The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-06-01

again, but again he staggered and almost
fell. Augusta and I had reached them now
and my eldest sister asked. -
What, has happened, Mr.. Fi,z- Hard
ingr
Il believe have been awkward enough
to sprain my ankle on this little stone,' he
answered, laughing, and kicking the impe-
d'ment contemptuously away with the toe.
of his boot. =
Then you are unfit for any further rae
cling; better return to the house, said mer.
ry Jessie, almost laughing in the face Of the
accident.
4 believe must take your advice, Miss
Jessie, answered Fitz-Harding, and turning,
we all walked in the-direction of the house.
The Engishman wouldn't give his sprain-
cd ankle the ease Of walking slowly and
with care, but leaned as much upon the in
jured foot as upon the other, though he was
quite white, and almost ghastly with the
pain of it. 49,
The consequence was that when be reach
ed Sthe house, and had sat down for a short
time, his ankle sweled to an enormous
size, and mamma forbade him to think of
sIeturning to:the inn that night insisting
thatke should remain over night with US.
Atlast he consented, and refusing to retire
Immediately, alleging that his foot was not
very painful, though he was still quite pale
he and Jessie commenced war of words,
laughing, talking, and throwing Con.moist
at each other till 7 could endure it no longer
so made cold apology for retiring early,
and went to my own room.
Oh I loved him-I loved him-and was
it not painfully clear thathe loved my gay,
handsome sister Jessie To the day Of fmy
death I shall not tforget the fierce, sharp
pain that went through my heart when l,
became assured Of that and with my usual
headlong rushing into unhappiuess, 1 soon.
convinced myselfthat it was SO. -
lay down upon the bed without undres-
sing, and with closeds, eyes reviewed. my
whole past life. Iregret to say that I de-
duced3no profitable lesson therefrom, but
thought myself more and more ill-used.
Why was I so plain so ugly9-What had
donea Of what had I-been guilty, that I
should be SO sItawas not.just. And Why
did the whole beauty Of the family fall Is
my favored sisters? cannot tell half the
wicked and rebellious feelings that. swept
over my soul like torrent, till could have
cursed the hour Of my birth, when suddsplg
the very stiffness thatfieigned withinaths
house awoke me from mY fshectio1s. -
AS long as the talKsDg and laughing, con-
tinued in the parlor Below my tempestuous
angry thoughts bad kept time to it; but
when all became silent, that very silence
woke me from my unpleasantthougbts. I
sat up and listened; all was still as the grave
save the regular ticking Of the great olosk
in the hall below gas; ,nnomently.it broke the
dead siIepcs that reaigqed within.
z 1rose softlysdfeW' of my shoes, and stole
noiselessly down stair. and then opening
the door that led qpohathss, viue-shaded
piazza, stepped quietly upop,it, and sat
down upon loungethat had been drawn
gut there in the early part the eveningand
left there. = >
.Itswas "a warm. fnidsummeffnight, and a
laIgesIound si!ysfy moon, was rising high in
| t{sesssaSssIaars ,Saa .lssass .
,Mswas fleaSe6t;to sitiheresin that pale,
qnise light, that came shining down through
the clustering ,yinesthst' 'covered the piazza,
and east hptsstie SHAPES upon thesmoo,h,
aeens4 from the many sIapsd leaves; -
Isat dovn aud lsSka up Trough Sthe
vines stsbe moons over whichsasfe~ light
clouds were occasionagly slowly, gracefully
sailing, like little bafksupan q calm like.
Ihad sat there nearly when softly
on the. quiet air same Is sairth rustling
Of vines and leaves from sthkt side of the
house on which Mr.. Fitz,Haidink's room
was situated. Ilookedqhickly fnstbat
direction, but couldssae nothing, save the
blinds of his window tbrasp. Vide open,
and the window itself baIlsaised, and clossse se
by the window large ladaSf which reach.
ed te the very ground below. ALI along
the side of thaabouse the olamberi6gE Vines
had Opread themselves, and some were even
wound about tbsAedde. 1t must hSSsBeen
the wind playing through The lsSkss l6at 1
had bserd, and soI turned ada diqoked
upfhfough tie vines at aiss,zasea again.
O1ce more came .thst same s6uDd, loud,
and then followed BY something Ike :aS
Impatient sxcls9ation: -, ~. .;
turned quickly towsrdst Ladder sgsia
ltnf0ouh sse nothing ill e sis tbati
: A mans head slowly Iiifi asfniope tie
vines, and then his xholes iofin stsspipg into
tyiss as he sl9ssl J, !, esgstally sssssa ths aaa
daE s5dzsif fffstl tha xinasS6s e ~ ksa&