Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-04-23

the most intense. But on the next day
he mustered calmness enough to write
an answer to Kate's note. He first in
formed her of the love she had crushed,
and then touched upon the subject of the
trouble between himself and John Clan
cey. First he explained the whole case,
from first to last, of Mrs. Bottoms sick
ness, and of the lawyers visit to him.
Then he gave his opin ion of dueling. 1t
was noble, generous opinion.
He then informed her that he would
rather have the unmerited reproach of
those who now presumed to scorn him,
than to pass through life with the blood
of fellow being upon his hands, or to
meet his God direct from the suicidal
duel. He closed by calling down the
choicest blessing upon her head, and bid
ding her adieu forever.
Kate Williams sat in her boudoir
when Harry's letter was handed to her
and she broke the seal with a slight curl
Of contempt upon her ruby lips. But as
she read, her countenance changed, and
when she had finished she wept outright
Had Harry been at her side at that mo-
ment, she would have rested on hi,
bosom, and asked him to forgive her
But he was not there. She read the
letter again and then she wept more thar
before. She refused to see any com
pany during the rest of the day.
Had Kate Williams followed the in
stinct of her own pure soul, she woul(
have recalled Harry to her side at once
but she was governed by the opinions o
others. Her father had been a warm
hearted, impetuous man, and had tough
one duel, and from that father she hat
received the peculiar idea of chivalrou
honor.
Naturally proud and tenacious of he
honor as a woman, she felt chill at til
thought of being united for life to on
who could be called coward. In he
soul she knew that Harry had done n
absolute wrong, but still, perhaps he wa
afraid to fight. " They will tell me,
she said to herself, 1" that my husban
will never have the courage to defen
his wife'o honor"
0, had she known Harry Winship trr
ly she could have justly said: "Wo
to the living being who dares insult til;
mans wife, either by word or deed
But she did not know. The cloud W;
upon her soul, and she blew it not ava
" And SO Harry Winship suffered, al
Kate suffered, and John Clancy belle
ed he had crushed his opponent, and tn
the lovely heiress would be his wife.
i + f
The morning was dark, lowery al
: chill, and ere long the wind began to ho'
among the rocks and bluffs. Great dro
u of rain began to fall, and the sea becau
covered with foam, as the waves lash
N the shore in fury. Louder and loud
grew the clash of the elements, and t
wild sea grew more furious.
s. Kate Williams was pale and agitatt
OF tor she knew that her brother was ne
the coast. She had received the inform
nj tion from the captain of clipper whi
had run in ahead of the heavy load
ship, on board of which her brother b
n0 taken passage.
'e The storm increased in power duri
the day, and towards the middle of the
e ternoon, many people had assembled
'r- the beach below Hates residence, to vi
nd the terrible grandeur of the scene. II
be mile from the shore was huge 70
OF over which the mad sea leaped with
Id rife power, and still further out was
ledge which commenced at a point
re- far from the beach, and extended
ey two miles into the sea, in a semi-circu
as form, the outer end bending TO the sou
his ward, and being nearly opposite to
cb beach.
bis 1t was about six O'Clock when one
or the men who had come up to the mans
ard discovered the hulk of vessel out u
the sea at some distancein in the offing.
oc- took the spy-glass, and soon made
md out to be a heavy ship, with her m;
lad gone, and laying there directly in
the trough of the sea.
he " Lost! Lost! o, God" So utte
in Kate as she received the intelligence
by the position of the dismasted ship.
5 must be the Vulcan, for no other /
in would be this way. o, he is lost!"
the Various were the words of eonsola
of offered to the afflicted maiden. j
nto Clancy was by her side, and with
lin arm about her fair form, be bade
her hope.