The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-02-10

before iiic >u,:u'er ""'uc iuio the room
whcr" ;ii sat w,;h tie child, determined
10 meet him once more before | LIFT the
house.
O. how guilt, how hcart.strirkcn his
appearance! Remorse sat on his forehead
i looked gu, from his eyes-spoke when
he WAS silent
VIII you come to dinner he asked
hcsi,atcd. Should partake Of his hos.
pi,ali,y the hospitality Of one of those
ticnas in human shape, whose step take hold
on he'll knew his guilt-why delay to
declare il Why not ut once in burning
words. unprad him for his vllaiuv. and
flee from Il pesllcncc his sin cursed
house? The man noticed my hesta,lon.-
! It,. could not, Of course, interpret its canse.
As he repeated his request, the look of dis
tress upon his face excited IL ferlin. Of pity,
which, for the moment, slightly diSsmcI
my resentment, and, under the influence ~
this feeling, almost unconscionSiy passed
into the dining room.
am sorry little Nr.lv's mamma"-H
WIS glad he did not use the sacred name
of WIFI -" is not able TO sit down with
u>," he said. st is many months since
W." have had her presence at "nr mcas.-
She is suffering i:"m the effects oi Slow
fever. in iu.rl hv the Climate" he added.
-,.,.'v is !- mrlinu"i me Il seat before
lin
The ,.h .i';rr-,l with silver platte
Oue.iicnt servants brought on the most
costly SEWERS, drlracrs such as had never
seen before.
| But the skeleton sat ut the feast
| could not talk, save rmonosyl!ables
! NV host ate ha>,ilv-:llmust tnrclcs>lv-
whiting upon me with many ahruI: starts
anI apologies.
! Wine came. He drank freely Soon he
sent the little girl and servants from t!..
room, and seemed striving to u-rvc himself
to conversation.
lo" are frou--ci,y, I believe 2"
he said u"rv"u>!v.
| answered al, Affirmative.
"Did yon ever know Il gentleman there
| 10y the name OIL. T.. F--T'
" | knew him, sir" sail s,erny, look
ing the man steadily in the face land |
know him also as IL ruined, heart broken
| man"
With an ejaculation of anguish lie pu,
his handkerchief to his eyes. 1t would
have sccneL hyp,crlical. bu. ;Ile S., tferiny
on his fac" WAS unmiStak,blc
Perhaps W" have suspected, then -
he began III Il iuivcri"g voice.
Not calmly, hu, viii, the words of an nc.
c,>c,, ! told him what | had seen, and
thought AMI felt.
Sir, sad he, in tones Which | shall
never forge, g Ii have >inncl, God in
| Heaven knows have suffered and il in
rs bereavement lie Las cursed me, that
curse is fearlu!y fulfilled! Poor Mary is
lyi"g-has been dying Tor montls-and
have known it. 1t has been for me- to see
the failing step the dimning eye; it is for
ME, now, TO see the terrible struggles for her
near y worn out frame; it is for me 10 lis
! ten to her language Of rcmorse, that some
times almost drives me mad. Yes, mad
mad-mad," he said, III frenzy, rising and
crossing the floor with long, hasty strides
Then burrying his face in his hands, he ex-
claimed, Too klte--too late-too late-I
have r"p"ntea!" There was Il long pause,
and he continued more calmly, No human
means can now restore my poor cornpan-
ion. Her moral sensiblities become more
and more acute rs she fails in strength, so
that she reproaches herself constantly.
A weary, mournful siyl, broke from his
lips, As if his heart would break.
90! if he knew it," lie exclaimed, if
he knew how bitter penalty she is pay.
ing for the outrage she has committed up
OH him-he would pity her-ani if it could
Jc, forgive"
Will you see her, sir? ?''
shrank from the very thought.
She has asked for you, sir; do not dc
ny her request. Hearing that you came
from America. she cn,rcat'rl me to brine
YOU to her. promised that would"
al will so then"
Up the cool, wide, matted stairs, he led
me, into chamber oriental in its beautiru
Furnishing, its chaste magnifcence.
There, half reclining in a wide, easy
chair-a costly shawl Of lace thrown owe.
her attenuated shoulders; the rich, dressing
gown, cling, aud followed to the ravagcs
| sickness had made-sat one whose great
beauty, and once gentle gifts, had made
the light and loveIiuess Of sacred home
But now! O pity! pity!
The eyes only retained their lustre; they
were wofuIIy sunkcn. The blazing fire,