Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-29

ed the door. and sank upon sofa. believe
| did not faint, but sleep soon overcome me.
1t was nearly evening when awoke, and l
saw 1 was not alone. Two females sat in con-
versation by the window. 1t must be my two
sisters. ! starred to my feet
''Sir Henry said low voice.
/ shfvered all over. ~
Lady Maria,' / replied, in cold and
freezing accents "this Is an hour little ex-
pectd, and one which Unjust say can scarcely
appreciate" A-f--S sA--f
May sir, said she, a little, and only a
/ little baughtily, Fit is who have TO demand
an explanation. These are my apartments
returned just now. and you may imagine
my bewilderment on finding gentleman fast
asleep on my sofa-my delight on finding it
was you,
delight, MADAME | said, for I was
firm and collected now; 81 can scarcely
understand your delight at meeting with
your victim, and lest you should find an
explanation of your words difficult, allow me
to retire"
Stay, one moment" exclaimed Lady
Maria, though pale. she was more beautiful
than ever: there was soft melancholy in her
eyes which dared not infinitely examine:
zone moment. Sir Henry. Have you received
no letter from Fanny"
mot from one living soul, madam. did
not, give my address to any one. l hurried
from place to place, and never, if l could
help it, visited the same locality twice"
Then why have you come hereF" -
s'To dier'
''To die! You are as we'll as ever you were
in your lifa,"
Madam, from that hour when in your seduc-
tive society | learned the fatal art of love,
/ have never known one moments happiness
| or health. In sickness, in battle on the field.
in the tent could find no rest. Your
| image was ever there. | chased the tiger
and the elephant, in the hope by such savage
amusement to blunt my feeling, but in vain.
| Behold, madame! for once man who for
| four years has been dying for love-four
years! During this time what have yon been
dOing?" .-
waiting for you, Harry said the siren,
with her soft eyes full of tears.
Waiting for me, MADAME l cried, in a
towering passion; ~-are you then a@wfdo.s:
Worse worse--than a wife?"
Il never married, Harry" she continued,
meekly.
Never married. l gasped.
Never married ulfataated bog! You little
Knew that young as you were, you had
awakened in my bosom, feelings which L
dared not aVOw. L was an affianced wife.
Still did not give up all hope. l determin-
ed to confess all to htm, to explain frankly
your offer and my altered sentiments, pltdg-
ing myself, however, to fulfil my part of that
contract if h. held me TO my vow. | could
not even hint this to you, and yet did | not
askyOu to wait-I begged you to stay. l
limited what might happen. Do you not re-
collect? But you wildly disappeared. Had
you paused and reflected. we might have been
steady old married coupler
1t was a dream of JOY could not realise
TO myself. sank on my chair half fainting.
When | came too, L found Lady Maria and
her aunt Mrs. Curt, bathing my temples.
But how came | herein your room?'
said after some whispered words.
% Wait" said Lady Maria, blushing"
read in the Morning Post of your arrival at
the Hotel des Princes, Uery ill., | thought
you were hurrying home, i'll answer to letter
of your sister Fanny's in which had allow
ed her to tell you all; SO thought as you were
very i'll, the nurse you wanted was-was-''
Your future wife, said Mrs. Curt, laugh
ing, while Maria Templeton blushed Grim
son.
Heaven bless your muttered and catch
ing her in my arms, imprinted on her lips
the first kiss of love, though the aunt did
frown little.
L need scarcely add that did not die.
am happy, very happy; perhaps all the
happier for my trials; yet / often regret the
four years of misery 1 endured through my
preciptancy. Still have great reason TO be
grateful that the genuine passion OF my life
should have terminated SO well, and that,
unlikely so many in this world, lily wife
should be Nh First IoUe.