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

"heie' Ior fortnight, we lived so happily"
Miss Morris shook her head, unperceived
by Hester, as she mut,ered the word bad"
"Have you the certificate of your marriage,
| Ilester?"
mo, my husband has it. | remember
seeing him place it in his desk"
Another shake OF the head, and repeti-
ilon of the little word twice over
Were there any witnesses to your mar.
/ riagel"
Il think not. but really do not know;
was SO frightened. and it was all so unlike
the merry weddings | had seen at home,
! that-lhat-"
"Ah, | fear so, iudeed-God help you,
my poor child"
! Old Miss Morris was untirinp in her ef
forts 10 discover Hester's husband. An adj
verti>ement addressed to &c. NJ. A." en-.
treating HIM 10 return to his sorrowinp wife.
was inserted III several Of the newspapers,
but to no effect. More I"r the satisfaction
OF friend whom she had consulted than
Tor her own, she wrote privately to the va
nous places al which Hester had lived. and
found her statements all co,roboraled. Her
anxiety was much increased by an answer
she received to "A note she had written To
the clergyman OF the parish in which Hes
ter last resided H. said he mad made in
qmrles about the persons mentioned by Miss
Morris, and found that n gentleman of the
name Of ASleIgh had lived IN the town for
some weeks, having rs his companion a
young woman who passed for his wife. and
who had subsequently disappeared. Miss
Morris no longer doubted that Hester had
been the victim Of false marriage. but so
confident did the poor girl continue of the
truth and honor OF the man She loved .ha,
her kind friend shrank from expressing this
conviction 10 her. She saw that Hester. in
her feeble state OF health, could better bear
TO hear OF his death than of his having de
| ceived her.
The time at length came when Miss Nor.
ri> felt She dared speak on the subject to
| Hester. 1t was after her child's birth. when.
in recovered strength she was about to
take him to The chu,ch TO be chrslened
Hester, my dear, what was your fathers
name" inquired her friend.
Frank, Miss Morris"
"A good honest name; and one that.
am sure, belonged TO an honest man.
hope You will give that name to your bow"
| Hester hung her head.
"HeNter-a pause. "IIesier, my dear,
must say something TO you: YOU viii try to
bear ii hravely. Hester, much fear vour
son cannot honestly bear the name Of As.
! leigh. have thought it all over again
and aSnlr, and have spoken to one | can
t'u>t on the subject. | fear, my poor child,
| Your marriage Was rot a real one; cannot
! doubt but that you were deceived God
only knows whether he is alive or dead.
| You are not the first victim this wicked
! world has seen, Hester. nor will YOU be the
\ larE your case Is one that is but too com.
mon, crIeve to say. Oh, If women were
no 50 ready to TALL in love and many, and -
/ that sort of ihjng, kow much better oft
/ would they be. Look AT me, Hester: | do
/ not believe there Is faiih or truth in any
! man living but one; well, must except
/ him; do think Doctor Thornton a true
hearted man. had once Other notions
/ bu( thank Heaven, have outlivcl them.
"lle>ier, Hester BcnfaH,' with u stress
( on the surname, resume the name under
/ which YOU were happiest the honest name
/ which never called blush to your cheek
and let your son be called ty it likewise.
/ Now weep here, my poor one, but let Us
not speak more on this sad subject" and
7 Hesler's arms were thrown around the old
lady's neck, aud her sobs hushud on her
sym?athiling bosom.
Frank Beuiicll WAS fine boy of seven
years OF age. when one ,l,v u que, party.
decorated with few white favors. set on,
from Miss Mpuiss house As they stepped
/ into the carriage which had been hired fur
the occasion, YOU might have recognised ia
I Tie brlde elect 80 other than our friend
( Hester, sui handsome, but very different
from the Hester of curiicr dava. \ look of
decision and scrfeauce had replaced the
expression Of trusting timility which had
been the characteristic OF her youthful beau
ty. and a serious earntstuess pcJyadrd her
coun,cuauce. She WAS about 10 give he
( hand -her heart had been his Tor many =,
day-to the one honorable man the world
contained, according to the idea OF her ben
/ cfactress, Miss Morrls-to DR.. Thornton.
/ lie WAS indeed very eSlimahle. and this
/ marriage delighted the heart OF Ihe old i,ly.
Frank, too She prophcsied, wa, to grow up
another only man to be irn>leI;' 50 that
/ though his predecessor might be disposed
of, the world WAS not To be Ieii wI;hont
some one IA whom TO put fash, when all
others were proved unstable.
Aud where, meanwhile, was the Lady
Helen: BY strange cuI. cdeuce her mar
mage was soemnzeI ON tie same day as
Hr>ters, though in Il far more sprnIid
manner. Hester real Of ,he fc,tuue,
which had attended the celebration Of the
nuptaiN Of the lovely Lady Helen Maldon
AMI prayed leryenuy for Ter btppiue,,