The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-11-06

sue raised her mead, dnu her lace, seen
through the folds 81 her costly veil, looked
haggard and CHASTITY. as if fierce storm Of
passion had swept over her. By the door
she paused. and when the newly y-ordained
clergyman passed out, she offered him her
hand--,he hand which. when lie held it last.
was pledged TO h,m. There we're diamonds
on 1t now--diamonds of rare value--bui their
brightness was hateful to that woman, Cor she
knew st what fearful price they had been
bought.
They did not meet again, and only once
more did Walter zee her; then, from our
door, he looked out upon her as with her
husband she dashed BY on horseback, her
long black cloth skirt almost sweeping the
ground, and The plumes Of her velvet cap
waving in the air.
Mrs. Douglass is fine rider" was all
Waller said, and the tone Of his voice ind-
Gated that she was becoming 10 him an object
OF Indifference. Desperately had he fought
with his affection for her, winning the victo-
ry at last, and now the love he once felt for
her was slowly and surely dying out. The
next week, tlring Of our dull village life, Co
ra lett Us. going to Nahant. where she spent
most OF the summer; and when, in winter, we
heard from her again, she was widow, the
sole heir Of her husband, who had died sud-
denly, and generously left her that for which
she had married him--his money.
"Will Walter Beaumont marry Cora newio
| had asked myself many time, without.
however, arriving at any definite conclusion,
when. little more than year succeeding
MIR. Douglass death, she wrote. begging me
10 come 10 her, as she was very lonely, aud
the presence Of an old friend would do her
good. complied with her request, and
WITHIN few days was an inmate Of her lug
urious home, where everything indicated the
wealth OF its p0ssessor. And Cora, though
robed in deepest black, was more like her
self, more like the Cora of other days, than
had seen her since her marriage. or her
husband she spoke freely aud with respect,
saying ne had been FAR kinder to her than
she had deserved. OF Walter, too, she talk.
ed. appearing much gratiied when told her
how he was loved and appreciated by his
people. One morning, when we sat together
10 hss little sewing room, she said: al have
done what you. perhaps. will consider very
un@onanly act | have written to Walter
Beaumont. Look "-and she placed in nv
hand letter which she bade me read. II
was wild, strange thing. telling him Of the
anguish she had suffered, Of the love. through
all, she had cherished for him. aINkegging
Of him q forgive her, If possible, and be 70
her again what he had been years ago. She
was not worthy Of him, she said, but he could
make her better. and in language the most
touching. she besought Of him not to cast her
off, or despise her because she had stepped
so far aside from womanly delicacy as to
write 20 him this letter. 81 will not insult
you,' she wrote, in conclusion, "by telling
you "f the money for which | sold myself;
bu, il is mine aow. lawfully mine, and most
gsdly would share il with you"
"Yuu will not send him this ?" said.
{ You cannot be in earnestf"
But she was determined, aud lest her res
olUiinn should give way, she rang the bell,
!. ordering the servant who appeared to take il
Al once te the office. lie obeyed, and during
! the day she was unusually gay, singing
snatchss of old songs, and playing several
! lively airs upon her piano, which for months
! had stood unopened and untouched. That
: evening. As the sun went down, and the full
/ mnon rose over the city, she asked me to
walk with her, aud we, ere long, found our.
| selves several streets distant from that in
which she lived. Groups Of people were en-.
iering church near by. and from remark
D whirh we overheard. We learned tina. here
was TO be a wedding.
r LEI Us 90 in, she said, " il may be some
! one that know aud entering together, we
! took our seats Just 10 front Of the altar.
seareely were we seated, when rustlinc
{ Of satin announced the approach Of the bri-
5 dsl purity. aud IN a moment they appeared.
! moving slowly up the aisle. My 6rst stten-
. tinn was directed towards the bride, beau
! tlful tuang creature, with fair, sweet face,
. ana eurls ot golden hair falling over her
i white. hate neck.
!. "l.n'. she lovelys" ! whispered. but Co
!. ra did MT hear me.
. With her hands locked tightly together,
her lips firmly compressed, and her cheeks
1 oi an ashen hue. she was gazing fixedly at
the bridegroom. on whom !, Too, now looked,
! starting quickly, for Il was our minister,
! Walter Beaumont! The words were few
which ,H.de them one, Walter aud the yeune
girl al his side, and when the ceremony was
o,er Cora arose, aud leaning heavily upon
, my arm. went out into the open air, and on
; through street after street, Until her home
was reached. Then, without a word, we
rsrted-l going TO my rsom. while she.
ihr"Ogh The iivelong night. paced op and
down the long parlors where no eve could
witnss. the working Of the mighty sorrow
which had come upon her.
The next morning she was calm. bot very,
very pale. ssying not word Of last nights
adventure. Neither did she speak Of u for
several days. aud then she said. rather ab.
rupily. !" | weuld give sli possess II 4 had
never sent that letter. The modification is
harder 10 bear even than Walters loss. But
he will not tell Of il. I'm sure. Ne Is too
gaod--lou noble,s and tears. the first she had
she'd since that night. rsined through her
thin, White fingers. u came at las--a letter
bearing Walters supcrscriptien, and VITA