The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-06-04

not long aGo-dld | not mention it ! IN
'"rge,iul Of everything but You, my dar
ling z he added, with beaninr smile
l'cn he continued, "ics, and only vcstcr
day. he made me halfrromisc to come and
pass day or two with him at his father ;
do not know whether shall 60, though
lie is very urgent. lie seems to like me.
A dull pain went through Emily.
heart but she would say nothing, nor let
him suspect what she felt.
Will he go ? she asked, mentally and
with slow and unhappy suspense she waited
to see.
Edward did go. If he had forcsccn the
result he might have been wiser but with
him, as is the case with many Others, wis.
dom was purchased with experience
During the days that he spent with Fred,
crick WyntlI,am he was thrown frequently
into the society of the beautiful Helena
their acquaintance maturc,l, and his a,!ni-
ration grew deeper with every hour that
passed, revealing some new beauty,
some new grace in the variable, waywa.d,
yet ever enchanting Helena.
When Emily met him again she long
ed TO ask him, "Do you not like my bcaut-
ful cousin 2" Bnt she retained. i will
not mock myself she thought now can
he help liking even loving her p
1t was not Edwards last visit ut his
friends. Helena chose TO win him, and
there was little resistance made. Frederick
was Il pleasant friend, and Edward Nanc.
neglccting to question his own heart too
closely, said that it was because Of this tla,
he liked so well to 60 there.
But lie always saw Helena. They PLAYED
and sang together-togcthcr ramblcd over
the fine grounds around the mansion, and
read from the same book. And IIclena's
voice had wondrous sweetness in its tones,
and the gentle glance Of her dark eyes, in
her subducd moments, was one of most en-
chanting sof,ness. And Edward listened to
the sweet voice, and met the soft glance of
the lovely dark eyes, yelling each day
more completely to their dclcions fascina-
ton, until his heart was won quito away
from Emily.
lcs-hc loved Helena ; he acknowledge
ed it at last to himself and now, unable TO
resist her influence, and drca,ling to meet
Emiy's sight, lie went no more to Had
Iy parsonage.
lie gave himself up now to this new hap.
piness ii was strange, too, how bitter he
found it For whenever he sat by IIclcna's
side, and looked into the beautiful depths
Of those dark eyes, the thoughts Of his ne
elected love rose up. lie seemed to see
Erniy's sweet, pure face before him, pale
and sad. Selereproach wore upon him
but lie hated to listen to it; and, finally,
br' wing and defying it, in very desperation,
he declared his love to Helena Wyndham.
1t was moment Of triumph for which she
had waited and watched with suspense and
impatience. Despite herself, b!lsh Of
pleasure rose TO her cheek, even while she as
sumc1 q little air Of mingled annoyance
ana regret.
My dear Mr.. Vanc q she said, shaking
her beautiful hcad-'how. sorry | am that
this has lappened-that you have imagin-
cd-that you have mistaken-I have been
engaged to marry Mr.. Carruthers since last
week -
Edward Vane saw the dupc-the play
thing he had been. Inccnsed almost Lc-
yond endurance, he left the scene Of nfatu-
alton, Of his blind folly, for the last time.
1t was bitter repentance for his fault that
led him back to Hadley parsonage, to seek
forgiveness and reconciliation from Emily.
Emily, have been mad-insane, l be-
lcve ? he said. Il have forsaken your sweet
face for will-o-thc wisp that has led me
to wrctcheducss- Emily, for the sake Of our
old love, will you forgive me 2
For the sake Of our old love-yes," an
swered Emily, extending her hand to him.
She was quite pale. but there was no trace
Of uuhappiness in her calm, fair countc-
nance. Yes the pam you have caused me
l will not remember; ; but the pain is over
now-and the love has died out with it,
Edward
Emily, l desire it, lie uttered, with a
cry Of anguish 4 deserve it! But O, do
not say it, Emily May not hope
'No-there is no llope,' she replied gen.
tly. but firmly. 1 forgive the pain you
have given me, BUT I DARE NOT RISK THAT
PAIN AGAIN.
We can never be anything more than we
arc now each to other"
The words were sacred-they proved
true. He went out from her presence ashsm.
ed, and their paths never were the same