The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-05-08

aS yhey Suoeerfeu Hcr tupeTeSlS. InCer-
est was the governing law of her ma
tare, and she would sacrifice everything
else to. promote it. Her tongue was
weapon, whose power to execute seldom
failed-this was her forte. She imag-
ined feeling of independence, and tried
to assume an air of indifference. Her
mind, all the time actively engaged in
maturing her private plans, by which to
gain her secret ends, rendered her al
most perfect in the art of device. a
knowledge of the inability and unwill-
ingness OF others to attempt to compete
with her, inspired an audacity that was
only cqnalled by her impertinence and
she exercised the privilege, which oil
seemed to grant as if by mutual consent
of talking with impunity.
Lelie Loderc was modest, unassum-
ing, unsuspectipg creature, altogether
unable and unprepared to combat the
vindictivencss of Mrs. Duuwood's ma
ture. One of her "failings" was over.
credulousness. Her confidence once es-
tablished by professions of friendship
was not easily shaken. Weakness in
this respect often gave designing ones m
advantage over her. The friendship she
cherished for Rosine was always sup
posed to have been mutual, and indeed
was until the former became the rival of
the latter in suit of love. As soon as
this was discovered, Rosine became
estranged, and the relation which
she afterwards professed to cherish, was
feigned merely for the sake of making
Lelic's confessions, her own Weapons of
defence.
Lelie had not only the duplicity of
Rosine Stepton to contend with, but also
the cnmity of "The Old MoHs.ress.
AS soon as time and circumstances
offered an opportunity, Rosine repaired
to Bryony to report the result of her in
terVicW with Iellc.
What luck, darling" inquired the
old lady deceitfully, after Rnsine had sa-
slutea her with an; i,,tcrestcd kiss. s.Did
you get any information from yesterday S
interview"
None, Aunt Carrie replied Rosine
assuming n title of relationship through
respect to Mrs. Dunwood's age, and the
cause for which she had engaged her.
81 got no Information to the point,
but heard some very dcnunciatory re-
marks about you. Her opinion of you
is extremely fattering, assure you, she
continued ironic lily.
"Nevcr mind Rosinc, the day of retri-
button will como for all that. have n
plan in view, which, if executed, will re-
pay us for what she has said about me.
She is the only obstacle in the way of
Julien Cleburne paying his addresses to
you, and if we can remove Mnt, you may
be assured of what will follow"
This intimation Of Mrs. Dunwood's s
intentions caused Rosine sigh. AL
though she was willing to rely upon
Mrs. Duuwood's Judgment to give shape
and direction to affairs, yet conscience
smo,e her in the serious contemplation of
becoming an accom rlice against Lelie.
Nevertheless she resolved to sacrifice
principle for the sake Of love.
She did love Julien Cleburnc and re-
sarded Lelic as tue only obstacle to a
reciprocity Of feeling. IF he haaa never
told her in plain English that he loved
her, his actions had been construed to
imply as much. That she was pretty,
fascinating and prcpossessing had been
acknowledged by mnny. That for lohg
time she and Lclie had divided the
charms Of Julien, she was willing to be-
licve also. Then what was the cause of
his final prediction for Lelie? The
answer is to Rosinc's mind that it was
money.
Lelic was the only living issue of old
Mr.. Lodere. Her mother died when
she was fifteen years of age, and her
father having resolved never to marry
again, made over his entire property to
his daughter. His estate was worth
about twenty-five thousand dollars, which
no doubt, had its charms in the eyes of
many But it did not wicled any inhu
ence in Julien Cleburne's choice of Le-
lie as Rosiue supposed. That this pro-
DertY qualification WIS no nhinctinn Il is