The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-06-06

.ha, beautiful feature was almos, distort.
ed, she spoke:
"Why despiss you Edward Lee So
1omsnI you cannot cross stream so
hypocri'ica! you engage pure and warm
heart, when your own was not considered
in the miserable exchange so fickle as
TO love another, and 40 couceitea as to
imagine / love you. Poor, weak, faith.
less mortal -
For two mor1ents Edward Lee did not
take his eyes, burning with Indignation,
from The face go witbering in ito express.
ion OF intense scorn. She had led him
on 10 this and now she thus answered him.
II the love in his heart (apd he did love
Judith Carpenter) turned to the ferces,
hatred. lie bowed low and she returned.
'twith sarcastic smile, and leaving her.
he retraced bis steps towards the mansion.
IL ever an IDEA Of this affair entered
the heads Of any OF the household it was
kept profoundly 10 themselves. The shock
| OF the water in his enervated state was
followed BY a relapse which confined him
for many weeks. Judith did not sea him
again, tho illness Of her sister recalling
her suddenly. She parted with Flora.
who, though she had lost much of her
light hearted, careless mirth, was s,ill a
loving friend. II Judi;h's conscienco
smote her she concealed it well.
One sad evening in the early part Of
| October, Edward Lee sat in the Invalid
chair on the balcony. Flora sat near with
her work. Silently and fondly the eyes
OF the o!d lover wandered over evsrv tea.
'ure. There was change for which he
could not account. The :ur!s were ban:
ded plainly over the calm hr W; no mer
ry, roguish smile dimpled the trans pa rent
cheek, and the lips were folded together,
hiding the tiny rows Of "seed pearls" tha;
once wers ever clt,er;ng in sight. The
young man sighed involun:arily.
"Come here. FIorie."
She rose and took seat by his side.
"Whsn will we be married, darling 7"
He passed hi, hand lovingly over the
smooth brsiGs
She looked mp aud smiled but her lip.
qnir.red as she answered
"Nsver, Edward"
He regarded her in astonishms The
words were too firmly spoken to be mere
jest.
"Wbat did you saw, Florie 7"
81 said we would never marry. You
do not love mo as YOU thought YOU did
It would be sinful for you to be my hus,
band. ] do not blame YOU for loving Ju.
dith. She is very beautiful. and she is
more suited TO you than am, for sh e is
moro intelligent. She did not tell me-
this. Eddie, but saw it long ago.
"Ob. Forie. do not love her; it
was mere intatuation-madness. and I
was rightly rewarded. He leaned for
ward in bis earnes,nes. and his chesk
flushed. Flora you must marry mel
will die without you. What has support,
cd me during the long, dresry weeks
when | was almost crszed with self con
tempt and remorse, hut your gentle words
and kind nursing Oh, Flora. I believed
and hoped you had forgiven nv infatua'
ton, that blush TO remember. Tell me
you do, FIorie !" Che did not answer;
there was evidently great struggle 20.
ing on in her bosom between woman's
love, and woman's pride. Pride con qusr
ed, or rather principle. Edward Lee bad
never known her as woman, and be
started as he saw the calm, C old face.
81 cannot marry you. Edward. During
the three weeks tha, my eyes were open
ing, ssw your love for Judith ard rssol
we'd not to stand 10 the way Of your hap,
pines. conquered could see you
togsiber witbou, emotion, and watch you
In your idolatry without one psne. But
Thought she lovsl YOU; / did not know
her coqustts Oh Eiward, I am sorry
Tor you, bu, / cannot marry you"
And thus, through tho vanity OF one
woman was destroyed the happiness Of
two immortal bsings. 1t would not be a