The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-09-04
A oonversation, and what Came ofit.

man some thlrtF-hFe or SIN years OF age,
who bad been for, nearly twenty minutes
closely watchiNg the motions of a lady who
sat near hiHsat u work table.
The gentleman was n fine, noble looking
,inIn, with frank, well formed features and
pleasant expression. lie. was handsomely
dressed, and Judge by the looks of his
hair, you might have said that he had Il
wife, had he looked IN oNcr respects like Il
married man-which be did not.
The room in which the two were sitting
=. betolencl wealth and taste. It's occupants
were evidently in the upper ranks Of lie.
= The lady addressed was person Of fair
interesting face and graceful form She
certainly did look remarkably well, rs she
bent her head with its abundant and shin
ing hair, and piled her white hands in the
task which employed her sight and appa-
rcntly her whole thoughts.
Probably conviction Of her attractive
reess and worth had caused tho question
which her companion put in such hearty,
abrupt tone, that May started and dropped
tlse red worstcI work upon which sho had
been intent
"Wlat question:" sho cried, with Il
' light Iaugh-"just as ifI cared about being
married 7" "s.
"Why should you not care, May? Sure
ly 1t is the Iest and harpicst taste for man
or woman"
"Granted with arroviso," said May;
"'b"t, MIR. Eossiter, if you think SO. why
have go" never married %
"Hou are a true Yankee, Ma@, and an
swer question by asking another but
tcH me-, now, why YOU arc, at thirty years
Of age, still sinyle?''
GLOW dare you say am thirty years
old ? Iron NY word, if You were not
brother to my sistcrinlaw, I'd not speak 10
yon again for a week"
May pretended to pout ; and the pont
was quite becoming to her full arcIlrl lips
"Didnt YOU Yourself tell me your age,
and only the day before yesterday? Your
memory seems very short, Miss l;cnton"
swell, didn't expect you WAS going TO
throw it up TO me that | was an Oh maid,
10 pay Inc for my confidence in YOU"
ooh May-dil say that I-and if
did you can break my "gass house. by
tllnginS back MY very taunt. But, coin
now, do answer my question"
VI never could get any one 10 have me-
said May, shortly. care you satisfied ?"
- "No. You need not tell me that n per
son so interesting and attractive as YOU
are has never had ardent lovers. I know
better, May-so tell me haIy why YOU are
not Mrs. Somebody, now 2"
May suddenly sobcrcd down and said,
nervousl y-"Its because 10 man ayAose lore
L co"ld return ever loved me.'
And she resumed her work.
Her face hal altered. There had come
over it stern hard expression, as if she
were saying in!y-
ut matters mott can wrcstle down
these ycarnings for something worthy and
noble, and true amd strong against which TO
lean for something winning, and tender.
and loving, which to love. Ifthcrc is no
heart on calth whose best love in the love
| want can do without it can walk to
the end Of life rs have walked Mus 1ay"
ko>Sl!cr regarded her in long silence.
lie had known her for many years, and
had often wondered at her Great indincr
encc TO the attentions OF gentlemen. lie
had even, on more than one occasion. talcp
her to task for her manner towards them.
" on won't allow them to become nc.
.yquaintel with ycu at ALL" he said. "Whcn
you arc introduced to a man, that's the
last OF 1t. All the young men admire, but
, they arc afraid Of YOU. You clll -. TO
death. heard one man say that he
thought you Il beautiful and interesting
creature ; but then he would as soon uns
dertakc to warm into love an iceIerg rs
yonlself-cven if lie had couruge enough
TO make the attempt"
a skcptical smile had been the only an.
iswcr tosuch remarks. ..@ < - o..
. 2, TTcw .oou1l N{,r r,.-l.s
capable in Inspiring affections in others
when those who knew her best were so
lightly touched by it,
Rossler had been for three or four wears
absent, and lad newly returned when tho
above conversation took place. lie was a
comfortable old bachelor, happy in dspos-
ton happy i'll possessing an independent
fortune and happy in lis sisters iome-
MOTTO say happy i'll Tie co,npanionship Of
May, whom he honestly believed to be n.
f.oout the best and most lovely girl in the
world. lilo had once dearly loved and sud-
denly lost a tair, promise bride !; and never
since had he allowed himself to think Of
loving. And, besides, he didn't know rs
nc wished to marry. lie was well satisfied
with he Estate and condition"-when he
was ut homo ; to be sure he did feel un-
easy and dissatisfied all the willie he was
abroad Nobody's company seemed to fiji
thesvoid in his heart. lie did not miss his
sister so=-nnd May-oh how clad he
''waa to scathem when he returnc1-and
howsstrange he thought it was that Nav
didht rush at him in the hall and huo md
Kiss him just as his sister did but he took
full satisfaction Of the. contrary creatnrs
when she did come to welcome him.
"And so May isn't married yet" he said
se~ell it's rather too bad but I'm glad Of
-aRa -sa e,--
May eamo very near sighing, but she
edidn't--at least not audbIy. How many
stIlLborn sigbs there arc in the world.
1t is well it is no crime TO smother them
al their birth.
ss.j"ell' hossiter sat studying that still,
stern face before. him and ba tLourL,