Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-28
CHAPTE E r III.
"Thc wind is sweeping through tho hall,
It huth a mournful sound,

CHAPTER III.
"Thc wind is sweeping through tho hall,
| It huth mournful sound,
As though it felt the difference,
It's weary wing hath found."-LASDoS.
In the fashionable Hotel at-Springs, tho
guests had been thrown into CONSERVATION by
the sudden death of Mrs. Lynn, one Of the gay
circle, and wife of the distinguished Senator
of that name. Our old friend Marcia Wilton
now Mrs. Maitland, stood by the couch of death
Her thoughts were rowing far away into the
past. and she thought how the domestic serpent
had ngratiated herself into happy family
and with the slime of her nature blighted all
its flowers of joy. Sue thought of 1nez with
her proud bleeding heart and Col. Lynn, whose
whole life had been rendered miserable by on
early error She dared not look at the future,
of the decaying dust that lay before her. The
woman who died, as she had lived, unrepentant ;
and who now stood at the dread tribunal to
answer for her long catalogue of crimes There
was grand burial, and host Of mourners, for
the deceased {" had great possessions" Yet the
wealth for which she had bartered her soul
could not call her from the grave-could
not erase one black spot from the past-could
not keep the worms from holding their hideous
reyels over the body whose fairness had de-
parted not purchase pardon from an
offended God The dance went on atnight, and
the song was as merry as before, for the gay,
and piddy heed not the warnings Of the grim
messenger!
One week more, and Marcia neared the home
Of her friend Inez. How changed was every
thing! 1t was cold, October day-the wind
whistled among the lcahcss branches OF the
blighted oaks-the neglected creepers trailed
on the ground, and all spoke Of dcsolation
Music no more foated through the spacious
halls, but the wind howled like restless spirit
through the deserted rooms, and slammed the
window-shutters, until it seemed as though the
ghosts were holding revel within.
Yet Inez was there. Inez met her with the
same stately caress, and her eagle eye was un-
dimmed, and her bearing as proud as ever ~
"Things are changed, ara they not, Marcia T.
i have dismissed all my servants but one-qult;
society forever, and devote all my attention to
the pursuits love. Florine Sanders will live
long after Inez Lowell is dead. You must stay
with me, if you can endure my lonely castle,
for although,
"I am misanthropos, and hsto mankind"
hate not you. Jane will prepare room for
you; until then you can share mine, as the rest
are unfit to be tcnantcd, in their present con-
dition."
She was not the Inez of old--Marcia felt that
she was not-the change was not discernible in
person, or MANNER and yet it was there.
Harvey came in the afternoon--he had for
gotten his boyish love long ago; and he smiled
to himself as he thought how madly he had
once sued for the hand of Inez. They all had
merry laugh over long ago. but lnez solllo-
quised with some bitterness, "Thus one BY
one have lost the love Of all who loved me
once. Oh what tangled web my life has
been"
She read them her poems-she even talked
about her prospects as writer, something she
had never before been known to do; and related,
with forced gaity, some anecdotes Of her child
hood.
No! she was not the Inez Of old.
Marcia remained with her-it would have
been cruelty to refuse her request. And in one
of their confidential conversations, Marcia dis
closed to her the fact, that Col. Lynn was free
again. She evinccd no surprise-her counte-
nance underwent no change, save that the thin
upper-lip trembled convulsively.
Marcia felt that she was on forbidden ground,
and yet she ventured further.
'.Inez, you loved him once"
Inez started, and clasped her thin, pale hands
together.
"Iucz, 1 know that you sometimes recall
those earlier hours, when, he was all the uorld
to you. l know that you dream ever the days,
when he pressed those little jewelled fingers,
and fondly called you "mine." Do you not
Inez?"
Still no answer, but she trcmbled as in an
ague-ft. "Inez you love Lionel Lynn even
now Were he knecling at your feet now, what
would you do 2"
"Spurn him as a ripcr! !" she Kissed in low,
deep tone, which thrilled to Marcia's very heart.
you would not-your heart would not al
low you."
Inez glared upon her for moment like al
enraged tigress, and then walked calmly away
But all that long, long night, Marcia heard low
deep groans issuing from her chamber!
1t was cold, rainy day, and Marcia Matt
land sat in that dismal house, shudderng will
vague presentiment of evil. She read Harvey
last letter, and endeavorel to derive some con
ISOLATION from the knowledge, that she would
soon return to her own sunshiny little home
Inez had been moody for several days, ant
stunned her companionship; and the social lit
tie being was pining for some one to talk to
"Inez is strange creature" she unused to her
self as she sat embroidering tiny slipper
"and so uncommunicatiye. Dear me! d
grow so weary of these interminable days. T
be sure she has led miserable life, poor thing
but shouldn'tbe surprised if she brought som
of it on herself by her strange, fighty manner