The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-06-01

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! bassas&ment in my manner that he inter.
pre,ed uuiavoraby.
My punishment had already begun.-
Although had never been in love with
him, as most girls expect and desire To
be; still had learned 20 cling To him;
and lonely and unhappy AS | was, should
soon have loved him for his really fine
qualities, and should have overlooked his
one infirnity, and soothc6 and chsrmed
him out of it; but | was no. worthy to
enjoy the peace and comfort Of which
had robbed those so much better deservr
ing. | merited the fate that came upon
/ ne,
always endeavored wherever we
were stationed TO concillate to the wives
OF the brolher officers, and 10 ayoid AS
much as possible, receiving attentions
from gentlemen, whether married or sin
gle. ! had become painfully sensitive
about allowing them from married men,
! One such dreadful lesson WAS enough
! The woe and dGsOlation had male had
cured me -: ever desiring to cAuss auuth,
ct wife momemtary rang ot j"a'ru>y.
Unfortunately for me, At one of the
stations an exchange was made An oih
Ger WAS removed, and one sent in his
! place who had formerly been HI old ad
mirer ami atiachc OF mine, and who still
was as heartlesS and uufeeling Ms | had
once been, and who yet remained rs
/ SceptCal Of womau's faith and cunstaucv
As ! hal once avowed myself TO Lu Of
mans, aud ~ | was in reality when
, played out my fearful game.
/ av"l!ed him, and, piIueh hy my cold
ness. he made some sighting remarks
that reached first my ears. causing me
shame and grief, bui dared not resent
them knowing the semstivcnc>S nnl i'm.
I Petuo>i,v Of my hu>banh'S temper.
kne" he "ouid not brooI: tie slightest
impulatiom cast on me.
The apprehrnsions endured were on
y u beginning of the rctribulion | suffer
ed One evening, AT a gatnar.ng among
the officers, 6au the VINE had circulated
pretty freely, Captain Stanley made scve.
raj coarse and dsrespectfuI remarks IN a
general way about women. and ,ndIuy
hy dcrrding the p,udrry oi some at ;he
station. until. at length, his remarks be.
came so personal, that several Of NV
friends interfcred, and insisted that IL.
should retrnct lie became nuisy and in
snI,ing, and canuot tell Il nover did
quit" know how it came To- my husbands
ears, but lie challenged him. lie kept
the knowledge of it from ne but saw
hun writing and tranSactiug business IN
an unusual manner, and my suspicious
were aroused that something was am:ss
but to my eager questioning he replied
cvaslvc'v.
The night before The duel, he was wri-
ung I'LL long past midnight. lie was
more tender aud atiectrouare than had
known HIM since the first days Of our
married Iite. He pleaded business aud
went ont before dawn. could not divest
myself OF some dreadful impressions n
vague terror seized me, and sprang out
Il bed, and listened with beating heart,
IS heard his footsteps along the passage
ran TO the window, and gazed out
eagerly. lie looked up at that momeu'
oh ! low sad WAS the expression Of his
ace But as his eve eau. ht mine, il
hrghtenrd, and kissing his hand, he rode
| Oft at rapid pace. watched with an
anxious heart. ] saw hin, joined Ly a
brother officer, but could not repress
tie IeG.iUE Of increasing uneasiness. There
was dreadful sensation OF choking At
my throat. | clasped my hands tightly
over my throhbug heart, and sank into u
chaos. bohove every evil action OF NY
whole life rose up that moment in fearful
array before me. ilslf frenzied. sprang
up, and paced the room with rapid steps.
What would not have given for the
power 10 prevent the evils dreaIel =
The fear Of due and its cunccquem. .es
! flashed before me. felt rs it must
scream out III my anguish, aud rouse the
whole house {; but had no, the courage
to take n angle step TO avert the thing
dreaded. ! WAS paralysed. felt that my
hour had come, and that | must suffer
the consequences Of my iII-sp,nt 'ife in
some fearfui-Fur long time-i
know not how Iong-I remained stupid
and notionless. Then, for more than An
hour, ! paced the apartment in an agony
of suspense and apprehension that no
words can portray. At one momepi,
strained my eyes tG catch view OF some
distant Object on the highway, aud then,
rs suddenly darted into the most remote
corner OF my chamher, aud covered
down with my eyes buried in my hands,
to shu, out the narrowing sight my fan.
cy pictured. Oh. God who can tel! the
dreadful agony oG those moments, or the
life long misery that has foIIowed me
since
At length it came-the heavy tramp
along the rUsdside. heard it. but ]
could not approach the window. did
not need TO listen; ! could not shut out
the sound ii rang on every fibre of my
hearG-lhat dreadful tramp, tramp, tramp.
uamp. | know | did not s"onH J am
sure did not, | did not turn quite TO
stone for ] remember that Saw my
h"aband, pale and bleeding saw his
faint, sIckly smile heard hlS-'Even, YOU
are avenged / knew hs had killed his
antagonist know myself guilty OF one