The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-15

O'SS" OiN uot huO" L WAS I
find in her Sybil Dean. I owe you an apo
ogy for my intrusion, or I would not hav
annoyed you by asking your company 70
a promenade"
It told you, Mr.. Denmore, you were we
come; SybiI Dean, or Sybil Clifton, ha
never SO far lowered herself as to utter auy
thing, even for the sake of convent ionalism
that was untrue"
And, as she stood there, with the ricl
folds of her velvet dress falling around he
queenly form, she looked the very imperso
nation Of honor and indomitable pride.
Edward Dcnmore, as he stood beside the
cold, calm woman whose naughty name,
betrayed not the slightest quickening of the
pulse, was as proud as himself in his bear
inc. His eyes, that could look dreamy and
soft as woman's. were as proud in thci,
midnight blackness as were hers.
"S'nce have made my apology and you
have assured me Of its needessness, we
will return to the society of those who l
think will be more desirous Of our presence
than we are of the exclusive society of each
other"
Edward Denmore, you led me to this
conservatory for the purpose Of overpower-
ing mo with your pride and Indifference.
Know that have read your motive and
know, still further that have pride suffi.
c'ent to match your own. Once you saw
me trembIe, and saw my eyes fill with tears
at your bitter words-but not one fell! this
cheek has never yet been stained by tear
for you ! call them back to their source
before that. 1t is nearly two years since we
parted, and in that time there have been
many changes"
aye, many changes time has not
altered you any, Sybil Clifton ; it has only
thrown another mantle Of ice around your
frozen self. Pray tell me how your hus-
band likes the ompauionship of the statu-
ary I have chilled"
Edward Denmore, how dare you say
this to me9 Uow dare you speak such
words of my noble husband! I see you do
not understand me. Listen Three years
ago was betrothed to you. laid uron
your hearts unworthy shrine my woman's
pure, first love. In less than one year YOU
dslrusted me, aid in moment of anger
threw back the love I gave. You believed
the words of discarded suitor whose soul
was so small that he gratiied bis feelings
of pique at my refusal by telling you that
l had once confessed loved him, and ma.
my other things my lips shall not repeat
AT the first burst of cruel words from you,
my girlsh heart was grieved; but in an in
slant, when knew their cause, my grief
was gone. Contempt broke every throb of
love l ever felt for you. l did not hate you,
and l wondered that did not; my guardi-
HI angel was near in that terrible hour, and,
With her white wings famed aside the breath
Of hatred ere it had been blown through
the chambers of my heart. But scorn sat
upon her throne, and, ere she laid down
her sceptre, had crushed out all the love
my being ever knew. One year ago, to-
night was welded. But I did not give
my hand, as perhaps you think, without
telling my husband Of our engagement and
its termination. 1 respected him fully
this l said. Aye, regarded him more
than any other person; but I had no love
for an human being. Affection was ami
hilated from my nature. He took the little
l had to give, and gave me the name I so
proudly bear. have done; know that it
was not you that chilled the statuary,' but
the spirit Of contempt that abode in my bo-
som, when I learned the unworthifess Of
the object upon which 7 had lavished 80
much. Since then -- no, the regard
| now bear my husband is something far
too sacred to he spoken of to you.
He made no reply. Mrs. Clifton swept
from the conservatory, but, before she reach
ed the parlors every ves,igs of her emotion
was gone. She had so long been cold and
calm, tbst her exterior continued envelop-
ed in iciness.
That night, after the guests were gone,
Sybil glided to the side of her husband,
and winding her white arms around his
neck, said, with tears in her eyes,
my precious husband"
She loved him, and the maguifcence A.
round her did not mock the bitter anguish
ID ner soul-the heart beating beneath her
'ooe was not crying out iu agony-the
sounds smothered by the velvet folds above
1t. Beneath the marble exterior there bad
been re'llghted the lamp of fafscsion.-Wa.
uerly Magazine.
sEcRETs-A secret is like silence, you
3annof faik ahonf II .nS l .. =. -,