but it was impossible to help observing, in
the manner OF her replies, i'll the tones, and
in the expression of couItenancc, something
that told him as plain as language could
have uttered it, that she deeply repented of
her former conduct towards him.
ut is too late" the young man said to
himself, with some bitterness of feeling, as
he reflected upon what it was impossible
not to perceive. And even ms he said this,
there arose extenuating arguments in his
mind that lie in vaifi stroye to expel.s 81
Disturbed by sucl, thoughts and feelings
LIZ ASltotu hoh tuS gay
party; and remained alone Tor nearly All
hour. AS he returned, he came suddenly
upon Ada, seated in peusive attitude, Just
| above a little dashilg waterfall, down into
which she was looking. She was SO entire
lyfost in the scene, or more probably, = in
the tholgfils which II was impossible I,
4 drive out Of her inind, ilat she did not OBJ
4 serve,tlie young man > app goauI,. he'd
ford paused suddenly, .aid fi,is first impnls,
& was to ,rctreat But, not being able to ee
{ his. consent 10 do this.she, after q litlle lesi
tatiop, advance and svllsn within a tsv
4 spsces, rousea ss her 1syerys byssfsy
4 lightly uttered words. Wths
!, ssAst; while q deep cfi1isS snantlai he
face. 81 II was someiins Lefore abe csiij,
3 oomnand, ,L.sssetf saai isienlls to reply sswiti
B snS thing llkes comps ore; and syepeiis isel
{ hss soiss kligktIa sfiisy ylsas
FewsNQds Ssed bet 8aen tl,etp as sjti
n II sAg. 4o ii1isre5 j il,
q MM MM 4 siIs q otllyy mi