The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-10

steer his way among the
iutting rocks of dilemma which obtrude in
that vast deep, but he found himself now
floating among some lotus wreathed isles
which attracted quite as much as they re-
PEELED, and consequently dulled his sense
of danger. He .conld scarcely doubt that
Juanita loved him. She was young. and
beautiful, and he realized that he loved
Annette with depth and sincerity which
was new in his life of eyaneseent fancles;
vet, instead of spreading sail toward open
and safer seas, the tair-haired young En-
glishman. who was neither the best nor
Worst of his sex, drited idly, trusting to
some chance breeze to wait him safely to
the haven where he would be.
Winchester, like the Scottish knight
whose fame is enbalmed in song, was no
s:laegard in love, ,nand yet an impafpable
barrier seemed out of some mysterious
depth TO rear itself between him and An
nette, and discourage his pursuit OF her.
The season had advanced to the deepest
glory of summertime, and Winchester,
who proposed soon to sail for the white
shores Of his native land, was stillin doubt
if his vision of dark-eyed bride borne
away TO grace his distant home, might be
realized, when an incident transpired which
resolved him to put his fate to the touch,
and "win or lose it all."
At that oppressive hour of the day,
which in the tropics and all climates verg-
ing on them is devoted to the siesta,
Winchester, after having dined with Mon
sieur de Montreuil, had withdrawn from
the gay companions who rallied in force to
the smoking room, and with the easy GER
emony of the house, wandered to breezy
and shaded nook fitted up for summer
parlor. Here he threw bimself, book in
hand, on a lounge made of twisted bamboo
to read, mediate, or sleep, as inclination
prompted He probably passed from the
first or second act to the third: for he was
only dreamily conscious that some one en-
tered the room, and then even more faint
ly that they stood beside him, but was
awakened unmistakably by the pressure
of pair of soft, hot lips to his own in a
clinging kiss.
A delicious thrill flushed the blood to
his face, yet sensation of disgust made
him spring to his feet, and forced from his
lips in almost breathless ejaculation:
'.Juanita Miss de Montreuil! Shame p
Sustained by the transport of feeling
which had prompted the caress, the young
girl neither quailed nor was abashed by
discovery or reproof, but fixing her glance
on him in one long, steadtast gaze of fiery
tenderness, with clasped and outstretched
hands, she sank slowly at his feet, mur-
muring,
81 love you"
After one moment of alteration, silent
and intense, it seemed as that. which de-
yotee offers at sacred shrine, she re-
peated:
'I love you, Hubert, with body and
heart, and soul. 1t is not my. shame, it is
my glory. u love you with all the power
of my being"
Winchester was only human he could
not meet such excess of devotion with
disdafn; so STOPPING, he lifted her gently
from the floor, saying,
"Nay, Juanita, give me your friendship,
or better still, sisters affection"
With slow yet threatening movement
she separated herself from him, drew back
apace and searched his face for moment
with an eager glance, and then shaken for
one brief instant as by storm, grew
cold, pale and rigid, even in that glowing
summer atmosphere, seeming to find
breath only to articulate in q whisper
which yet was fearfully distinct, and full
of threatening:
alt is so ! is it 1t is so! Hubert Win
chester loves Annette de Montreuil," and
so turned away and left the room delib-
crately as though their interview had
been Of an ordinary character
III.
After this, Winchester determined that
his wooing should be brief, and when the
young moon, which hung above in the
heavens, had rounded to an orb Of light,
bis love had been told, his bride won, her
fathers consent obtained, and the early
day appointed for his marriage was at
hand. Juanita had never, by word or
manner, betrayed recollection even, of
the extraordinary confession she had
made, and no one could have gathered
from her demeaner q suspicion that she
telt either more Or less than natural inter-
est in her sisters marriage,
Winchester, with tact and courtesy
which should have appealed to her better
nature, mingled the kindness of a brother
with the courtesy of friend in his inter-
course with her, quietly ignoring all the
past.
1t had been arranged at Jaanita's own
dictation that she should remain at home
to receive the bridal party upon its return
from church, instead of accompanying
Annette as one of her attendants, accord
ing to immemorial custom, asking only
to assist at her toilette for the last time
For this purpose, they sought the rooms
which had been theirs since infancy, and
one of which was now draped with bridal
white, and decorated with snowy flowers
for the hrida's OCCUPANCY. until her de-