The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-04-30
NO 10.


Try, pnor to entering the army, the profess
son he had chosen, and for which Miss
Morris had expressed her intention of fit.
ting him OUT for, still rs kindly interested
IN Hester aud her son as Of yore, their good
old friend had settled her little fortune on
Frank-"her boy" as she called him: and
thus all was bright and prosperous In and
about the house Of the once frisndess and
deserted girl.
Hester was in her dining.room. her child
by her side, dressed for her mornings walk.
There. darling, GO to nurse" said the
fond mother, pressing kiss on the lips of
the liltIe upturned face. "Slali mamma
take you to hers' and catching up the child
in her arms, size carried her from the room,
calling as she went, Here, nurse, take your
charge" ~
The nurse was standing without nj the
hal! door, through which, at the moment,
the man servant was admitting gentle
man. 10y whom, ere Hester could escape,
she tonnd herself accosted.
In some little confusion. she begged him
TO walk in adding that Doctor Thornton.
whom she presumed he came to see. would
be dlsengaged directly; and was in The act
OF leaving the room, when, with an apita.
ted gesture, he detained her. and in trem.
bling accents, a voice which she now re-
cognsed-one she had believed To be long
silenced in the grave-callei her by name,
"llester, Hesterl don't you know mel am
so changedF She staggered back, and
nearly tainted.
"George Aseigh, do see you againl
After these many years, why have YOU
sought met Is it to bring more shame OF
the head OF one who never wronged you?"
You mistake my purpose in coming to
this house, Hester, though seeing YOU has
relieved me from load Of misery and re.
morse. came to visit Doctor Thornton.
How is it that l find you herel"
Il ami am-his wif.!" she almost
shrieked; and then, dropping on her knees,
clasped her hands, and said in a voice scarce
audible, On, for the love Of Heaven, tell
me, George Aseigb, that was never yours;
tell me | was wronged, deceived d-anythiug,
but not that am your wife. My child, my
little Mary, think of her."
THE infan, | saw in your arms but
nowi"
''Yes, yes, she is dearer 10 me than nv
life. Oh, Aslegh, in mercy tell me it was
all as they said, false, and that you deceived
me-"
q. did not deceive you, Hester, AS regard.
ed our marriage, nor did | wish to do so
subsequently. A letter from me, did il not
reach voul"
"None-oh, none; and God knows low
long sought for and trusted you"
And now you hate me-is it not sol I
am deiesiabie in your eyes. Listen, Res-
ter, while | explain the past. Accident
threw US in each others way; q, the time I
met you Twas snarting from what believed
to be my rejection by the woman loved
beyond AL else on earth. You were beau
tiiu, and the thought seized upon my mind
OF making you my wife. in the hope of
wounding The pride of one who had so lace.
rated mine. meant 10 do my duty by
you. | saw you were not indifferent to me.
and 1t was III my power to raise you TO
sphere much above that in which you then
were. This, perhaps, looked upon rs suf.
ticient compensation for everything else.
We were scarcely married when news
reached me OF the dangerous Illness of
near relative. hurried to what believed
10 be his esth-bed-the death. bed of HER
father. There 1t was my miserable fate 10
learn that Sue loved me, and had ever done
so; ard, like u coward, unable TO face the
consequences Of my own actions, I fled
fled from England: but ere left. | wrote to
You. When, after waiting many months.
no answer came to niy letter, wrote to Eng
land, and directed that inquiry should be
made about YOU From what learnt.
had reason TO believe you were dead. What
suffered from reinorSe. God alone knows;
thank him now, that at lcas; did not
cause Your death"
Aud, George ASleigi. YOU never loved
me, and vet | arp your wife Oh! great
Heavens, be merelIl; it cannot De that
am bound to this man"
Hester, hush There is but littlc time
To spare; we may he interrupted. Listen
yet again. can make YOU this sole re.
Parauon; no one knows of our marriage
10 one need know, if YOU can keep your
own secret, Of my existence; my name eveu
has Leeu changed since we last met. Hear
me: so,eInnly swear 10y all hold most
sacred, never 10 modest You more by my
presence, nor to reveal anything that may
throw light on the past. Let us make this
compact: swear with me that the events of
our et'irr days Shall be buriei in oblivion
sweat and their hands were Joined once
more to register a vow, how different from
lhe lir>i
And now, Hester, farewell for ever; 10
Iement TO my memory; pity me while YOU
condemn, for | an wandercr on the face
of the earth and, turning from her, he left
the room, the sound of lie closing Of the
hall door telling her the next moment that
he was gone.
TO ne coNcLUDED NEXT WEEK.
WARSING TO PaYsIcIANs.-Dr Lo,
cock, the QnoeH's physician, has been per,
emptorily dismissed from further attendance
ON The royal family, whore he has been
Lllherln alnilLei en ierms nf familiar In.