The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-06-10

swer, aud her lips seemed forming IN W
artirulate words, none of which were III
what she meant to utter. At last, with III
little Iet,ish gesture, quite unlike her usual fc
quiet manner she said, "Geral, you are un-
kind and unreasonable. You have talked }
To me for all these pleasant weeks with the a
,prnncss of An old friend, and now you Il
speak rs if my interest in you were mere Il
curiosity, or impert,nent interference" I
scarcely knew which astonished me tho
most-lhc unj ju>t accusation, or the ag'ta-
ted manner in which it was made. knew
not how 10 reply, especially as she took her
arm from mine, and walked on quickly.
followed and exclaimed, "lles,er, dear Hes
ter, what on earth have done or said to
offend YOU thus? Ask me what you will.
aud will tell YOU. have no idea OF any
Thing but gratitude for your Kindness III ad'
visinr me. No one knows me SO well rs
YOU. and am led 10 tell YOU things, and
talk TO YOU as l can to no one else in this |
wide world"
Sh. had slackencd her pace, and walk
cd on hy her side.
"Why, then,' said she, softly, "did yo"
I ask me Why and ho~ l was Interested |"
asking you the question did Z"
Forgive me, if | for AN instant, one s'n
gle Instant, mi>touk you. "Forgive my all
>urd prvsumption-be still my sister aud
II my treind"
lyon have n sister" she replied, slightly
smiling. land you are, think. more 'h""
)" provided with young-lady friend; aud T.
III Yes, yes, you, Hester, are engaged, aud
it is only the more kind Of you To have
H. time to think Of me at all.'
:" She smeu sadly, and again gave me one
III of her sudden. inquir:ng books; but when 1
er offered my arm, she did not take II, and we
al spoke no more, but continued walking side
s hy side At turn Of the path, sudden
!" burst of laughter assailel US from Jane an'
w, Cousin John.
> "Wlat exceedingly agreeable compan,
do YOU two mus, be! !" said he. 1--WE JUS
watched you, for fun behind this bush, an'
>, l u pe HaUBed u ~" horS 'PS - "
NV these ten minutes"
oe l felt exceedingly iratc, and Hester, vii
ny had qnite regain-d her composure OF mar
e' ner. said. ~ our Surveillance was very We
'nt timed. and you were fortunate to escape til
:: pruverbial fate Of listeners"
SHE "How severe you are, Hester" said IL
20" .'Of course, was only in j"ke!" lie otfe
'h cd her his arm. but she did not take
while Jane and l followed ut little dl
"s' tance.
"Poor Cousin John !" said Jane, in so
od Of half.soIiloquy. Il hardly think the
'"e quite suit eacl, other"
'ca'' "Why uot, Jane !" said /.
are "Oh, don't knowa Hester is SO Gle
err"
anu And John Hartland is not"
oer WELL" she replied, Il don't think tn
but hu, not Just in the same way. lie is
'"e'' most afraid she is not good-te'npered."
aye did lie tell you so9
-'o' Not 10 complain of her, for he belize
~" she is devotedly attached 10 him, and VOL
Que not for the world make her unhappy;
u "> she certainly is very odd. Now, Jo
'ne Har,land must be the best creature III
world not TO be annoyed at her always ta
"e ~ ing to YOU. Don: you wonder lie Is
~ jealuu>2'
II never thought about it. lie kn'
dedy """' o'' '''"o<
"Yes; but still lie said that some pee
,ove would not like il, and that if he had
,;h had me to walk about with while lie
y. ,o,, sits drawing, it would have been ano
thing"
those While my sister ran on thus. was
, re. deriug deeply. had often vaguely tbo'
arden, so, but it now came over me with deep
,antel viction, that Hester Daring aud J
3 the uartlanl were as opposite az the r
ne en-. Could they love each othera Would
rht.er. marry, after all9 Then, with lonl
achiug curiosity. asked myself, Does
bitter. ter love him9 longed to te again
s dcci. with her, and wondered had neve'
served all this before. | was entirely
,shak sorbetl in watching her. DID she,,
10 YOU. neglect me: Had all her. interest il
Of these early friend reasedl Thought 40, fu
grew. more and more reserved and di
ing up aninow evidently avoided being atone
,u2 me. As for John Har,land. I could s
great change in him, except that he y
',s, piqued and annoyed sometimes after g
s"'' """ terviewswith Hester,' as which felt a
as.1 AZ 70 iuhumane qualification. My ulster
vasl - uas equally .o,ugh, BY the two, and :
We ~ looks always made third in their walks"
:. |i"ey the change, then, opIy ii 'nel N
,he fixed .vs. ;;iaa annear 10 ,,on,; Is Strayt