The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-05-25


too late.
'.shc has set her life upon cast
And must stand the hazard of tho dc."
1t was her own fault, nobody to blame but
herself She had committed herself to a tacit
engagement, and must yield 70 the weakness
upon which it was based. .'Then away We
fruitlcss Wishes" she said mentally, us she
turned and entered the door of the parlor, for
the cold had begun to chill her.
A nice little fire, whose cracking fagots
seemed to try and cheer her pcnsivencss, greeted
her presence. Taking scat near, she fixed
her eyes upon the yellow flames, and relapsed
into sadness again.
In tbs midst of this solitude, Il rap at the
door Announced the presence of some one:
supposing it to be servant, she exclaimed
'tComc in."
A form rushed in-a glancc, and then n
startled gaze, whose wildncss the presence of
ghost could not have heightened indicated her
amazcmcnt Was it an astounding truth? or
was it only phantom? One inclination to
embrace it-another to shrink back from it,
kept her bound like an imlnoyablc statue, until
the near approach of Wallace Timrod with
the frank and open manner of former days,
proved to her the truth and reality of his pre-
scncc, aud that he was to her the same ms her
Wallace of old; and she fell into his out
stretched arms, and wcpt.
Words cannot depict, with justice, that hap
ny meeting. Suffice it to say. that after mu.
tual questions and explanations, the mystery
was explained, the author of her misery was
now seen through the dark shades of his cha
ractcr-hs persuasive cloqucncc and winning
loyc-talk, never greatly admired, was now re!
gardcd with loathing, us the dissimulation of al,
ilnpostor. She had been ensnarcd by the artI1
ful and cunning Tom Villii9nd !.
's.Oh Wallace she cxcIancd iii Il SUP
ducd tone, II have been deceived, ,-bascly de-
ccivcd. The dupc Of my own weakness, the
victim of most cruel fate, the object of
most shameful design, l am plightcd, Wallace,
plighted to Tom Williland But am undo
ceivcd now-thrcc weeks from to-day we would
have been married. Here is the cause the
once mysterious cause of my apparent uniaith-
fulncss," she is claimed, us she handcd him the
forged letter.
AS he read his face bccamc palcr, and his
glancc EOrc fierce. AS the end approached
his palencss succccdcdt to burning glow upon
his check, which told, that Indignation and
vengeance were racking his brain. Al ftcr he
had finished. he tore the paper into a thousand
pieces, and the play of passion over his fca-
lures showed palmer than words could express,
the ycarnins for revenge. Rising to leave, he
said half fondly and passionatcly -" Mamie,
darling, you arc mincw
ooh! Wallace hear me just once"-ex
claimed Mary, excitcdly reading from his coun-
tenancc his purpose Of vengeance.
81 have seen and heard too much already''-|
he said wildly-''thcrc is but one expatiation
that will satisfy this wounded pridc-this i'm.
posture of basc spirit ~
ooh! Wallace. be calm" said Mary, trying,
to subdue her own cxcitcmcnt-"you will act
rashly and take the life of Tom Wililand. and
the law will, will require yours in return"
"Fcar not for me, dearest" said Wallace, and
tore himself away from her presence