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

WAS to reJoin them IN te" u"ys. bo''S ''
this solitary journey, communing with my ST
heart, it made me some strange revelations. to
forever-I IIester's questions haunted me Did III
or did not wish to marry either Rose or -
Justina? and my heart answered loudly, |
and without hesitation, No, no. The i'm il
age that filled my every thought and feel s.
inr Testers Why had not tried to solve +
that problem which always haunted me &
Did she love John Har,land7 If no,-- Il
Uuab- to bear this uncertainty longer. 4
I returned to rcjoin the party day before
| intended They were at B"ppart. My
habtuai sllvncss prevailed, and | would not
90 at once to them there. but remained IN
the neighhnrhnod; and then, with my camp
stool and sk-,ching materials, wandered
OH to a spot where had last watched the
artistic prncil of Hester D..ing. lscarcrly
knew il my vivid fancy deceived inc, but
there, in til. identical spot, sa, Hester She
was alore and till approached her quite
near, she hal not seen me. had no rea-
son to suppose my presence would he such
an overpowering surprise to her, aud she
was too courageous and self possessed in
=, general for the plea of weak nerves; but
when she had started up with glow OF
= pleasure in her face to greet me. she sud
l. denly grew pale, and ,rrmhle' so violently,
j she was obliged to ait down again.
I,hrew myself on the grass 10y her, aud
v held her hand. All my varinusly rehe"rsed
II speeches. 10y which should probv her Sc
= cret. All my own confessions, fed.
ID could say nothing hut
'e "iIester, could not stay away any long
er. You don't want me-perhaps You
ne never will want me; but you must let me
| sec You sometimes, when you are married
We even you mus, let me see yon, though you
de ". II not talk to me as we used. l cannot
IN live without that"-
nd All my fine speeches and searching ques.
lions, without committing myself, come to
ny this.
nst held her hand to my face, and covered
nd my eyes with it. l. did not venture to lool
,rd at her, as she sat raised just above me oil
tur(y bank. The hand trembIed in mine
llo hu, she did not draw it away, though
an waited in vain till she should speak.
yell Speak to me, Hester said !. TELL IN
the only that you will forgive this vehemence-
that YOU will ba to me as you were. an
he. counsel me, and let me talk to you as 20
fer did long ago and yet not so very long ag
it, neither, if one counts by time only.
dis have been go miserable since you ha'
changed your manner to Inc.
sort promise never again to forget that ye
hey are engage,l-that you are anolhers.
"Gerald," she esaid-"Gerald, look at IN
look up" L.
lev quite stared at the sound Of her voie
it was so very sweet and gentle. met h
eyes bending down upon me, softly and til
hat, idly not rs she had ever looked before al
al she smiled IA had never seen her sm'
ut has indeed seemed long since y
went away-two days ago." she said ia
eves she said so much has happened that mig
ould hav, been two years.
OeTtU, tUl lIco ~ 10 "' o'o'NS"
John and ought never to have been! am n
the to talk to yon as before. and help you
talk fin, out which of the two"-
DOL 1 started to my feet, bewildered with
unmeasureablr joy of this most unlock
nows for change She bad risen, too, and
hand WAS still clasped in mine.
eople Free, free gasped out. "Then, I
not ter, you are mine. and mine only
lester clasped her in my arms, and held
'othsr ike recovered treasure, never.to be pa
with more. did not want her to sr
pom; then; was satisfied to feel her dear h
ought resting ON my shoulder, and her h
p con. beating against my own; but she b'
John from me, as with an effnrt, and sale, -
poles. "Ah. Gerald, how can believe you,9
] they all you have told me Of others J"
ng'ng' But she did believe me, notwiths
. ,''" ing.
er OBJ Nv sister Jane coming out in search of
,ly Alb ter, was the first to interrupt us. She
/, then. bv no means surprised TO see me back
in her .li not look r,uch disturbed by there
for she that had oceorred in my ahsenre.
distant, Har,land had left the party. and rett
ne with TO England. His father and aunt. wh
see no identity suspected something had
looked wrong though It was not yet dice
an in. looked anything but ,peased to 'e s'
quite again, nor was my reception much
r jane by Mrgand Mrs. Deripg. 10 short,
almost shy man 10 feel bimself 50. entirely, de
.pi Was wa. c,uslly embarrassing Notliing
Nothing was right and all the little eont,ets''
Yelling ..o,oI,,a, from travelling. were ,ascnb