Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-01-09

vi OtueF DAYS, the nuSDanu OF her chOlce. -
Of course. everything was exposed now,
and the ladies of the house found out at last,
the cause of Mrs. Leeds ftful conduct
known at last why she was so often seen in
the halls at night-why she stood listening.
with her door ajar, at all hours Of the night.
Those who had been the first to malign her,
now came forward to offer their earnest
sympathy. They were all admiration now,
of the heroic wife who had borne her sor-
rows so meekly and so quietly But it was
too late. When kind word would have
been grateful to her aching heart. they stood
aloof, and gave, instead, cold. suspicious
looks, that sometimes cut to the heart with
deeper pang than cold words Thousands
suffer thus, day by day, from the miscon-
struction' of the world They must bear it,
too; for if the sufferer is woman--there
is no redress unless she unsexes herself, and
goes firth to battle for her rights. Oh !!
this scandal that crushes people to the earth
-thattramples thousands of bleeding hearts
under the feet of the multitude! Does not
life bring enough sorrow? Will not our
earth-p,th be full enough Of thorns, and
life's cup full enough Of woe. that these our
friends and neighbors, must strike it home
more surely? No, it is not enough Hearts
always have, and always will suffer from
this great cruci6xion, scandal While the
world lasts hearts will be shorn of every
flower ofbope and fancy, by the (oo often
only thoughtless) tongues of scandal-lovers
will see their sources of happiness. and
their hopes drop off one by one because
few words Of scandal has deprived them of
this or that precious friend They must
learn to suffice for themselves-mustb be out
wardly calm-must turn away from the too
happy past-take up the broker threads of
life, and try to weave them in among their
everyday distress. but alas and alas skilful
as one may be, the ragged edges will be
uppermost!
1t was the tenth of July, that warm, op-
pressive month, when all the fashionable
fry are "out of the city," If any are 80
scarce of the almighty dollar" that they
cannot 60 in reality, let such put themselves
under our guidance and in the twinkling of
an eye, our journey ''by land and sea" is
compassed, and we are nearer the shore
ONO matter where enough that we are
-8aterin place There is the usual
pleasant ezcitement-the usual pleasant
faces hidden under neat travelling -bonnets
or those more convenient dark -colored hats,
the pretty creatures sport. As the steamer
rounded up to the landing, all was confusion.
Amid the short. hurried pufings of her en-
gines. and the mad shrieks of her whistle
might be heard such remarks as these:
John, where is my shawl and basket :?
Get them quick, and let US hurry oat, and
get seat in one of the front carriages"
Bridget, have you the lunch basket,
and the three valises? Are the children
safe ?"
'Mother-mother wait moment
please let US stop at the - House, the
Ridgeways are going to stop there. It's
only fifty cents a day more s''
Your foot off nay dress. sir-there, you
have torn all the gathers out"
Amid all this hubbub, one gentleman
stands calmly by, an amused spectator of
the scene. Look we again. All as live,
it is the gallant General Lane, looking youn-
ger and handsomer than he did two years
ago. AS they landed, seeing that the car
riages and hacks would all be full, he threw
his shawl over his shoulder, cleared the
fence at one bound. and after crossing seve-
raj fields, found himself in private lane
that led up to the hotel. That pleasant,
shady lane was familiar ground to him. for
many a time in other years he had travelled
1t. He soon reached the hotel. and passing
in to the Office, secured pleasant cham ber,
overlooking the sea, before the crowd arrived.
AS he was crossing the hall, he met his ac-
qualntance of two years ago, Mr.. Charles
Sloan.
The pleasant surprise was mutual; and
the Generals pleasure was visibly heighten-
ed by finding Mrs. Leeds was spending the
summer with her brother in this delightful
spot. The General thought, as be sat be-
side the lady at tea. that she was more beau
tlful than ever. She still wore mourning
for her husband, and though she was still
sad, the wild, startled, expectant look was
changed for one Of calm contentment.
Days and weeks passed rapidly away and
still the General fingered. The lady's beau
ty and rare sweetness of manner seemed to
grow upon him day by day. About a fort
night after h;ss arrival, Charles Sloan was
thrown into a state of excitement by the un-
expected arrival of Lovelace Canterbury,
and his sister Vic-particularly VIC After
that, Charlie was. to use his sisters words,
mo good at all.7' Had it not been for the
General, she would have been left to spend
most OF her evenings alone. whilst the lovers
paced the moonlit strand, or sat in quiet
corners, talking that languaget that is famil-
lar to US all. Somehow. Carrie Leeds learnt
to expect his constant presence-to depend
upon him instead of Charlie; and so it came
about that it did not startle her bit when
one pleasant starry night he asked her to
be his wife. Charlie came upon. them sud-
denly, and saw the Generals arm around
the waist of his little black-robed sister.
"Heyday! What does this meant"
1t means, Charlie dear, that I have
promised to be General Lanes wife. You
treated me SO shabbily since Vic came that