The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-02-12

"Oh! yesl Alice will be anxious about
you, no doubt l really wonder that you
could afford to leave her so long; but"
what are you talking about, Mr.. NJ"
asked |; "and to whom do you alludel
You wish plain talk, do youi Well,
SIR, charge you with the crime Of robbing
my heart of its idol, aud blot,ing out from
my soul the only ray Of light which cheer
ed it."
For t. .ove Of Heaven, man, speak out.
Tor really know not Of what you are
speaking" / exclaimed
"You love Alice w." he exclaimed;
my Alice, who loved me long and dearly
even from boyhood; and you have sue
ceeded in winning her affections from me
by yeur artful lies"
stop, sir!" madly exclaimed. 81 deny
your vile charges, ard defy you to prove
the least Of them. Alice w. is, as you very
well know, an almost entire stranger to me-
and you are aware that was only intro
duced 10 her last evening at the residence
of her father. Be careful, sir, how you use
such words as 'artful lies to me, for am
not beyond the help OF friends to defend
both my character. and person."
"Ah, sir, such tales won't do for me-" ne
contemptuously replied. "for know you,
William Bradsford, well enough"
You are altogether mistaken, man, for
such is not my name. am G. j. F. Nor
do know anything of him who has thus
acted towards you"
Not William Bradsford?--t fine one,
now" he very angrily exclaimed "Why,
sir, the scar upon your shoulder would be
mark enough for me, disguise yourself as
you will"
"For Gods sake, sir" l exclaimed abe.
lleve me when tell you that you are mis-
taken, for have no such scar as you speak
Of"
Seeing is believing" he coolly replied
"Irue, sir" replied, "and therefore you
shall sees
hastily withdrew my cloak and threw
off my coat, and was in. the act of taking
off my vest, when something fell from my.
pocket. stopped to pick it up, but Ed
ward rushed forward and possessed himself
Of it before me-
"Sir," l exclaimed, 81 desire you to hand
me that at once, for you have no right with
my property"
Never, sir, until l examine it," he re.
piled, "his eyes glaring in triumph. He
moved towards the almost spent fire. and
opened what | then found TO be the Da.
guerreotype Of dear friend, which [ was
accustomed TO carry about my person. His
countenance fell when he looked upon it;
aud, turning towards me, he asked
WHO is this!"
mot whom you supposed it 10 be,
should infer from your looks" replied.
mo, 1t is not Alice-dear Alice-as |
thought; but who is il, sirl"
Never mind, sir, who it is; band it to
me, ii you please" | replied.
"Yes, you shall have it; but is she no,
beautiful, sir! Do you love herl"
LAS much rs you love Alice, Mr.. Mn"
lreplIed. as he placed it i'll my hand
No! no." he exclaimed, mot as much
as love Alice-that were impossibew and
leaning his head against an old oak, he
sighed as if his whole heart were convulsed
in agony.
sympathized with this poor heart bro
ken creature, and longed to learn his sad
history; so, going up towards him, with my
shoulder uncovered, exclaimed:
See here, my poor fellow; are you con.
vlnced now that have not wronged youl"
Convinced that you have not wronged
mel" he repeated; mo! not until my eyes
shall convince me-" aud SO saying, he
snatched flaming brand from the fire and
held 1t closely to my shoulder.
"Grea: God" he exclaimed, "a momen,
longer, and would have shot you; and
yet you are not Bradsford"
$50 | told you, sir, at .he very outset"
Ireplied.
"Ay! but liars are yet abroad, and how
knew but that you were one of them"
well, sir" | replied, "since you have
found ont your mistake, trust you will al
low me 10 proceed homewards."
"1es, sir; but answer me one question:
Does Alice love your
Indeed, sir, it is very improbable-at
least | know not"
Then, sir, he exclaimed, "do you love
my AliceT No! solemnly swear that
do not" replied.
Then, s;r, forgive me-" he said, grasping
me warmly by the hand. But, oh! you
know not how my hearts affections have
been trampled upon by that villain Brads-
ford"
"Who is this Bradsford Of whom you
speak, and what connection is there between
Alice and Yourself" asked.
Not now, ne replied, ''can answer
those questions; but will you not meet me
here 10 morrow, or call upon me at my resi-.
dencel'
"Most gladly, sir, would do So" | re.
piled. "Then our business for the evening
is finished-good nightl' And before
could reply he darted into the woods and
was gone.
seated myself beside the dying embers
of my fire, and wondered, until my very
soul grew weary, what all these strange
events meaned. Then thought of Alice
W.-her angel look and seraph form,
and could not but feel for him who had lost
the love of so sweet and beautiful girl.
Conld / not aid In hrinninn thnse her