The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-10-09

save me. He swan round, and took me
by one of my ancles felt an impulse to
grasp him, so strong that it might have
given me the power; but with an effort of
self-control, | did not even try to help my
self. | was drawn into shallow water, and
quickly taken out; and after struggle,
far more painful than the half-drowning
had been, recovered.
Need I say that Arthur was, henceforth,
more my friend than ever? In London
he spent half his leisure hours in my
chambers, or in the excursions we took
together to the mountains or the sea. He
had been away on public business when
first became acquainted with Isabel.
wrote to him about her, raved about her.
1 was impatient to have him see her at the
earliest moment after his return. Not less
had l told her Of Arthur; and l had ex-
cited the expectations Of both.
There was party on the very night of
his return to London, and | insisted that
he should go, tired as he was with the
journey from Dublin since morning, and
be presented to her whom now dared to
call my Isabel.
saw, with a twinge of jealousy, which
I felt to be inexpressibly mean and con-
temptible, that Arthur and Isabel were
much impressed with each other. They
polked and waltzed together. How mar
rowly watched them Arthur was ex-
cited, brilliant, fascinating; Isabel danced
as had never seen her dance before, and
showed, in her nervous manner and height
ened color, how much she was interested
and fattered by his attentions.
Arthur congratulated me; but he was
embarrassed. Isabel was far more self
possessed; she said he was splendid fel-
low,-she had no idea she should like him
so well and she did her best to blind me
with her tenderness; but had watched
them with too jealous an eye not to see
that my position was in danger.
Why go on with the miserable story !?
Isabel was, | cannot say false to me, for
we were under no engagement. Isee now
that she would have dropped me at any
moment for more desirable parti. was
her bird in hand; but she knew that there
were better in the bush, and she threw
me away the moment she felt sure of one
Of them.
1t was true that Arthur was better
match than 1. His position, already good,
was assured for the future, with the pros
pect Of more than was ever likely to gain
by any eminence in my profession. He
was my superior, also, as a society man
more ready, more brilliant and distinguish
ed. / forgave Arthur; but | could not
be a witness to his happiness, 1 could
not forgive Isabel. A month before their
marriage, l was on the steamer bound for
New York.
heard from home sometimes during
my absence. Arthur did not write. He
would have been glad to have done so ;
but he could not intrude even the offices
of friendship. upon the misery that had
driven me to the wild solitudes beyond the
Mississippi A lady who knew and pitied
my suferings, wrote to me. At first she
said very little of Arthur and his wife.
Then there came stories-idle gossip /
hoped-of indiscretions, jealousies, es-
arrangements, and even of scandal could
not believe that Isabel, false as she had
been to me,-heartless and worldly as /
thought her, could ever be guilty of worse
than vanity and ambition. Admiration
was, no doubt, necessary Of life to her,
she might annoy Arthur but could not
believe that she could injure him more
deeply. But the stories grew worse and
worse; and could not but confess that ]
l had been saved from greater misery
than had endured, and that, if Arthur
had wronged me, he had been sufficiently
punished. confess also that l sometimes
thought that, had Isabel not yielded to the
temptations Of ambition, and had married
one she truly loved, all might have been
we'll; but this was momentary vanity
Arthur was a man to make any good wo-
man happy. He would never have mar.
ried Isabel, had he not felt certain that
her heart was irretrievably his own. He
! could not rob me of what | did not possess
r Suddenly was taken, as have said
t with great longing to return to England
D My curiosity to see American Life wa.
D gone, and embarked on Que of the feet.
a est steamers of the Cunard line, which, il
: less than ten days, landed me safely il
i. Liverpool. With the same feeling of hur
f ry took the first express train to London
a and did not lose an hour before driving t
Brompton and calling on the lady, dist
: ant relative and old friend, who had beer
$ my correspondent.
}, When my name was announced, sh,
d sprang towards me, kissed my cheek, anc
g exclaimed Then you got my letter !"
n No; have had no letter from you 70
}, months. have been away in the wilder
p ness where they could not reach me; ant
/. Gid iia Hat stop for them on my way. Blu
r what is it? Has anything happened |?
n You have not heard about poor Arthur
J. Not word. Isabel has not run Of
o with Russian prince?. -,...
v oh, worse than that-that is-but n
n matter. Harry, Isabel is dead =
l felt the blood settle back upon m
l heart, my eyes were dim, the room turne'
Is round / believe / should have fallen ha
Of not my friend hel ped me to the sofa.
n- am not woman that l should faint away
if but the shock was sudden, and it hurt m
more than l should have thought it could
k, A glass of wine was brought, and l wa
2 myself again.
Y, "Poor Arthur |" said I how does h