The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-08-13

your looks belle the kindness of your words
Your manner is constraincd-you shrink
from me, and those eloquent eyes love te
look into are turned away-but you tremblr
you are again ill-Iet me support you te
this couch'
Isabella hastily cxtricated herself frou
the arms that so tenderly cncircled her
seated herself beside a work table, and point
ing to lounge opposite, replied
81 ain quite well now, but have had mucl,
10 make me Uneasy and anxious since we
last met, listen to ,ne patiently, and will
| recount the circumstances to which allude'
Sir Philip composed himself into an atti,
tudo Of Observation-Disclosures his fair be.
trothed's misery uncle was dead, and his will
in her favor likely to be contested. With
a great effort she steadicd her voice, and fix-
ing her sorrowful gaze upon him
81 need not remind you Of the very unjust
anger you displayed the other evening, but,
after sleepless night, endeavored to for
get the annoyance by mitigating the sor-
rows Of others, and left home yesterday
morning on one of those visits to the poor
Of which you have so often expressed your
disapprobatiou."
Simply for your own sake, my dearest"
he interrupted. "Whic admiring the beucv
olence which prompts them, cannot but
feel alarmed when you expose your health
to the pernicious influence Of the unwhole
some air in the miserable dcns you enter"
Isabella proceeded
LAS was leaving one Of the miserable
dens you describe, the mistress of it begged
Inc to visit a young woman residing in one
of her garrets. She was poor seamstress,
who had worked very hard to support her.
self and child; but the little one was ill
dying, the parish docter said, for want of
fresh air and proper nourishment and,
with her wailing babe constantly in her
arms, the unhappy woman could work no
longer"
Sir Philip drew forth his elegant port
monnaic, but Isabella rcpulsed it with
gesture Of ds,lain, saying
The smallest of those silver coins is
greater than the average Of her daily earn
ings, and the price Of that gltte,ipg bauble
might have saved the life of her child. !
hurried up 10 Eer wre,ched roon," she con-
tinued, rising in her excitement, and stand
ing before the perplexed and dsmaycd bar
onet. "She was rocking her moaning infant
and her song struck chill to my heart it
was tho Spanish air had learned because
you loved it, Philip. Nay, hear me out !"
for he would have risen-"At first, this
unhappy mother seemed suspicious Of me
but when she saw wept at the sutferings
OF her boy, her own grief burst forth in sobs
and words, and she told mo her SD and
mournful history. need not tell you her
name, nor that Of ber betrayer, nor recount
the broken promises in the inpassioned
letters she showed me. Yet little longer"
she said, restraining his impatience, land l
have done. While l was yet with them,
the babe became worse and died."
And at the remembrance Of the mothers
passionate grief, Isabella covered her face
with her hands, and wept.
Sir Philip turned to the window to re-
gain his self.possession, and collect his ideas
for the penitent speech lie felt himself un.
der the hurniliating necessity of making.
Taking bis seat beside his still weeping
Mistress
Il deeply regret" he said, ''this unfortu-
nate circumstance, but my Isabella has too
much good sense, to punish me for events
which occurred before knew the delights
Of pure and lifelong afFection--events,
too, which ] have bitterly repented."
Miss Grandby remained silent, and Sir
Philip felt constrained to proceed.
"This is most unpleasant subject to
discuss with lady, but my beloved may
rest assured that have, in every way, acted
honorably.by this young person.
-"Honorably!' Isabella repeated, with
bitter emphasis. II heard that your steward
punctually doled but a weekly balfeown,
forthe maintenance of your child; a pit
tance that has just sufiiced TO afford it a
shelter. When l looked round the miser.
able room, l remembered with horror and
indignation, Sir Philip Deyeril's proud
boast, that no English gentleman more care.
fully stadied the comforts Of bis domestics
tbap himself. even to providing Lhe stewards
table with ,wine!'
Utterly abashed, he extended his hands
imploringy, and asked ..., p
4What can I Say that ,#ill sufficiently ex:
pssss my sorrow sud Iepsntancs !
our actions, not your sords;,n shs quick.
lytspliea 4muss prove iss reality !; for my:
self IS only .rsmains 10 say fsrsSell.o IL,
No; po!o he exclaimed, 'soa canaot:b Be