Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-07-19

"pu'u SIT uO"h loSclher, and he would tel
her such storrics of true love, that lmorcn,
was lost in bewildcrrnent nj his elouuencc
and dwe't with rapture upon the melody o
his fine voice.
Through all his character there ran :
tender melancholy, and he half scorred IT,.
very words he often himself uttered, bu
she knew little Of human nature, aud moth
ing Of the world, aud could moi see this
"A discriminating observer would have
thought him man disgusted with the
world and yet he was seemingly too young
Tor such conclusion. He might he twcn.
ty-s'x-not older. There was some siugu
lar reason why lie should still remain at the
cottage, now that lie had been we'll enough
to have walked dozen leagues if nvces.
sary. 1t was not love that kept him there,
tor though 1morene loved him so dearly
that every look and motion betrayed the
language of the heart, yet the soldier,
though uniformly most gentle, considerate
and attentive to her, never spoken of love.
Months had passed since the wounded
soldier first sat himself down tefore the
peasants door. His purse had been suf-
hc'ent'y filled to enable him to pay amply
Tor the shelter he had enjoyed, and indeed
the cottager tloughtso agreeable and prof.
table visitor was quite god send to the
house. One daya stranger passed that
way; the soldier accosted him. and was for
a long while alone with him, deeply ell
gagged in conversation; and when The trav
eler had passed on he was moody and
thoughtful, until At last lie told imorcnc and
her father that he must bid them farewell.
and once mere join in tho noise and hustle
of the times.
'h' shall we see you no more g asked
lmorenc, with heaving breast and trcmu.
ions voice which startled the sol,lic,.
4 must go to my friends and home
am needed there, lie answered..
Perhaps YOU will some time return This
"ay' suggested the cottascr, 'and then We
may s't down once more together.
4 trust it may be so,' was the reply Of the
now thoughtful guest.
At that moment his eye fell upon those
OF lmorene' and starting as though an ar
row bad pierced his side, he said:
Come. gentle one, let us walk once more
through those loved and long to he remem
Iered scenes before bid all farewell
A secret seemed to reveal itself 10 the
soldier as they now sat together beneath
bank where oft they had sat before for
hours together. lie read now the heart Of
the gentle one by his side, and placing ap
arm about her waist, and looking into her
gentle E'ee, he won from her the secret. ;
And then, as if his whole feelings changed
he told her that he was unworthy, of her
tender affection that his had been q wild |:
md reckless life, and his hands in battle
had often been upliftcd 10 spill his fellow
blood; that lie had Travelled much, and
been hardened by contact with the world
and, III fact that he could never make SO
sweet and gentle being happy.
She had no reply for his cloquence but
single tear-drcp.
The soldier, while at the cot had said
little OF himself. as it regarded his former
life, while lmorene and her parents were !
100 cons'derate humble as they were, to, |
seek for that information which it was eyi-
lent the soldier did not desire to commuui-
cate. But now, as Imorene sat by hisside I
and realized that lie was about to leaye her
lie could not but ask:
and where is your home, senor Go,nezg
or thus he had given his name to the cot.
ager.
In Va'entia, 1morene. All, Imorene,'
continued he, pressing her hand within his
'wn. 4 wish that my life had been differ
'ns'y cast, that might dare love thee and
7ed thee. But, alas! am unfit to do
either. am unworthy Of thy love; and
'ct within this hour, | realizo how sweet
las been the brief period have dwelt
With thee, and, alas! that do love thee
'nwittingly.'
The following morning he left, giving
he cottagers the contents of his purse,
mere triae for his journey, and
ress'ng small but costly ring upon Imor-
ne, as parting gift, lie touched his lips to
ers' and wepded his way along the noun.
ain road to his distant home.
=
Six months had passed si~cc the woun
ed soldier left the hospirsbls cottagers,
hen one Of those devastating. torpndoes,
ecuIiar to the climate, swept over The spot
nj 'eft not one yestige standing of that,
eaceiul habitation. Cattle we're destroyed,
egetation blighled, everything was wreck,
nd, alas |! with tie rest, vas lost 1norenes
'otler, herself and father alone escaping.