The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-04-11


would have given her miliner. / lis,
tened as one in trance to the sounds
that came from her lips. l was stupefed
-deadsned. One only truth come to
me, knocking its way to the brain that
had shut out all else. She that ad been
my Lizzie, was mine no moro. Hence
forth and forever she was dead to me.
Would to God she had died ere she had
so dsce vsd me!
II cannot tell you what / suffered,
though it is through no fear of being
called uumsnly, that shun the recital.
There are sufsrings and sorrows that
come to mems hearts, that shua exposure
even TO the nearest and dearest; and
There where we have garnered up our Rearts,
Where either we must live or have no life
10 meet with deceit there's the bi,terest
grief that ever fell to lot Of man.
We'll, she was welded soon after TO
her golden calf and, mockery Of mockeres,
insult upon injury, WAS invited to be
present at The sale. | went, the invitation
was her triumph, ,ths acceptance was
mine. A greater was still to come.
Smo,hering the fires that ragged within
me, arrayed myself with scrupulous
care and mingled with the gay throng
that had met to do her homage. knew
that should no. be expected, and for this
reason ! attended.
The words had been uttered that
made her Mrs. Marmaduke Glenn, and
the parasitical crowd had ,hronged about
her to offer their neanin = less coneratula
tions. ] waited patiently until this silly
palaver had ended, then stepping from
the SD adow. Of the curtain where | had
been standing, traced nv steps towards
her. Almost all within the room had
known Of our engagement, and a. | ad.
vanced towards the newly made bride.
the crowd gave way upon each side and
afforded me clear passage, while they
listened eagerly for what might say.
took the dainty jewel laden hand within
my own, and having by an almos, super.
human effort mastered myself, I said 10
measured, decisive and audible accents,
"May you meet all the happiness you so
richly dsserVe" As I released her baud
and turned rom her, she shuddersd, but
uttered not word. Another morsel
Of triumph was mine"
"Let mo hurry to : conclusion.
Maddesed to an extent almost bsyond
conception sought relief in the excite
ment Ct speculation, hesdless where it
carried me, il only it would crush oct the
one miserable thought within me.
gsmbled in commerce to a fearful extent,
bu, here Fortune, as If to make amends
for former failures crowned my venture,
with success. Every rashly calculated
speculation, every wild scheme, returned
me profits almost fabulous, until in few
years | counted my gold by hundreds OF
thousands. But what availsd iti she
for whom | could have striven, and at
whose feet should have gorisd to lay
this treasure, had sold herself heart, body
and soul for paltrier sum than this.
fMsanwhile her lord and master. a
silly, shallow Drained animal, had wearied
Of his bargain aud then came the old
story"
"He held her when his passion had spent its
novel force,
4 something better than his dog, q little dearer
than his horse"
"Hs began by spending his dSSs from
home, aud gradually the nights came 10
be passed as the days, in bar rooms and
gambling he'Is. He gained and drank
heavily, often remaining from home for
several days, until carried there in q state
OF beastly intoxication.
| His lady daprived Of bis companion
ship, and for her ain, denied by Heaven
the blessing Of children, rushed into the
giddy round Of pleasure and fashion, and
for few years reignsd as Queen Of The
Toilet" which means painted. white
washed, bedizsnsa imitation Of Gods
1ork-woman.
This could not however last. The gold
| a. ;JIu .n.and.. r. L.